ISSUES OF RISK PRACTICE AND WELFARE IN LEARNING-DISABILITY SERVICES

This article focuses on risk management in services for people with le arning disabilities. It identifies the issue of risk as central to man y historical and current care practices. It illustrates this through t hree examples that raise questions of risk in relationship to people w ith learning disabilities: on community care, alcohol and sexuality. I t concludes that risk has often been negatively associated with danger , but that sensitive risk management has the potential to improve or m aintain the quality of care services.