This course teaches a structured, formulation-based approach to clinical risk in mental health, in line with current NICE guidance that moves away from risk prediction tools and towards understanding the person, collaborative safety planning and good communication. It covers documenting risk, planning leave and discharge, involving families and carers, and the high-risk period after discharge from inpatient care.
What you will learn
- Explain why risk prediction tools and scales should not be used to predict suicide or self-harm or to decide who receives treatment, in line with NICE guidance.
- Carry out and document a structured risk assessment and formulation covering history, current factors, protective factors and the person's own view.
- Develop a collaborative safety plan with a patient, including warning signs, coping strategies, contacts and means safety.
- Plan leave and discharge from inpatient care safely, including communication with community teams, GPs and carers, and early follow-up after discharge.
- Share information with families and carers appropriately, balancing confidentiality and safety.
- Write clear risk documentation and handover that another clinician can act on.
Course content
- Why clinical risk matters, and the limits of prediction (3 min)
- A structured approach: history, current state and formulation (4 min)
- Collaborative safety planning (2 min)
- Leave and transitions from inpatient care (2 min)
- Discharge and the period after discharge (4 min)
- Working with families and carers, and sharing information (2 min)
- Case study and documentation (3 min)
- Knowledge check (10 questions, 10 min)
- Guided reflection (15 min)
Standards and guidance covered
- NICE guideline NG225: Self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence (2022)
- NICE guideline NG53: Transition between inpatient mental health settings and community or care home settings (2016)
- NICE guideline NG10: Violence and aggression: short-term management in mental health, health and community settings
- Department of Health: Best practice in managing risk (2007)
- Royal College of Psychiatrists: Self-harm and suicide in adults (CR229, 2020)
- Department of Health and Social Care: Consensus statement on information sharing and suicide prevention
- Mental Health Act 1983, including section 117 aftercare, and its Code of Practice (2015)
- GMC: Good Medical Practice (2024) and Confidentiality guidance; NMC: The Code (2015, updated 2018)
Certificate
Courses are free to study. When you pass the knowledge check (80%) and complete your reflection, you can buy a verified certificate showing your CPD time, with a unique ID and QR code that anyone can check on our verification page.
Study free at your own pace on any device.
Practitioner Insight is an independent education provider. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the GMC, MPTS, NMC, HCPC, GPhC or any NHS organisation, and this information is not legal advice. If you have been referred to a regulator, speak to your defence organisation, trade union or legal representative.