Critical risk to independence

Government guidance defines as critical the following risks to health and safety, autonomy, management of daily routines and involvement in family or community life.

• Life is, or will be, threatened; and/or
• Significant health problems have developed or will develop; and/or
• Serious abuse or neglect has occurred or will occur; and/or
• There is, or will be, little or no choice and control over vital aspects of the immediate environment; and/or
• Vital involvement in work, education or learning cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• There is, or will be, an inability to carry out vital personal care or domestic routines; and/or
• Vital social support systems and relationships cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• Vital family and other social roles and responsibilities cannot or will not be undertaken.

Needs that may indicate this level of risk

• Your situation, actions, or how you look after yourself, is causing extreme concern about your immediate safety;
• You need immediate support to avoid critical risk to your safety or life or that of others;
• You need help immediately because you have suffered or are believed to have suffered serious abuse or neglect, or you are at immediate risk of physical or sexual abuse;
• Your health and safety is at risk because you are dependent on assistance which is not otherwise available to you to perform one or more vital daily functions, i.e. going to the toilet, eating and drinking, accessing food and drink, and moving between a bed and a chair;
• Significant health problems have developed or are likely to develop and assistance will help to avoid risk to your safety or that of others, or hospitalisation;
• You are unable to access vital educational, work or learning activities, and your physical or mental health is at risk as a result;
• You need intensive support for a short period to avoid admission to hospital or a residential home;
• You need support to ensure that you achieve a minimum standard of one significant social contact a week;
• Your physical and / or mental health is at risk because you have no social support systems or relationships or no social interaction, or the ones you have are in imminent danger of breaking down;
• You are unable to sustain essential religious observance without assistance, and this is not otherwise available to you;
• At least one of the above risks or needs applies to you and your care /support arrangements have broken down or are about to break down.