RISK ASSESSMENT
Clarify the safety concerns before building the plan.
When behaviour may place the person or others at risk, families and support teams need a clear picture of what safety concerns are present and what controls are already in place.
A Risk Assessment helps identify safety-related behaviour concerns, current environmental controls, supervision needs, protective factors, and gaps in the current support setup. The goal is to clarify what the family or team may need to plan for next.
This assessment does not replace emergency response, crisis support, or a full behaviour support plan. It helps create the information needed so planning, recommendations, and support strategies can be developed more clearly afterward.
WHEN A RISK ASSESSMENT MAY HELP
When safety concerns need a clearer picture.
A Risk Assessment may help when families, caregivers, funders, schools, agencies, or support teams need to understand what safety concerns are present, what environmental controls are already in place, and what support needs should be considered before a plan is developed.
The person may be at risk of being hurt
There may be concerns about self-injurious behaviour, leaving safe spaces, running toward unsafe areas, unsafe access to items or environments, or situations where closer supervision may be needed.
A Risk Assessment can help clarify:
- What safety concerns are present
- What situations may increase concern
- What supervision or environmental controls are already in place
Other people or property may be affected
Families or teams may be concerned about physical aggression, property damage, unsafe interactions, or situations where caregivers and support teams are unsure what level of support is needed.
A Risk Assessment can help clarify:
- What risks may need to be considered
- What protective factors may already be helping
- Where the current setup may have gaps
The current environment may not be enough
The person's current environment, routines, supervision, or access controls may not be clear enough for the level of concern.
A Risk Assessment can help clarify:
- What environmental controls are currently in place
- Whether those controls appear clear and realistic
- What may need closer review before planning continues
A team needs clearer information
FSCD, PDD, a school, agency, family, or support team may need written assessment information to understand current safety concerns and what should be considered next.
A Risk Assessment can help clarify:
- Current safety-related concerns
- Existing supports and controls
- Planning needs for the family or team
ASSESSMENT PROCESS
How the Risk Assessment process works.
The process is structured so families and support teams can move from concern and uncertainty toward clearer information. The goal is to understand safety-related behaviour concerns, current controls, and planning needs.
01
Clarify the concern
We begin by learning what is happening, where the concern shows up, who is involved, what has already been tried, and what safety questions need to be answered.
02
Review current controls
Assessment may include reviewing supervision, environmental setup, access to unsafe items or spaces, routines, team responses, and any protective factors already in place.
03
Identify risks and gaps
We look at what safety concerns are present, what may increase concern, what may reduce concern, and where the current support setup may need further planning.
04
Clarify planning needs
The assessment summarizes what the family or team may need to consider next. Further recommendations, strategies, or implementation support may follow through Functional Behaviour Assessment + Risk Assessment, Behaviour Consultation, Intensive Behaviour Support, or another appropriate support process.
WHAT THE ASSESSMENT CONSIDERS
Risk is understood through safety concerns, controls, context, and support needs.
A Risk Assessment does not look at behaviour in isolation. It considers what safety concerns are present, what controls are already in place, what may increase or reduce concern, and what the family or team may need to consider next.
01
Safety-related behaviour concerns
What the concern looks like, how often it happens, how intense it may be, and what kind of safety impact it may have.
02
Routines, settings, and situations
Where and when concerns are most likely to happen, including transitions, denied access, waiting, demands, community outings, changes in routine, or specific environments.
03
Environmental controls
What controls are already in place, such as supervision, locked or restricted access, environmental setup, routines, barriers, safety procedures, or other safeguards.
04
Protective factors
What is already helping, including relationships, routines, communication supports, preferred activities, successful prevention steps, or other supports that reduce concern.
05
Current responses and support setup
How caregivers, support teams, and others respond before, during, and after safety-related behaviour, and whether those responses are clear and consistent.
06
Planning needs
What the family or team may need to consider next before strategies, recommendations, or a fuller support plan are developed.
ASSESSMENT FINDINGS
What families and teams receive.
The assessment is meant to clarify the safety-related picture. Families and support teams should come away with a written summary of the concerns, current controls, protective factors, gaps, and planning needs.
A clearer summary of the safety concerns
A plain-language summary of what was reviewed and what safety-related concerns appear most relevant.
Environmental controls review
A summary of what controls or safeguards are currently in place, if any, and where the current setup may need closer planning.
Risk and protective factor summary
A structured summary of factors that may increase concern and factors that may be helping reduce concern.
Planning needs for the family or team
A summary of what may need to be considered next so recommendations, strategies, or support planning can be developed more clearly afterward.
SERVICE FIT
How a Risk Assessment is different from other support options.
A Risk Assessment is focused on clarifying safety-related concerns, current environmental controls, protective factors, and planning needs. It helps identify what must be understood before strategies or recommendations are developed.
Behaviour Consultation
Behaviour Consultation may follow a Risk Assessment when the family or team needs help turning assessment information into practical strategies, coaching, and follow-through.
Functional Behaviour Assessment
Functional Behaviour Assessment focuses on understanding behaviour patterns and possible function so support planning can be more accurate.
Functional Behaviour Assessment + Risk Assessment
The Functional Behaviour Assessment + Risk Assessment pathway may be the better fit when the team needs both functional understanding and safety-related assessment information before building a clearer support plan.
One-Month Intensive Behaviour Support
One-Month Intensive Behaviour Support may follow or pair with assessment when the family or team needs more frequent support while a clearer plan is being developed and used.
PAYMENT AND REQUESTED ASSESSMENTS
A Risk Assessment is usually arranged privately unless funding is confirmed.
Families may seek a Risk Assessment because they want clearer direction, or because FSCD, PDD, a school, an agency, or another support team has requested written assessment information or safety-related planning information.
A Risk Assessment is typically arranged through private pay unless the family has confirmed that the assessment is covered, reimbursable, or included in an approved funding arrangement.
PRIVATE PAY
Assessment paid for directly
Many families arrange a Risk Assessment privately when they want assessment findings, a clearer safety-related picture, or written information before another service path has been confirmed.
REQUESTED BY A FUNDER OR SUPPORT TEAM
Assessment requested for planning purposes
FSCD, PDD, a school, an agency, or another support team may request assessment information or safety-related planning information. A request for assessment information does not automatically mean the assessment is funded.
Kind Behaviour can explain service fit, scope, fees, billing, and documentation. Families are responsible for confirming funding approval, reimbursement rules, agreement wording, and payer requirements before assessment begins.
IMPORTANT BOUNDARIES
What a Risk Assessment is - and what it is not.
A Risk Assessment is designed for non-emergency safety-related behaviour concerns and assessment findings. It is not emergency response, crisis intervention, forensic assessment, legal assessment, a full behaviour support plan, or a guarantee that risk can be predicted or eliminated.
Not emergency or crisis response
If there is immediate danger or urgent safety risk, families should contact emergency services or the appropriate local crisis support.
Not a legal or forensic assessment
This service does not provide legal opinions, forensic risk opinions, custody recommendations, or court-related assessment.
Not a guarantee of safety
The goal is to understand safety-related concerns, current controls, protective factors, and planning needs. No assessment can guarantee that risk will be eliminated.
Not a full behaviour support plan
A Risk Assessment does not by itself create a full behaviour support plan or implementation plan. It clarifies the safety-related concerns, current controls, protective factors, and planning needs so the next support step can be chosen more clearly.
FAQ
Questions families often ask about Risk Assessment.
What is a Risk Assessment?
A Risk Assessment is a structured review of safety-related behaviour concerns. It helps clarify what concerns are present, what environmental controls are already in place, what protective factors may be helping, and what the family or team may need to consider next. It supports planning, but it does not by itself create a full behaviour support plan or implementation strategy.
Does a Risk Assessment include recommendations?
A Risk Assessment can identify planning needs and areas that require attention, but the full strategies or behaviour support recommendations usually come after the assessment. Those may be developed through Functional Behaviour Assessment + Risk Assessment, Behaviour Consultation, One-Month Intensive Behaviour Support, or another appropriate planning process.
Is Risk Assessment emergency or crisis support?
No. A Risk Assessment is not emergency response or crisis support. If there is immediate danger or urgent safety risk, families should contact emergency services or the appropriate local crisis support. A Risk Assessment can help with non-emergency assessment of safety-related concerns, current controls, and planning needs.
What kinds of concerns may lead to a Risk Assessment?
Families or teams may seek a Risk Assessment when there are concerns about self-injurious behaviour, physical aggression, property damage, leaving safe spaces, running toward unsafe areas, unsafe access to items or environments, or other behaviour that may result in the person or others being hurt.
Is Risk Assessment a diagnosis?
No. A Risk Assessment does not diagnose a medical, psychological, or developmental condition. It focuses on safety-related behaviour concerns, support needs, risk and protective factors, and practical planning needs.
Is Risk Assessment a legal or forensic assessment?
No. This service does not provide legal opinions, forensic risk opinions, court-related assessment, custody recommendations, or guarantees about future behaviour.
How is Risk Assessment different from a Functional Behaviour Assessment?
A Functional Behaviour Assessment focuses on behaviour patterns and possible function. A Risk Assessment focuses more directly on safety-related behaviour concerns, current environmental controls, protective factors, and planning needs. If both are needed, the Functional Behaviour Assessment + Risk Assessment pathway may be the better fit.
How does Risk Assessment work with a Functional Behaviour Assessment?
A Risk Assessment and a Functional Behaviour Assessment can work well together. A Functional Behaviour Assessment helps clarify why behaviour may be happening. A Risk Assessment helps clarify what safety concerns, environmental controls, protective factors, and planning needs are present. Together, they can support clearer planning after the assessment work is complete.
When might Risk Assessment be recommended instead of Behaviour Consultation?
A Risk Assessment may be recommended when the main question is safety-related and the family or team needs structured written assessment information before deciding what support should happen next. Behaviour Consultation may be more appropriate when the family already has enough information and needs ongoing coaching, planning, and support over time.
Can FSCD or PDD request risk-related assessment information?
Yes. Families or support teams may seek a Risk Assessment because FSCD, PDD, or another support team has requested written assessment information, safety-related planning information, or a clearer understanding of current needs. Kind Behaviour can explain service fit and assessment scope, but does not determine funding eligibility or approval.
What do families receive after the assessment?
Families and support teams receive written assessment findings. Depending on the service scope, this may include a summary of safety-related concerns, current controls, risk and protective factor review, gaps in the current setup, and planning needs for the next support step.
What happens after I send an inquiry?
Kind Behaviour will follow up to understand what kind of support you are looking for and gather the basic information needed to review service fit. If Kind Behaviour may be a good fit, the next steps, scheduling, scope, fees, and any relevant funding or payment details will be explained clearly.
If another service or support path may be more appropriate, Kind Behaviour will say that plainly.
NEXT STEP
Not sure whether a Risk Assessment fits?
Send a brief email with what is happening. We can help clarify whether a Risk Assessment, Functional Behaviour Assessment, combined assessment, Behaviour Consultation, or more focused support may make sense.