Educational draft · awaiting clinical reviewUse Rapid for revision, not patient-care decisions. Check current national and local guidance and the BNF or BNFC before acting.
Risk of violence, neglect, exploitation and vulnerability
Essential points for quick revision.
2 min synopsisUK scopeSources checked 27 Aug 2026Clinical review pending
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Credible immediate danger
A specific threat, weapon access, escalating assault, severe agitation, an unsafe dependent or current abuse requires urgent environmental and safeguarding action before a routine assessment continues.
Action: Create distance and a safe exit, summon appropriately trained help, separate potential victims and perpetrators when safe, and use emergency services if the setting cannot contain the danger. Treat intoxication or physical illness, share the minimum necessary information with those able to reduce serious harm and document capacity, legal authority and proportionality.
Synopsis
Formulate risks of harm by, to and around the person through specific scenarios, history, dynamic factors, safeguarding and environmental evidence, then use proportionate prevention without stereotyping mental illness or overlooking victimisation and self-neglect.
Assess harm to others, harm from others, self-neglect, exploitation, safeguarding of dependants and environmental hazards as related but distinct scenarios.
Start with actual behaviour: previous violence, pattern, context, severity, targets, triggers, access to means, consequences and what previously stopped escalation.
Ask directly about current thoughts, grievances, named people, intent, planning, weapons, stalking, arson, sexual violence and ability to maintain distance.
Key red flags
A named target, recent surveillance, weapon access, rehearsal, command hallucinations or rapidly escalating grievance makes a violence scenario more concrete and urgent.
Investigation priorities
01
Behavioural and forensic chronologyFirst step
Define past acts, targets, context, severity, legal outcomes, triggers and previous successful prevention.
Management branches
Immediate threatSeparate, de-escalate and protect
Current behaviour or credible information suggests serious harm may occur soon.
Secure exits, summon trained support, separate potential victim and aggressor where safe and remove accessible means without provocative confrontation.
Assess physiology, intoxication, mental state, target, intent, plan and capability while activating emergency or police support when required.
National guidance is shown before implementation-dependent detail. Typical adult dose examples remain subject to patient factors, contraindications and the live BNF or specialist protocol. Source check completed 27 Aug 2026; clinical approval remains outstanding.