Recurring concern
Unreliable objective criteria for safety risk assessment
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Request correctionFirst reported 3 Dec 2013•Latest report 7 Apr 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures of generic safety risk-assessment criteria, tools or processes where objective criteria are absent, inconsistently applied, unclear, incomplete or insufficient to support consistent risk ratings across practitioners.
Not included
- Excludes risk assessments belonging to a separately named system, pathway or hazard when that named concern provides the more specific parent boundary.
- Excludes failures limited to recording, communicating or acting on a risk assessment when the assessment criteria themselves are adequate.
- Excludes generic training, staffing or supervision deficiencies unless they directly cause unreliable application or design of the risk-assessment criteria.
- Excludes clinical or operational decisions that do not identify an unsafe deficiency in the objectivity, consistency or clarity of risk-assessment criteria.
- Reports
- 26
- Individual concerns
- 26
- Date range
- 2013–2026
- Stated actions
- 35
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of a formal preoperative risk assessment tool requirement
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to use objective and consistent criteria for risk assessment
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Risk assessment excluding other risk factors unless the mobility threshold is passed
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Identify the best route for developing an updated VTE risk assessment tool covering acute psychiatric wards.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Concerns raised1
Lack of clear patient risk assessments
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
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Action
Check acute-ward care records for timely updating of risk assessments, care plans and significant care changes.
Stated by Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Conduct quarterly inpatient-ward audits of care records, risk assessments and care plans for timeliness and quality.
Stated by Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Roll out bespoke suicide-prevention training and continue refining its content using feedback.
Stated by Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
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Action
Provide refresher training on the policy requirement for a 72-hour post-admission service-user review.
Stated by Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Review and update clinical risk training to strengthen its focus on suicide-risk assessment.
Stated by Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient consideration of unique-route risks in path risk assessments
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Amend the operative briefing to require assessment of alternative pedestrian routes and supervisory escalation for unsuitable routes at unique locations.
Stated by M & S Water Services (Utilities) Limited -
Action
Make the amended briefing mandatory in new-operative induction and refresh it for existing operatives every six months.
Stated by M & S Water Services (Utilities) Limited
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Position
The relevant risk assessment complied with the Red Book and industry standards, and the path was not located in an area of risk.
Stated by B & D Civil Engineers Ltd
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Position
Additional operative guidance is considered sufficient to address concerns about unique sites and public use of alternative routes.
Stated by M & S Water Services (Utilities) Limited -
Position
Job planning and identifying unique locations are assigned to the Job Initiator and Job Planner, not M&S.
Stated by M & S Water Services (Utilities) Limited
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Concerns raised1
Failure to consider risk factors and risk minimisation when deciding whether to suspend an employee
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to use a consistent risk-assessment method for vulnerable patients granted leave
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of clear criteria and defined information for assessing fitness for transfer from F Wing
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Use a Patient Wing Movement Assessment requiring senior clinical review, documented fitness decisions and reasons, regular review meetings, and communication of outcomes before transfers.
Stated by Care UK
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Concerns raised1
Inconsistent terminology and grading in risk assessment
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Use of pressure sore risk tools with opposing score interpretations
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Keep use of the Braden tool under ongoing review against national guidance and standards.
Stated by Avery Healthcare Group
Data last updated 7 September 2026