What Commissioners Want to See Around Positive Risk-Taking

Commissioners aren’t impressed by buzzwords. They want clear evidence that your approach to risk is confident, proportionate, and person-led.

That means showing how your team thinks about risk — not just the forms you fill in.

📋 Key Evidence Areas Commissioners Look For

• ✅ Person-centred risk assessments that evolve over time
• ✅ Supervision records showing discussion of positive risk
• ✅ Decision logs showing involvement of the person and others
• ✅ Responses to incidents that reflect learning, not punishment

Services that say “no” too quickly often lose marks. Commissioners are asking: do you listen to the person? And: do you show your working?

🎯 Scoring Higher in Tenders

To stand out in written tenders, go beyond generic statements. Use confident, practical examples like:

• “We worked with A and her occupational therapist to co-produce a plan for independent travel, which was trialled with staff support and adjusted weekly.”
• “Following a minor incident, the team and person reviewed what went wrong and updated the plan. The person still wanted to continue, and the new plan reduced further issues.”

This is the kind of response that earns trust — and points.

📌 Final Tip

Risk enablement is now a commissioning priority. Services that over-protect people are no longer seen as the safest — they’re seen as outdated. Show you’re part of the shift.