About risk-assessment.no

This website is dedicated to (violence) risk assessment in general and the Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC) in special. 

The Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC) is a 6-item checklist which assists in the prediction of imminent violent behaviour (24 hrs perspective) in health care and other sectors where workplace violence is akcknowledged as a serious problem. The checlist was orignally developed by Linaker and Busch-Iversen (1995) and further developed by Almvik & Woods (2000) and is now in use in more than 40 countries in an array of settings. The BVC can be used by all staff working with patients or clients/customers and when used appropriately can help to assist in preventing challenging behaviour.

The BVC can be used by all staff working with patients or clients in an array of settings. The BVC when used appropriately can help to assist in preventing unwanted behaviour . The BVC is recommended by National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE guidance) in UK, Center for Clinical Guidancein Denmark and the Health Directoratein Norway

Monitoring violent and aggressive behaviour

Just as important as assessing for risk, is monitoring and evaluating actual incidents. In my research (and much other BVC research as well) I have used the Staff Observation Aggression Scale – Revised (SOAS-R).This very useful tool for clinicians and managers was developed by Professor Tom Palmstierna and Professor Henk Nijman. Just like BVC, an easy to use form with the purpose of monitoring violent incidents, in use world wide and the preferred tool in e.g. Scandinavia. You can read more about the SOAS-R at the Frenzs website

Please note: You need a license to use the BVC or SOAS-R. Visit Frenzs.org for more information.

Risk management

BVC does not instruct what to do when a violent episode occurs, it is a tool to assist in the risk assessment process. Which interventions that works is often individual and also culture sensitive. However, risk-assessment works closely with Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI). They have for 40 years helped to ensure the well-being of millions of individuals throughout the world. They teach de-escalation skills that help professionals prevent verbal and physical crises in the workplace (not only in the Mental Health sector) with solutions that address risk levels. http://www.crisisprevention.com/