Risk and Ethics in the Public Sector

Recent events surrounding community mental health care and residential service delivery has resurfaced public concerns and misperceptions regarding the mentally ill individual living in our communities. In January a story entitled ‘Horror city killing: Mental patient centre of probe’, whilst the reporting of this event was both necessary and justified it did nothing to curve the stigma of violent behaviour that has been strongly associated with mental illness. Equally the article did little to improve the public’s perception of community-based mental health and disability support services. It did however raise the question of how well risk assessment and management are carried out by community mental health service providers. In a follow-up article a Councillor called for neighbours to be notified if they are living next door to individuals with mental health concerns. A suggestion which raises considerable ethical concern. This book discusses the ethical considerations required to disclose service user information to neighbours through the use of a case study example.