Jul 31 • Mary Ingerton
How Support Coordinators Balance Dignity of Risk and Duty of Care
Learn how Support Coordinators can balance safety with participant choice by supporting dignity of risk, ethical decision-making, and person-centred practice.
One of the most nuanced challenges in Support Coordination is finding the right balance between safety and self-determination. As we walk alongside participants in shaping their lives, we’re often faced with complex decisions that involve potential risk. The question is not whether we allow risk but how we support participants to navigate it safely, respectfully, and on their own terms.
This article explores how Support Coordinators can balance their duty of care with the participant’s right to take risks, grow, and make decisions even imperfect ones while maintaining safety and integrity.
What Is Duty of Care and Dignity of Risk?
Dignity of Risk: The right of all people, including those with disability, to make their own choices including choices that involve risk as part of living an autonomous and fulfilling life.
As Support Coordinators, we often hold the tension between wanting to prevent harm and wanting to uphold autonomy. The ability to strike this balance defines ethical, person-centred practice. It requires empathy, professional judgment, and a commitment to walking with not ahead of the participant as they navigate choice, risk, and growth.
Upholding a person’s own values reinforces their dignity, especially when risk is involved. For example, a participant may choose to live alone even if others believe it’s too risky. Your role is to respect their preference and explore how that choice can be supported safely by putting safeguards in place.
Level of Risk and Impact
Not all risk is harmful, and not all discomfort is danger. Distinguishing between genuine threats and unfamiliar choices allows you to avoid unnecessary restrictions. For instance, trying a new community activity may feel risky for a participant but could result in greater independence and confidence with the right supports in place.
Capacity and Support Needs
Capacity is decision-specific and can be supported. Before assuming incapacity, check whether the participant has access to the right information, tools, time and support to process and understand the impact of their decisions. This ensures you're facilitating understanding without undermining autonomy.
Least Restrictive Alternatives
The goal is to support participants to take risks safely not eliminate risk altogether. For example, if someone wants to cook independently but has safety concerns, offering assistive devices or support worker supervision allows the goal to proceed without denying the experience.
Professional Boundaries
A Support Coordinator’s role is to guide, facilitate, and advocate not to decide. If you find yourself speaking “for” a participant or making decisions “on their behalf” without proper authority or consent, you may be overstepping. Staying within scope protects the participant’s rights and maintains ethical practice.
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About the Author
Duty of Care: A legal and ethical obligation to act in ways that do not cause harm, and to take reasonable steps to protect people from foreseeable risk.
Dignity of Risk: The right of all people, including those with disability, to make their own choices including choices that involve risk as part of living an autonomous and fulfilling life.
Why This Balance Matters
The goal of the NDIS is to support participants to live an ordinary, meaningful life on their own terms. But when every decision is filtered through the lens of safety alone, we risk taking away that freedom.
As Support Coordinators, we often hold the tension between wanting to prevent harm and wanting to uphold autonomy. The ability to strike this balance defines ethical, person-centred practice. It requires empathy, professional judgment, and a commitment to walking with not ahead of the participant as they navigate choice, risk, and growth.
How Can a Support Coordinator Facilitate This Balance?
1. Practice Person-Centred Support
• Get to know the participant’s values, life goals, and definition of independence
• Understand what types of risk they are willing to take to live a more fulfilling life
• Avoid substituting your own definition of “safe” for what the participant sees as meaningful
When planning reflects the participant’s voice not our assumptions, we promote true autonomy and respect.
2. Support Decision-Making Capacity
• Use visual tools, plain language, or Easy Read formats to build understanding
• Allow time and space to consider options
• Involve trusted supporters, family, friends or advocates when appropriate
• Respect that a participant making an “unwise” choice is not the same as lacking capacity
Everyone has the right to make their own decisions when given the right support. Enabling capacity is a key safeguard for dignity and rights.
3. Identify and Manage Risk Collaboratively
• Facilitate open, non-judgemental conversations about risks and consequences
• Explore with the participant:
o What might go wrong?
o How likely is it?
o How likely is it?
o What supports can reduce that risk?
• Develop a Risk Assessment and Management Plan that documents:
o The participant’s choices
o The support network’s input
o Any steps taken to mitigate risk and supports required
o How the risk will be monitored and reviewed
Collaborative risk planning helps ensure safety without taking control—supporting the participant to own both the decision and the journey.
4. Record Decisions and Rationale
• Document what was discussed, who was involved, and what actions were taken
• Include evidence of participant involvement and consent
• Keep language factual, clear, and objective
Good records demonstrate that you met your duty of care and upheld the participant’s autonomy providing accountability and transparency if concerns arise.
5. Escalate When Safety is at Stake
When there is serious risk (e.g. neglect, abuse, or self-harm):
• Follow mandatory reporting requirements including Incident Reporting
• Consult your supervisor and relevant clinical, protective/legal supports
• Include the participant in decisions where possible
Taking protective action does not mean overriding the participant. It means acting with care, transparency, and partnership when safety is compromised.
What Does a Support Coordinator Need to Consider?
Participant Will and Preferences
• Are your actions shaped by what the participant wants or by what others believe is best?
Upholding a person’s own values reinforces their dignity, especially when risk is involved. For example, a participant may choose to live alone even if others believe it’s too risky. Your role is to respect their preference and explore how that choice can be supported safely by putting safeguards in place.
Level of Risk and Impact
• Is the risk serious and imminent or simply unfamiliar or uncomfortable?
Not all risk is harmful, and not all discomfort is danger. Distinguishing between genuine threats and unfamiliar choices allows you to avoid unnecessary restrictions. For instance, trying a new community activity may feel risky for a participant but could result in greater independence and confidence with the right supports in place.
Capacity and Support Needs
• Does the participant understand the decision and its potential outcomes?
Capacity is decision-specific and can be supported. Before assuming incapacity, check whether the participant has access to the right information, tools, time and support to process and understand the impact of their decisions. This ensures you're facilitating understanding without undermining autonomy.
Least Restrictive Alternatives
• Is there a way to reduce risk without removing choice?
The goal is to support participants to take risks safely not eliminate risk altogether. For example, if someone wants to cook independently but has safety concerns, offering assistive devices or support worker supervision allows the goal to proceed without denying the experience.
Professional Boundaries
• Are you acting within your role as a Support Coordinator or slipping into substitute decision-making?
A Support Coordinator’s role is to guide, facilitate, and advocate not to decide. If you find yourself speaking “for” a participant or making decisions “on their behalf” without proper authority or consent, you may be overstepping. Staying within scope protects the participant’s rights and maintains ethical practice.
Further Insights
This blog is based on best practice principles explored in Support Coordination Academy’s professional learning sessions. These sessions address how to manage risk ethically while keeping participants’ voices at the center of every decision.
Help Is at Hand
Navigating risk while upholding participant rights takes skill, reflection, and confidence. If you need support in strengthening your practice, contact us. Our team of experienced professionals can guide you with resources, coaching, and practical strategies tailored for Support Coordinators.
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About the Author
Mary Ingerton is the Managing Director of Support Coordination Academy. She has spent over 20 years coaching and mentoring professionals to deliver values-led, rights-focused support. If you’re seeking to grow your skills in navigating risk, informed choice, or ethical practice in Support Coordination, Mary and the team at SCA are here to help.
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