Preview video lesson
Illustrative duration 08:10
Module 2 · Video lesson
Deciding through harm, not incident severity
The same incident can cause different harm in different contexts.
The Harm Assessment Tool shifts the question from how serious an incident looks to how much harm has been done and how much time is needed to repair it. Consider context, history, affected people and cumulative harm.
Ask the three reflective questions before using the quadrant. Assess whether those involved can engage in genuine restoration now, or need time and distance. The framework supports professional judgement; it does not remove it.
In some jurisdictions and circumstances, you may be required to suspend regardless of your harm assessment. Where that is the case, this tool does not change the decision - it changes what you do with it. A mandated suspension is still an opportunity to prepare conditions for a better return. Use the quadrant to plan accordingly.
Key practice
Use the three questions to explore a situation before placing it on the harm quadrant.
Source: Harm Assessment Tool, pages 1–3 · Staff presentation, slide 4. Video and durations are preview placeholders, not supplied recordings.