To Intervene or Not? That Is the Question: Managing Risk-Taking Behaviour in Student Halls of Residence

Abstract

This paper explores risk-taking situations encountered in the delivery of student services from university halls of residence. Such an exploration is important given changes to the employment contract for hall of residence staff around the legal principle of in loco parentis. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is used to cluster different types of risk, ranging from those that require direct intervention to ensure physical safety and security of students, to situations requiring interventions that impact on the culture or atmosphere of the hall. A number of symbolic interventions are discussed to show how different types of intervention in different situations can enhance wellbeing of students and promote maturation in ways that complement academic achievement.