Brian Taylor is Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Ulster where he had the lead role for Post-Qualifying education and training. His research and teaching interests are in decision making, assessment, risk and evidence based practice and he has had a lead role in developing the Northern Ireland Single Assessment Tool for the health and social care of older people. Brian previously spent 12 years as a practitioner and manager in social work, residential care, primary school teaching and youth work. He has taught for 10 years on the topic of risk and decision making on courses that are part of the Northern Ireland Post-Qualifying Education and Training Framework for Social Workers.