Business continuity policy

Responding to a disruptive event

In line with our business continuity management systems, consideration and planning exist to prepare for: 

  • an incident 
  • a major issue 
  • a disruptive event

We will consider how to support employees, clients and the public during and after an event.  

The initial response to an event is crucial. It lays the foundations for managing the people aspects of business continuity for the disruptive event's duration. Our approach will develop as the extent and complexity of the event becomes known. Leaders will keep decisions under constant review.  

In some cases, we may not be able to provide usual work facilities because of a service disruption. The manager's responsibility will be to maintain their own service's critical and essential services. 

Corporate response 

If a coordinated corporate response is needed, we will activate an Incident Management Group (IMG). It includes senior managers and is chaired by the corporate business continuity lead, executive director of resources or trained strategic commanders. 

A member of this group, in collaboration with the whole group, will have specific responsibility for co-ordinating the response to people issues. The group may issue instructions on staff working. Managers should instruct staff as per this policy. 

The IMG will utilise our corporate business continuity and emergency response guidance. The emergency planning and business continuity service produce both of these documents.   

Service response 

If we cannot provide usual work facilities, the service business continuity lead will maintain their own service's critical and essential functions. They will utilise their service's business continuity plans which: 

  • are designed to minimise the impact on services during a disruption 
  • set out the specific amendments to typical working arrangements  

The service business continuity lead should complete the Service Impact Assessment (SIA). They should provide copies to the service area business continuity plan (BCP) lead.

In the event of a widespread incident, they should also provide copies to the emergency planning and business continuity service. They can upload the SIA to Resilience Direct (RD). 

Communication to staff  

Heads of service and line managers must cascade to their teams: 

  • details of what actions we expect in an emergency  
  • what temporary arrangements are in place