The Simon Community had in 2011 developed a Business Continuity plan, based on some underlying analysis, but due to a physical relocation of their main headquarters premises along with the movement of staff who had been involved in the original Business Continuity project, they felt it was time to review the capability and develop a road map for enhancement. This requirement was further emphasised by the expectation of regulators and funders that organisations such as the Simon Community have in place fit for purpose continuity arrangements. As a result, the Simon Community, with the focus of ensuring best in class continuity, engaged Risk and Resilience to support its improvement programme.

Risk and Resilience undertook a benchmarking review, using ISO 22301, of the Simon Community’s Business Continuity Management System, considering its policy and governance structures, the strategic direction afforded to crisis and continuity planning and response and the basis of the plans that govern those arrangements. This later aspect included the impact analysis undertaken to derive continuity requirements, the solutions in place to deliver practical continuity and the teams and processes that establish how to invoke, control and coordinate a timely and effective response. We also considered how the Simon Community will communicate internally and externally with its primary stakeholders, such as clients, staff, government departments, local representatives, community groups, the media, social media and regulators. The review studied existing business plans and documentation and engaged key people, enabling it to pinpoint gaps and raise practical opportunities for enhancement, set out in a deliverable road map. We supported the Simon Community to enact these improvements, including through advice on the construct of a suitable Business Continuity Policy and the development of a maintenance programme of training, exercises / tests, audits and reviews. We helped to refine the Business Impact Analysis tool, providing training and mentoring support to the Service Area teams as they refreshed their analysis and improved their plans. This led to the drafting, by us, of an organisational Business Continuity Plan, setting out how any such response would be triggered, defining the team and individual roles and responsibilities and setting out clear processes for dealing with disruption, including the crucial areas of information management and coordination. We advised on the development of a supply chain resilience approach, aimed at strengthening the continuity of critical aspects of the supply chain, engaging in meetings with key suppliers to do so. We drafted a Crisis Management Plan for use by the C-Suite and advised on enhancements to crisis communications provisions. Finally, we designed, delivered and reported on a programme of integrated team training and exercising sessions, culminating in an organisational wide crisis and continuity exercise. The Simon Community retains the services of Risk and Resilience as they seek to continually improve their continuity provisions, in particular by building on the learning from the programme of tests and exercises.

The Simon Community has made great strides in improving and embedding its crisis and continuity capability. There is an enhanced understanding amongst key staff as to the important function this capability provides, of the strategic priorities for Simon Community when operating in disruption and an increasing awareness of the challenges to be faced in such circumstances, as well as of the processes and techniques that can overcome those as set out in the plans.  The have clarity with respect to the continuity requirements, of the risks to those and of the various solutions that can be employed should any of those risks materialise. This proactive approach has been well received by the board and by the wider stakeholder community.