1. Business Continuity - update Audit Committee 11 October 2011

2. Agenda What is BC/why is it important? NSC’s approach Results of testing

3. Why BC? The public depend upon many of the Council’s services Quality of life Health and safety Duty to continue to provide Immediately following a disruptive event In following weeks and months Resilience

4. NSC’s approach High level commitment BC improvement plan Responsibility with Directorates – AR&I oversight Vital services and resources Plans only go so far – key is to have appropriate, tested arrangements in place

5. Testing 2011-12 8 unannounced tests - ↑ challenging objectives: Evaluate effectiveness of arrangements; Staff opportunity to rehearse; Identify areas of strength and improvement areas.

6. BC tests Services Tested Home to school transport Housing options and advice GIS Highways Registrar Electoral services D&E whole directorate Key improvement area Step by step guide Standard maps available Not documented Building security Need for rehearsal Communication

7. Key findings Adequate/good performance All services would cope – some services took time to organise Documented plans in most areas-but many need a refresh Contact lists in place Focus on communications – public

8. Children’s social care referral and assessment service Practice leader and team at a regular team meeting- limited notice Scenario Pandemic flu followed by Major safeguarding issues and Failure of NSC phone system

9. Children’s social care referral and assessment service Resilient service Tested in severe winters Immediate response –prioritise case work Daily meetings mean there is a shared understanding of work plan Capable of working at any site Communications effective – mobile and contact lists Can call on other CYPS social worker teams Documented BC plans not readily available

10. Children’s social care referral and assessment service Improvement plan Short document outlining key actions required Rehearse BC plans with deputies taking lead Concern – ability to place multiple children at the same time or manage in a major IT failure – develop plans

11. Summary Council demonstrated its resilience More to do to ensure all vital services have effective BC plans Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse