|
Policy and procedure help |
|
Policies and procedures are designed to provide the framework within which your organisation operates, they define what an organisation does and how it is done.
Why have them?
Having clear policies offers clarity and helps you operate more effectively as an organisation. It means there will be fewer misunderstandings or debates about what to do in particular situations.
Policies and legal obligations
It is important to note that employers have legal obligations both to protect themselves (e.g. from prosecution) and employees’ rights and working conditions. The following are the main areas where you need to be aware of your legal obligations:
- Equality Legislation including laws on equal pay, equal opportunities in recruitment.
- Health and Safety Laws including requirements to undertake risk assessments and create a safe and healthy workplace for staff, volunteers and visitors.
- Employment Laws e.g. levels of pay, working hours, holiday entitlements, grievance and disciplinary procedures and flexible working arrangements.
- Asylum and Immigration laws state who is entitled to work in the UK.
- Data Protection Legislation which ensures that the confidentially about your staff, volunteers and users is respected.
If your VCS organisation or group needs help with any matters relating to policies or procedures, please contact Audrey Thompson here at VCAS and she will direct your enquiry to the appropriate staff. E-mail
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or telephone 0191 565 1566. |
|
.png) |
Equal opportunities and ensuring a diverse workforce is important for all employers. It isn’t just important because there are laws about it but because it is of enormous benefit to your organisation as talent and potential are distributed across the population. |
|
 |
Having a data protection policy shows that you have taken measures to follow good practice and comply with the law and more importantly, protected clients, staff and other individuals involved with your organisation. |
|
 |
All employers have a legal duty to ensure good standards of health and safety for their employees, volunteers, management committee members and the service users. |
|
 |
A quality policy will help you to ensure that every client or service-user of your organisation receives the best possible service and that your organisation continues to improve over time. |
|
 |
A volunteer policy helps by outlining expectations from both sides, so there is a common understanding of where both parties stand. |
|
|
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults |
 |
It’s important to have a clear set of guidelines to make sure your organisation deals with safeguarding children and vulnerable adults effectively. |
|
.png) |
Ensure that your organisation recognises the importance of confidentiality in the professional practice of its staff and its administrative procedures. |
|
 |
The maternity policy ensures that both the employee and the employer knows what to expect of each other if a staff member becomes pregnant. |
|
 |
Organisations should follow a fair, reasonable, prompt and consistent procedure for discipline, grievance and dismissals. |
|
 |
By demonstrating commitment to environmental management, you can reduce waste and develop positive relations with external stakeholders and staff as well as simply doing your bit for a better future. |
|
 |
A whistleblowing policy will improve the trust and confidence among workers by creating a culture of honesty and openness by encouraging workers to report internally. |
|
|
Bullying & Harassment Policy |
 |
Ensure that incidents of bullying and harassment can be recognised and dealt with. The effects of bullying and harassment are harmful to all concerned and expensive for organisations. |
|
 |
Every business has to deal with situations in which things go wrong from a service user's point of view, but a customer with a complaint represents a genuine opportunity for your organisation. |
|
 |
A constitution is a governing document, a set of agreements made by the group or organisation regarding how it is run. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
.png)