Principles

1. Following the law and taking the rights of those concerned into account.
2. Following the organisation’s policy and guidance.
3. Taking proper account of established good practice.
4. Providing effective services, using appropriately trained and competent staff.
5. Taking reasonable, timely decisions, based on all relevant considerations.

Examples of what good looks like

• Service timescales with a statutory basis are complied with – resources are planned and prioritised to meet them.
• Taking proactive action to explain and respond to any delays.
• Staff able to appropriately exercise their professional judgment to meet properly assessed service needs.
• Organisations working on a council’s behalf adhering to that council’s policies, guidance, good practice and legislation.

Crisis working

1. Keeping basic records is particularly vital during crisis working including how and why decisions were made, summarising key reasons for departing from normal practice.
2. Ensuring the organisation keeps proper oversight and direction when working with new organisations or existing partners in new ways. Keeping responsibility with the organisation when it delegates activity to others (e.g. working with the voluntary sector).
3. Making sure decision makers newly responsible for devolved decisions can access prompt, appropriate advice where necessary.
4. Taking care that short term re-deployment of back-office resources to the frontline does not undermine the organisation’s ability to maintain essential operations.