1.1 Purpose
To identify necessary actions to comply with legal requirements, making suitable and sufficient assessments of risks to support our policies on Risk Assessment.
1.2 Legal Compliance
BUDS UK will comply with all legal requirements concerning the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which require a written risk assessment for all hazards to determine measures needed to protect the health and safety of employees, volunteers, consumers, visitors, and members.
1.5 Integration into Management Processes
- Covering all areas of risk (financial, governance, operational, and reputational).
- Creating a risk exposure profile reflecting acceptable risk levels.
- Reviewing and considering principal results of risk identification, evaluation, and management.
- Ensuring ongoing and embedded risk management in operational procedures.
2.2 Major Financial Risks
- Governance risks — inappropriate organisational structure, lack of relevant skills, conflicts of interest.
- Operational risks — beneficiary welfare/safety, poor contract pricing, staff issues, security of assets.
- Financial risks — funding termination, investment fluctuations, insufficient reserves, dependency on limited income.
- External risks — poor public perception, demographic changes, economic/political turbulence, policy changes.
- Compliance with laws and regulations, particularly from the Charity Commission.
3.6 Specific Aims of Risk Assessments
- Training and supervision
- Management of client activities
- Written protocols and guidelines
- Record-keeping by clients, staff, and members
- Complaints and claims management
- Staff induction
- Equipment
- Incident reporting
4. Risk Assessment Questionnaire and Report
- Risks are primarily identified through a Risk Assessment Questionnaire (RAQ) conducted at least annually.
- Risk assessment reports are submitted to the BOT for discussion and action.
- Any identified risk at any time should be reported to the BOT.
- A risk assessment questionnaire must be completed for any funding request and accepted by the BOT before project proposals are approved.
6. Responsibilities
- The BOT has overall responsibility for managing health and safety and other risks.
- Managers or nominated BOT members ensure assessments are performed in their areas of control.
- All staff, contractors, members, donors, and recipients participate in the risk assessment process.
9. Risk Register
- The Manager or responsible BOT member ensures risks are reviewed and the register is updated.
- All risks are reported to and reviewed by the BOT on a quarterly basis.