This Policy describes the measures to be taken at the Organisation to ensure continuity of service delivery in the event of an emergency that causes major disruption to critical systems and procedures.

This is also known as a DISASTER RECOVERY POLICY or a CRISIS MANAGEMENT POLICY:

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A: KEY PRINCIPLES:

1. The purpose of this Policy is to describe in broad terms how Prime Recruitment Ltd will minimise major disruption to care service delivery and, in the event of a major incident, how recovery of the critical services that support the Organisation will be achieved.

2. Critical events are classified as those which may impact upon the business in the short term, and those which may have longer or far-reaching implications. These will primarily focus on the Organisation’s premises and management facilities.

3. In all aspects of service delivery there will be a need to safeguard and prioritise the special needs of service users who are likely to be the most vulnerable through age, physical disabilities, learning difficulties, and those with mental health disorders.

B: CRITICAL EVENTS & DISASTER RECOVERY ACTION PLANS:

1. The tables on pages 2 and 3 of this Policy list the events that could constitute an emergency or a crisis for the Organisation through severe disruption of the day-to-day running of the business. In each case provision is made for recording the action that will need to be taken to ensure continuity of the business. The Manager of the Organisation will consult with appropriate senior staff to develop actual action plans in each case.

2. This Business Continuity Planning Policy will form an essential part of staff training plans to ensure total awareness of action to be taken in the event of an emergency.

3. This Business Continuity Planning Policy will be subject to review on an annual basis.

CRITICAL EVENTS THAT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BUSINESS:

A: SHORT-TERM INCIDENTS:

CRITICAL EVENT DETAILS

1. NATURAL DISASTERS Flooding through heavy rain or burst pipes.

Structural damages to premises following a storm.

2. LOSS OF POWER Power cuts resulting in inability to use IT or telecom systems.

3. IT SYSTEM FAILURES System crash and lack of proper back-up facilities. Attack by hackers / viruses.

4. THEFT, BURGLARY Theft of computer equipment, resulting in data loss.

OR VANDALISM Vandalism to property resulting in delays to service. 5. RESTRICTED ACCESS Unable to enter premises through bomb scare, gas leak etc.

TO PREMISES

6. CRISES AFFECTING Key material supplies are interrupted through critical events at

SUPPLIERS the suppliers.

CRITICAL EVENTS THAT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BUSINESS:

B: LONGER-TERM INCIDENTS:

CRITICAL EVENT DETAILS

1. OUTBREAK OF INFECTION Leads to serious staff shortages (see 4. below)

AMONG STAFF

2. ENFORCED SUSPENSION Regulatory Enforcement Notices (e.g. Regulatory OR CLOSURE OF BUSINESS Authority, Environmental Health, and Health & Safety Executive).

3. FIRE AT PREMISES Loss of facilities, equipment and data.

4. LONG-TERM SHORTAGE Loss of staff through illness, resignations, etc, and OF STAFF inability to replace staff quickly either with temporary (Agency) staff, or with permanent staff.

5. TERRORIST ATTACKS At location of premises, denying access and leading to massive disruption of the business.

6. FINANCIAL PROBLEMS Cash-flow or solvency problems which could compromise on-going service delivery.