Created: July 26, 2013 at 12:00 PM | Updated: August 28, 2018 | By Community Resource Kit
Policies are the guiding principles by which an organisation is run. They set out a group's kaupapa and tikanga (the core values and principles), and the processes by which the group operates.
Tip: Policies are designed to influence and determine all major decisions and actions taken by an organisation. Procedures provide specific guidelines for actioning these policies.
Policies:
- clarify the organisation's mission, values and strategic direction
- provide boundaries and instructions for appropriate action
- provide guidelines to ensure consistent decision-making
- provide a consistent response to commonly occurring events
- define membership priorities and standards
- ensure the group is accountable, safeguarding it from possible legal problems or criticism.
Organisations should have two levels of policy:
- Governance policies - designed, endorsed and monitored by the board. e.g. an organisation's mission statement.
- Operational policies - designed, endorsed and monitored by management, e.g. an organisation's policy on computer use.
Policies resources in the Community Resource Kit
- Introduction to Policies (you are here)
- What's in this section?
- Words used
- Why have policies?
- Developing policies
- Important policies
- Health and safety
- Sample health and safety policy and procedures
- Complaints
- Sample complaints policy and procedures
- Volunteers
- Sample volunteer policy and procedures
- Te Tiriti o Waitangi Treaty of Waitangi
- Writing a Treaty policy - some focus questions
- Understanding the principles of the Treaty
Words used
- policies - set out the kaupapa and tikanga; what needs to happen (or not).
- procedures - set out the processes for putting policy into action.
Why have policies?
Some reasons for a group to maintain a set of policies are:
- so the people in an organisation have a framework for action that helps them get on with the job
- efficiency - so people in the organisation don't have to discuss the same issues every time they arise. One well thought-out decision can be applied to many similar cases
- to provide transparency and accountability to the work of the organisation
- to comply with legal and regulatory requirements
- to comply with accreditation standards, and
- to keep improving the quality of service and delivery.
Stakeholder
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Benefits of having a clear policy framework
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Clients/service recipients
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- know what to expect and how to address any concerns.
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Staff (including volunteers)
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- have clear roles and boundaries
- know what is expected of them
- can rely on the policies to say no when asked to do something that is outside policy (e.g. that may involve a conflict of interest).
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Management
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- has a framework for managing the organisation
- is provided with a degree of protection when challenged about issues beyond their control where proper procedures have been followed (e.g. if a child is harmed and a community agency working with the family blamed).
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Committee/board members
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- have a way of setting and communicating the values of the organisation both internally and externally.
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Other community members/agencies
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- know where the organisation stands and where other groups may link in with them.
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Funders (including potential funders)
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- can see whether (or how) a funding proposal fits in with the organisational mission and values
- are provided with a degree of confidence that the organisation is able to undertake the project for which it is seeking funding.
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The organisation
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- is able to present itself clearly
- manages its risks.
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(Adapted from Paul Bullen Management Alternatives: http://www.mapl.com.au/policy/tp1.htm)
Next page: Developing policies
Contents of the Community Resource Kit