ALARM E-LIBRARY: LINKS TO WEBSITES

 

This page lists websites containing information relevant to the management of risk throughout the public sector. The sites are organised under the following headings:

 

1.       UK GOVERNMENT

2.       UK PUBLIC BODIES

3.       UK HEALTH SECTOR

4.       UK POLICE

5.       UK FIRE SERVICES

6.       UK HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS

7.       UK PROFESSIONAL BODIES AND INSTITUTES

8.       UK BROKERS AND INSURERS

9.       INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL BODIES, INSTITUTES & NETWORKS

10.     CHARITIES

 

(Please send suggestions for additions or deletions to the ALARM secretariat)

 

To link to the E-Library for Risk Management Journals click here.

 

To link to useful risk management databases click here.

 

 

1. UK GOVERNMENT

 

BETTER REGULATION EXECUTIVE
Address: http://bre.berr.gov.uk/regulation/ 

Established in May 2005 to progress the work of the Regulatory Impact Unit, the better Regulation Executive is now part of the new Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. The above webpage contains various useful links, including guidance on the implementation of the Hampton principles and the new Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act.  The BRE now has its own website which invites public comments on existing regulations ( http://www.betterregulation.gov.uk/ ). See also the Better Regulation Commission (http://www.brc.gov.uk/ ), an advisory body created in 2005 to be independent of government.

 

CABINET OFFICE
Address: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/public_service_reform.aspx

Provides a listing of useful links relating to public sector reform, including: The Delivery Council, the Contact Council, the Strategy Unit, the Ceremonial Secretariat, the Charter Mark, Workforce Matters and the Office of Public Sector Information.

 

CABINET OFFICE PERFORMANCE AND INFORMATION UNIT

STRATEGIC THINKERS SEMINAR
Address: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy/seminars/risk.aspx

Contains details of a seminar on managing risk and uncertainty.

 

COMMUNITIES & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Address: http://www.communities.gov.uk/

Communities and Local Government has recently replaced the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. This webpage has searchable links to a range of risk-related documents, including technical notes dealing with partnership risk in local authorities:                       (http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/135115 )

 

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Address: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/risk/index.htm

This webpage contains various useful risk-related guidance documents. Use the search facility to find DEFRA risk management strategies relating to flood and coastal erosion.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Address: http://www.dh.gov.uk/

Links to a range of risk-related documents, including the May 2007 ‘Independence, Choice and Risk: A Guide to Best Practice in Supported Decision-Making’ which sets out principles for the management of risk within adult social care, and  proposes a new ‘supported decision tool’ for use by care practitioners.  The June 2007 ‘Best Practice in Managing Risk’ document is also available here.

 

DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS

Address: http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/

Contains a resource centre with corporate and policy publications. This gives access to the influential 2007 best practice guidance on simplification within the benefits system, which provides valuable and widely applicable tips on what simplification means and how it can be achieved.

 

HEALTH & SAFETY EXECUTIVE
Address: http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/index.htm

Enforcement authority for health and safety throughout the UK. This webpage provides

practical guidance on risk management, including an extensive list of industry-specific guides to best practice. There is also a regular ‘myth of the month’ feature which seeks to remedy common misperceptions of health and safety regulation.

 

HM TREASURY
Address: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ 

Links for PFI and the Public Spending Review. Click on the A-Z search facility and look under ‘R’ for ‘Risk Support’. Clicking on this will take you to an extensive listing of Treasury documents on risk management.

 

HM TREASURY 'ORANGEBOOK'
Address: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/3/5/FE66035B-BCDC-D4B3-11057A7707D2521F.pdf  Direct link to the Orange Book 'Management of Risk - Principles and Concepts', published in October 2004.

 

INFO4LOCAL

Address: http://www.info4local.gov.uk/

This website is an information gateway intended to allow local authorities to access news and information about government departments, agencies and public bodies.

 

NORTHERN IRELANDEXECUTIVE

Address:  http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/

This website contains an A-Z index which lists government departments, local authorities and public bodies in Northern Ireland. Link to these external sites for information resources dealing with risk management. For example, the Office of the First Minister and Deputy Prim Minister deals with the ongoing development of PPP in Northern Ireland and has made publications available on this topic:  (http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/index/economic-policy/public-private-partnership.htm)

 

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT COMMERCE
Address: http://www.ogc.gov.uk/sdtoolkit/reference/ogc_library/generic_guidance/risk_hbook.pdf

This website for public sector organisations includes a ‘successful delivery toolkit’. Go to the ‘introduction to the delivery toolkit’ section and click on ‘find out more’ to access various risk-based ‘tools and techniques’.

 

PRIME MINISTER'S STRATEGY UNIT
Address: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy 

Click on ‘publications’ and scroll down through the various documents to  find the November 2002 publication 'Risk: Improving Government's Capability to Handle

Risk and Uncertainty'.

 

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Address: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/

This site contains an extensive list of publications, including the September 2007 Crerar Review of Regulation, Audit, Inspection and Complaints Handling of Scottish Public Services (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/82980/0053065.pdf )

 

WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT

Address: http://new.wales.gov.uk/

This website is arranged around topic areas, including a new topic area dedicated to improving public services.  A wide range of documents produced by the National Assembly for Wales is available here.

 

 

2. UK PUBLIC BODIES

 

AUDIT COMMISSION
Address: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/

an independent public body responsible for ensuring that public money is spent economically, efficiently and effectively in the areas of local government, housing, health, criminal justice and fire and rescue services. Provides links to a range of data and reports on issues such as Service Assessment Frameworks, CPA and Best Value.

 

AUDIT SCOTLAND
Address: http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/

Links to Accounts Commission and to guidance and audit reports on Best Value. Also provides ‘priorities and risk framework’ (PRF) documents which advise auditors annually on the key risks facing Scottish local authorities.

 

DIRECTGOV
Address: http://direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm

The government’s information resource website for ‘public services all in one place’. See in particular the A-Z  list of central government departments, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies (http://direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/A-ZOfCentralGovernment/index.htm ).

 

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Address: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/

The leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. In addition to a number of corporate reports, there are links to a free quarterly magazine called 'Your Environment'.  Worth noting also is the Environment Agency’s  Tools and Techniques Science Program which places it at the forefront of the development of risk -based assessment and decision support tools. For Scotland, see SEPA (below).

 

HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING COUNCIL
Address: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/finance/assurance/guide/risk.asp

Risk management guidance for universities and colleges.

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFORMATION UNIT
Address: http://www.lgiu.gov.uk/

An independent research and information organisation, with membership drawn from councils and public sector trade unions. Free registration gives access to a range of documents.

 

NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE
Address: http://www.nao.org.uk/

The NAO audit the accounts of all central government departments and agencies,

as well as a wide range of other public bodies, and report to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which they have used public money. This site contains a publications database search facility which gives access to a range of publications and good practice guides, including the 2008 report on risk allocation within Ministry of Defence PFI projects.

 

NORTHERN IRELANDAUDIT OFFICE
Address: http://www.niauditoffice.gov.uk/

Provides information, advice and assurance on the use of public funds in Northern Ireland.

 

SCOTTISH ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY
Address: http://www.sepa.org.uk/

SEPA is the public body responsible for environmental protection in Scotland. This site contains links to a number of environmental reports, information leaflets and guidance documents on issues such as waste disposal and flood risk. SEPA operate 24 hour phonelines to enable the reporting of pollution and floods, and provide online flood warnings.

 

UKRESILIENCE
Address: http://www.ukresilience.info/home.htm

Website of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat, providing links to a wide range of sources relating to emergencies and crises. Notably, the structure of this website is itself risk-based. The homepage lists high profile risks facing the UK, and allows browsers to click on each identified risk to access frequently updated information.

 

WALES AUDIT OFFICE
Address: http://www.wao.gov.uk/

Established on 1 April 2005 as the single body responsible for audit and inspection of Welsh public services. This website links to a range of publications and hosts a ‘good practice exchange’ on a range of topics such as managing sickness absence.

 

3. UK HEALTH SECTOR

 

HCSU (HEALTHCARE STANDARDS UNIT)
Address: http://www.hcsu.org.uk/

Links to legislation, regulation and policy documents pertinent to the Health Care Commission’s ‘Standards for Better Health’.

 

HEALTHCARE COMMISSION

Address: http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/

The regulator for healthcare in England. Click on ‘healthcare providers’ and then ‘national findings’ for a list of publications.

 

NATIONAL LIBRARY FOR HEALTH
Address: http://www.library.nhs.uk/

Searchable resource for NHS staff, patients and the general public.

 

NHS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SCOTLAND
Address: http://www.nhshealthquality.org/

The main body responsible for risk management and patient safety in the NHS in Scotland. Contains links to news, events and publications. 

 

NHS CLINICAL GOVERNANCE SUPPORT TEAM
Address: http://www.cgsupport.org/

Contains information relating to clinical governance within the NHS, including practical advice based upon the work of local NHS Teams.

 

NHS NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY AGENCY
Address: http://www.npsa.nhs.uk/

News, information and links relevant to patient safety within the NHS.

 

SCOTTISH COMMISSION FOR THE REGULATION OF CARE

Address: http://www.carecommission.com/

The regulator for all adult, child and independent healthcare services in Scotland. This website includes a large and frequently updated publications library. 

 

SAFERHEALTHCARE
Address: http://www.saferhealthcare.org.uk/

Patient safety resource partnered by the National Patient Safety Agency, BMJ Publishing Group and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. The ‘topics’ section is conveniently set out and provides useful links.

 

4. UK POLICE

 

ACPO (ASSOCIATION OF CHIEF POLICE OFFICERS)
Address: http://www.acpo.police.uk/

Includes news releases, as well as policy and guidance documents, relating to the coordination and development of police work in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. There is also an A-Z listing of useful links.

 

ACPOS (ASSOCIATION OF CHIEF POLICE OFFICERS IN SCOTLAND)
Address: http://www.acpos.police.uk/

ACPOS is the strategic body which oversees and coordinates Scottish police work. Their new website contains policy documents and frequently updated news releases.

 

APA (ASSOCIATION OF POLICE AUTHORITIES)
Address: http://www.apa.police.uk/apa

Searchable resource containing publications which relate to the work of police associations throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

 

NPIA (NATIONAL POLICING IMPROVEMENT AGENCY)
Address: http://www.npia.police.uk/

New agency designed to support police forces and authorities across England and Wales. The publications section contains a special webpage on ‘doctrine development’ which lists a broad range of publications (see http://www.npia.police.uk/en/5214.htm).

 

5. UK FIRE SERVICES

 

CFOA (CHIEF FIRE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION)
Address: http://www.cfoa.org.uk/

The professional voice of the UK Fire and Rescue Service. Publications available to members.

 

APFO (ASSOCIATION OF PRINCIPAL FIRE OFFICERS)

Address: http://www.apfo.org.uk/.

Association which protects and promotes the interests of those who lead the UK Fire and Rescure Service.

 

FBU (FIRE BRIGADES UNION)
Address: http://www.fbu.org.uk/

Contains useful publications and links to a wide range of websites.

 

FIRENET
Address: http://www.fire.org.uk/

Filled with information relating to fire services and fire safety within the UK, including passages dealing with risk management and risk assessment taken from the Fire Service Guides. Also contains extensive lists of relevant governmental and professional bodies, within the UK and internationally.

 

FPA (FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION)
Address: http://www.thefpa.co.uk/

Contains publications, software and other products which can be bought online, including Fire Risk Management Guides which have recently become available.

  

 

6. UK HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS

 

COMMUNITIES SCOTLAND
Address:  http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/

Contains separate guidance and publications sections with useful documents dealing with such topics as environmental risk, risk transfer, and risk management in relation to value for money.

 

DEPARTMENT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (NORTHERN IRELAND)
Address: http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/hsdiv-housing/registered_housing_associations/ha_guide.htm

This links directly to the Department for Social Development’s guidance for Housing Associations in Northern Ireland who receive capital grants/allocations from them.

 

NETWORK HOUSING GROUP
Address: http://www.networkhg.org.uk/ 

Partnership of housing organizations. Updated news features and publications section.

 

SFHA (SCOTTISH FEDERATION OF HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS)
Address: http://www.sfha.co.uk/

Trade body representing Scottish Housing Associations and commercial businesses within the Scottish housing sector. Lists publications which can be purchased online. 

 

THE HOUSING CORPORATION
Address: http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/

Use their search facility to access various useful publications including a series of risk management topic papers, and the 2007-2009 Research, Innovation and Analysis Strategy.

 

THE NATIONAL HOUSING FEDERATION
Address: http://www.housing.org.uk/

Representative body for independent, not-for-profit Housing Associations throughout England. Includes a searchable list of ‘free publications’ and provides links to the websites of relevant governmental and trade bodies.

 

TRIBAL GROUP
Address: http://www.tribalgroup.co.uk/index.php?id=444&ob=1

Provider of consultancy and professional support services. This webpage mentions their risk management toolkit designed for housing association providers of support and social care services.

7. UK PROFESSIONAL BODIES AND INSTITUTES

 

AIRMIC (ASSOCIATION OF RISK & INSURANCE MANAGERS)
Address: http://airmic.com/

Information on seminars, annual conference and membership. The downloads library includes risk and insurance guides, and risk management standards.

 

BCI (BUSINESS CONTINUITY INSTITUTE)
Address: http://www.thebci.org/

Recognition and qualifications for business continuity practitioners and access to a range of business continuity guidance documents.

 

CII (CHARTERED INSURANCE INSTITUTE)
Address: http://www.cii.co.uk/cii.aspx

Professional organisation for those working in insurance and financial services.

 

CIPFA (CHARTERED INSTITUTEOF PUBLIC FINANCE  AND ACCOUNTANCY)
Address: http://www.cipfa.org/

A very substantial and broad-ranging resource. Click on the ‘technical’ section for access to many topical briefing notes, as well as publications such as the ‘prudential code for capital finance in local authorities’ and the influential ‘good governance standard for public services.

 

ICAEW (INSTITUTEOF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS FOR ENGLAND AND WALES)
Address: http://www.icaew.co.uk/librarylinks/index.cfm?aub=tb21_36725

The library and information service lists books and articles on risk management. It also includes a particularly useful ‘what’s new this month’ section which links to important documents as they become available on external sites. 

 

IIA (INSTITUTEOF INTERNAL AUDITORS)
Address: http://www.iia.org.uk/

Open access to 'Internal Auditing and Business Risk' Magazine, and to a range of reports such as the 2007 ‘IT Risk - Closing the Gap’ survey.

 

IOSH (INSTITUTEOF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH)
Address: http://www.iosh.co.uk/

Europe's leading body for health and safety professionals; training and technical information.

 

IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Address: http://www.idea.gov.uk/

The IDeA is owned by the Local Government Association. Its website provides lists of professional networks in local government and, following free registration, also provides access to a range of risk-related documents.

 

IPF (INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC FINANCE LTD)

Address: http://www.ipf.co.uk/governance/risk/

The IPF risk management website is part of the Better Governance Forum, which also has streams on counter fraud, ethical standards, information governance and security management.

 

IRM (INSTITUTEOF RISK MANAGEMENT)
Address: http://www.theirm.org/

Internationally recognised professional qualifications in risk management (Associateship and Fellowship); annual lecture, risk forum and regional meetings.

 

SOLACE (SOCIETY OF LOCAL AUTHORITY CHIEF EXECUTIVES AND SENIOR MANAGERS)
Address: http://www.solace.org.uk/

The representative body for senior strategic managers in local government; range of courses, conferences and publications available.

 

UNISON
Address: http://www.unison.org.uk/

The UK’s largest Trade Union, covering the full range of public services. Scroll down to the ‘resources’ section which contains a documents database, as well as newsgroups and discussion fora.

8. UK BROKERS AND INSURERS

 

AON
Address: http://www.aon.com/grms2007/default.jsp

Link to the 2007 Global Risk Management Survey.

 

BEST
Address: http://www.capitabest.co.uk/

Leading provider to schools and councils of school accident and illness insurance, supply teacher insurance and school budget protection.

 

GALLAGHER BASSETT
Address: http://www.gallagherbassett.co.uk/

Lists of forthcoming risk management events and links to articles published in the ‘Focus' Magazine.

 

HEATH LAMBERT
Address: http://www.heathlambert.com/

Europe’s largest independent insurance and reinsurance broker. Click on ‘specialist services’ for details of services relating to financial risk, political risk, risk management and many other specialisms. There is also a broad range of up-to-date brochures and reports.

 

MARSH
Address: http://www.marsh.co.uk/

Pages for public, voluntary, education and healthcare sectors. Publications, which are searchable by risk issue, include advice on the new Corporate Manslaughter Act, and have a strong risk focus.

 

RMP (RISK MANAGEMENT PARTNERS)
Address: http://www.rmpartners.co.uk/

A range of articles and newsletters on issues such as best value, EL and claims management.

 

ST PAULTRAVELERS
Address: http://www.stpaultravelers.co.uk/

Offers a wide variety of insurance and surety products to businesses, organizations and individuals. Click on the insurance company link to find a list of risk management services and an associated factsheet.

 

ZURICHMUNICIPAL
Address: http://www.zurich.co.uk/Municipal/ZMHome/Welcome.htm

The information library contains a broad range of guidance documents and survey reports. There is also a page dedicated to risk management services which contains a number of links on the theme of partnership risk.

 

9. INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL BODIES, INSTITUTES & NETWORKS

 

AMERICAN RISK AND INSURANCE ASSOCIATION
Address: http://aria.org/

Professional association of scholars and practitioners in risk management and insurance. Provides details of relevant journals, newsletters and conferences.

 

EIRM (EUROPEAN INSTITUTE FOR RISK MANAGEMENT)
Address: http://www.eirm.net/

An independent knowledge centre, based in Denmark, with access to a range of documents and papers about risk management and risk leadership in the public and private sectors.  There is a special section providing risk management guidance for local authorities. A very good resource for keeping up-to-date with recent survey reports such as the World Economic Forum’s (2007) ‘Global Risks’ survey.

 

GARP (GLOBAL ASSOCIATION OF RISK PROFESSIONALS)
Address: http://www.garp.com/index.asp

A members' association for professionals involved in financial risk management; provides worldwide courses / seminars, access to risk news and survey results.

 

GLOBAL CONTINUITY.COM
Address: http://www.globalcontinuity.com/

Resources for business continuity and disaster recovery.

 

PRIMA (PUBLIC RISK MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION)
Address: http://www.primacentral.org/

An organisation for public sector risk practitioners in the USA; non-member access to resources is limited.

 

RISKCENTER
Address: http://www.riskcenter.com/

Online news service for financial risk professionals. Contains a particularly useful ‘recommended reading’ section.

 

RMIA (RISK MANAGEMENT INSTITUTION OF AUSTRALASIA)
Address: http://www.rmia.org.au/

Association for those involved in managing risk in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, and a lead organisation in the promotion of the influential AS/NZS 4360 Risk Management Standard.

 

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA
Address: http://www.riskmanagement.com.au/

The Australian Standard 4360 Risk Management Portal. A range of publications, including the standard, are available for purchase here.

 

USDEPT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Address: http://www.riskcommunication.samhsa.gov/RiskComm.pdf

2002 Handbook advising public officials on how to communicate risk in crisis situations; highly detailed, simple and practical.

 

 

10. CHARITIES

 

 

CFDG (CHARITY FINANCE DIRECTORS’ GROUP)
Address: http://www.cfdg.org.uk/

This site contains frequently-updated, news, events and training features. It also hosts an online information service called the Charities Resource Network (CRN). From the homepage, follow the link from the ‘informing’ tab to the ‘library’ option which then appears. This brings up the online CRN library which is searchable by topic and keyword. 

 

CHARITIES COMMISSION
Address: http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/tcc/riskframe.asp

The regulator and register of charities in England and Wales. This site provides a framework for risk management within the charities sector.

 

CHARITIES COMMISSION
Address: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/investigations/charrisk.asp

Further guidance and links from the Charities Commission. This includes details of the risk management obligations created by the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2000, including the specific requirement for charity trustees to ensure systems are established to mitigate major risks.

 

CHARITIES Direct
Address: http://www.alarm-uk.org/edit/%20http:/www.charitiesdirect.com

This site lists charity advisors and permits a database search of financial information pertaining to charities.

 

OFFICE OF THE THIRD SECTOR

Address: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector

Set up within the Cabinet Office in 2006, the Office of the Third Sector seeks to promote the UK’s third sector through partnership working, funding programmes such as the new Innovation Exchange, the promotion of good regulation, and the development of the sector’s evidence base. Thorough and well-organised website with sections covering such matters as charity law and regulation. Sign up here for the Office of the Third Sector Newsletter.

 

PKF ACCONTANTS & BUSINESS ADVISERS
Address: http://www.pkf.co.uk/pkf/sectors/not-for-profit/home

This site has a publications search facility which gives access to various documents including the Charity Risk Report 2007 (see http://www.pkf.co.uk/pkf/publications/charity_risk_report&goto=4).

 

THIRD SECTOR

Address: http://thirdsector.co.uk/

Free online news, opinion and analysis for the voluntary and non-for-profit sector, with some resources reserved for subscribers.

 

Z/YEN - RISK/REWARD MANAGERS  
Address: http://www.zyen.com/Sectors/not_for_profit.htm

This site outlines a risk management framework for charities, and links to a wide range of risk-related books and articles.