It is also important to remember that any organisation has to be bigger and stronger than any one individual if it is to survive once that individual is no longer around - after all…. no-one lives forever!
So, written procedures and policies are important for a number of good reasons:-
They show the people involved with your organisation that you appreciate them, and are thinking about their safety and wellbeing;
They help to avoid expensive mistakes;
Everyone involved with the organisation will know what the organisation is about, not just a few key people …..
When key individuals leave an organisation - as they will - the organisation can continue in the spirit in which it was set up;
They help to avoid ambiguity;
Funders like it!
OFF-THE SHELF POLICIES
A number of ready-made policies
exist - so you won’t always have
to start from scratch … but … do beware of simply taking
someone else’s procedures as being suitable for your own needs.
Have a look at them, pick out the best bits, throw out the parts which
aren’t relevant, and most important of all - discuss them with
everyone else who is involved; they need to know what the organisation’s
policies and procedures are too
