Business Continuity Management Policy and Process.
Purpose of the Plan
1. Introduction.
Business Continuity Management has been implemented to allow Merseyside Fire &
Rescue Authority to operate in the event of any Major Business Interruption (�Major
Business Interruption� is defined as a business interruption which
affects a number of service areas in their entirety or more than one specific site�.
Or �a major business interruption � is defined as a business interruption that requires
a ELT/CLT Directors response and activation of the specific Business Continuity
Plan) that affects its normal business and to meet its obligations under the Civil
Contingencies Act 2004. This Business Continuity Procedure establishes an operational
framework for proactive resilience to disruption, interruption or loss in supplying
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Services. Business Continuity Management is an ongoing
process of risk assessment and management with the purpose of ensuring that MFRA
can continue to operate if risks materialise. Business Continuity Management should
not be in reaction to a Business Interruption incident, but a planned response,
requiring planning across all facets of the organisation. The processes and responsibilities
contained within this Procedure have the full support of the Merseyside Fire &
Rescue Authority and Corporate Leadership Team (CLT), as MFRA resilience depends
equally on its managers and operational staff, as well as on technology.
2. Purpose.
Every year some 20% of organisations suffer a major disruption through, fire, flood,
storm, terrorism, power outages or ICT failure.
This document will enable MFRA to identify the impact of potential losses arising
from such Business Interruption incidents, to formulate and implement viable continuity
strategies, and to develop continuity plans which will ensure continuity of Merseyside
Fire & Rescue Service in the event of a Business Interruption incident.
This overarching Procedure links to Business Continuity Plans for all departments.
These plans are a documented collection of procedures and information that are developed,
compiled and maintained in readiness for use in a Business Interruption incident,
not to be confused with Disaster Recovery, which is the enactment of the selected
Business Continuity Plan in reaction to a Business Interruption incident. Part of
Business Continuity Planning will be a requirement to conduct a Business Impact
Analysis for all departments within Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service. To assess
the quantitative (e.g. Financial and Service levels) and the qualitative (e.g. operational,
reputation, legal and regulatory), impacts and loss resulting from a major Business
Interruption incident. To conduct a Business Impact Resource Recovery Analysis that
will assist in identifying the minimum level of resource required to enable recovery
for each department. I.e. Laptops, Mobiles phones, personnel etc.
3. The plans address. (See separate Appendix of departmental Business continuity
Plans BCP on Public Folders, Business Continuity Plans)
- Total loss of any Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Department.
- Significant/partial damage to any Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Department.
- Significant/partial Failure of the Information Technology system.
- Loss of /damage to information/data
- Loss of/disruption to primary utilities.
- Loss of staff/Pandemic.
- Loss of suppliers.
4. Activation/De-activation.
The appropriate sections of this procedure and the associated departmental plan(s)
will be activated/De-activated by the Strategic Management Team in the event that
any one or more of the events listed in (3.0) above occurs.
5. Plan Ownership
The Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority supported by the Corporate Leadership Team
fully support Business Continuity Management and recognise that in any Major Business
Interruption where the procedure and subsequent plan(s) are evoked, tough decisions
will need to be made, which this procedure will assist in providing the framework.
Signed by Chair of the Authority and the Chief Fire Officer for Merseyside Fire
and Rescue Service
Authority Chair. _____________________________
Chief Fire Officer ______________________________