Risk Assessment means never having to say 'No!'

I have come across a wonderful tool for people who don't wish to use the dreaded 'N' word!

Using this you will never need to say 'no' again, but that which you wish not to happen will be stopped dead in its tracks. Those who wish to do stuff you don't want will be rendered impotent and life will be one long holiday where you get your way all the time in just about every area.

The key to this is the use of what I think I will call 'A Recursive Management Tool' (RMT) and it works like this:

Some bright spark has an idea that they'd like to do something, outdoors, with the youth group as Spring is on the way. You don't like the idea and you don't want it to be done so call the bright individual (AKA 'the enthusiast') who had the idea. "What a super idea, I love it, before you do it could you do a risk assessment on what you want to do so we can make sure it's safe, and more important still, be sure that we're covered in case things do go wrong."

Having had their idea endorsed, the bright star rushes off and sets about putting together a risk assessment. Three to four weeks later, after a bit of clarification and 'fine-tuning' (may take longer if you're brighter than the bright thing!), the risk assessment is done and the bright individual returns looking for a date to do stuff.

"Wonderful idea. Where do you plan to do this outdoor thing?" you ask (innocently). Listen intently and applaud the inventiveness of using the piece of land that they have identified as the ideal place for their endeavours. Then, having been positive and supportive of all they have outlined you ask whether they could do a risk assessment of the place they want to use making special note of ownership, access (especially for emergency vehicles), who else might be using it, potential for disturbing others and the like.

Our 'Enthusiast' will leave feeling encouraged and supportive and rush off to find out what is what and who might be there. When the come back help them to refine the location's risk assessment and then, when they think it's done, ask them to go a draw up a map of the place with reference points for emergency services and map references (for instance, the garden of Lambeth Palace is TQ 30623 79077 and it can be found at 51.495556 (Lat) -0.1197222 (long). If you are feeling kind TQ 30 79 will do).

By the time they return with the assessment complete you can extend the exercise by asking them to check on what time sunset is for the days the happenings will happen and perhaps get them to check on lighting in the car par and on paths as things finish. After all, we can't be too safe, can we?

Having done this the (slightly less) 'Enthusiast' returns with everything done ready to start things rolling (at last). Having started in March it is now mid-June and all you need to do now is write to the land-owner and check that they are happy with this use and enquire whether there would be any cost incurred for using the land (which although it is a public space, might be subject to some hereto untold levy) and whether there would be a need for liability insurance for the events which are to take place.

After a space of but a few weeks it transpires that you need a liability insurance policy for the things to happen. This then means:

a. You write to the church insurers and ask them how much it will cost to have the additional cover,

b. You ask the Treasurer to look at the cost implication of providing the extra insurance cover and wait for them to come back with the information. Having received this information you then get the question of approval for the insurance tabled for the next PCC meeting (which now being July/August means September at the earliest) for them to approve the proposed expenditure. Once the meeting has met and approved it you can now move on (either way).

The insurance is in place, the risk assessments are complete and everything appears fine for the use of the location.

But sadly it is now October and the nights are drawing in and the weather is getting colder and wetter and there's a chance of rain (perhaps even sleet) and so it's best that we wait until next march before we start with this excellent scheme.

And of course, we still need detailed lesson plans and other information - but that can wait until next April!

So there we have it. How to ensure that you can keep being positive, never say 'No' and never see whatever it is that you don't want happening and remain the good guy all the way through.

Enjoy!