Developing Policies
HJL’s approach to developing policy is rooted in inclusivity, transparency, fairness, sustainability and radicalness. Our aim is to create and develop policies that not only align with our values but also reflect our actual needs. We try to go what is ‘beyond the norm’. In the back of my mind when developing policies is the question ‘what would we like this policy to contain if there was a truly free, inclusive & equitable world that was properly financially resourced?’
Where it’s right and necessary to do so, we engage and consult with folks at all levels, from practitioners and facilitators to peers and others within our ecosystem, to ensure that our policies reflect the diverse needs within our organisation & communities as well as ensuring they align with our values. We learn and draw from organisations within our eco-system, with a view to open-sourcing our learnings and policies.
The key steps in our policy development process include:
- Needs Assessment: We generally begin by undertaking a thorough assessment to help us identify gaps and areas for improvement.
- Team/Stakeholder Consultation: Involving the team is fundamental to our policy development process. We engage with others to seek & gather advice, share knowledge & experiences (good and bad) and seek feedback.
- Research and Benchmarking: Look at existing policies developed by like-minded & similar organisations to help inform our policies that are as radical as possible and grounded in our values and principles.
- Drafting and Review: Develop draft policies which are then reviewed by the team and peers to ensure comprehensiveness, clarity and feasibility.
- Approval and Implementation: Finalise policies with leadership approval and implement them with clear communication and training, where necessary.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: We undertake regular reviews – including staff feedback – to assess the effectiveness of our policies and make necessary adjustments based on feedback and changing needs.
Role of Operations and Administration
In organisations such as HJL, the role of operations and administration is pivotal. They are the backbone of our organisation, ensuring that the rest of the teams within the organisation are well-supported and efficiently managed. These functions ensure that our values-driven work is supported by robust, efficient, and adaptable systems.
Key responsibilities include:
- Resource Management: Efficient & effective allocation and use of financial, personnel, and physical resources to achieve our goals
- Operational Efficiency: Create streamlined processes and procedures to improve organisational effectiveness – this could include implementing new technology and improving communication channels
- Compliance and Risk Management: Ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory requirements is a critical function of Operations & Admin. We proactively identify and manage risks, helping to safeguard the organisation against any potential risks.
- Support Services: Providing essential support services such as HR, recruitment and facilities management to enable the team to focus on their core activities.
- Financial Management: Monitor and analyse financial performance to ensure financial health and sustainability and develop financial and budgetary plans.
Sources of Inspiration, Resourcing, and Support
We collectively draw inspiration and support from a variety of sources to continually improve our operations:
- Peer Organisations: We learn from the experiences and best practices of similar organisations within our ecosystems. Regular interactions through collective peer groups and collaborative projects helps us to stay informed and inspired
- Lived Experience Folks: Consulting and engaging with LEX folks for insight and innovative solutions. Seeking such insight helps us develop and adopt best practices as well as navigate complex challenges
- Community Feedback: Valuing the insights and feedback from the communities we work with to ensure our operations remain relevant and responsive.
Questions We’re Reckoning With
As we strive to enhance our operational effectiveness, we continuously engage with several critical questions:
- How can we balance efficiency with our commitment to inclusivity and participatory decision-making?
- What innovative approaches can we adopt to optimise our resource allocation in an environment that is becoming increasingly difficult to fund?
- How do we ensure that our practices are effective in demonstrating our impact?
- In what ways can we strengthen our risk management strategies to anticipate and mitigate potential challenges?
By addressing these questions, we aim to build a resilient and adaptive operational framework that supports our values and drives our organisation forward. Our approach to operations in a movement-centred organisation is holistic, inclusive and radical that aims to drive meaningful change in the communities we serve.
