As childcare businesses navigate the complexities of daily operations, one thing remains clear: building a culture around safety and compliance is critical.
Brett Neller, here.
In this article, I am sharing some insights from my career where I experienced safety and compliance not as a set of rules, but a core value that guided every person across the organization.
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In the childcare industry, mitigating risk goes beyond meeting regulatory compliance and licensing requirements. For an organization to be fully committed to the safety and compliance aspect of their business it must be deep-rooted within their culture. Strong safety and compliance protocols help to build trust with families and create an environment where staff members feel supported and are prepared to do their best work.
I have been fortunate enough to work across different industries where safety and compliance are critical success factors. During my time in the oil and gas industry, our training and onboarding materials emphasized that upholding safety standards and maintaining compliance was not an option. These expectations, which were emphasized on our first day, were an essential part of our job responsibilities - even in the corporate office. The company ingrained a culture of safety and compliance at every level of the organization, and it was embedded in everyday practices.
I remember looking outside from my office and being able to immediately identify my colleagues. This was not because of what they looked like or what they were wearing. I could easily identify them because they used the crosswalk while others jaywalked.
Seemingly small behaviors, like waiting patiently for crosswalk signals even when no cars were around, was a clear indication of how deeply rooted safety and compliance were in the company's DNA.
Risk management is about being prepared for what might be around the corner and proactively identifying action plans to mitigate something negative you want to avoid happening to your organization in the future.
Without a formal mechanism for actively identifying and managing risk, a risk management framework, your organization may struggle getting ahead of damaging situations and responding effectively when issues unexpectedly arise. Without adequate preparation you are putting children, staff, and your business in a vulnerable position.
LineLeader has found deploying a risk management framework to be extremely helpful to our organization. As outlined in our risk management charter, we host an internal monthly risk review board meeting. This consistent forum offers every function a seat at the table to present and help evaluate potential organizational risks. With members from every level of the organization present, the different perspectives allow the team to build comprehensive strategies to actively mitigate these risks. Our framework enables us prepare for the future and helps to maintain our SOC 2 compliance.
When your organization begins implementing a risk management framework, here are a few steps your team can take to begin looking around the corner and establishing governance around safety and compliance:
Building a culture around safety and compliance isn’t a one-time project—it’s a long-term commitment.
By taking a proactive approach to identifying, managing, and mitigating risks, you and your team can create an environment where staff are held accountable and take ownership, families feel safe, and children thrive.
For more information on building a culture around safety, compliance, and risk management in your organization be sure to tune into the full recording of our recent webinar.
Or for more tailored recommendations, reach out to me on LinkedIn.