Data breaches and losses should be a thing of the past, although recent high profile incidents highlight that this is still not the case. The mismanagement of data and information comes with potentially serious and very costly implications, particularly where personal information about vulnerable members of the public is concerned.
I recently read an article about a local authority who lost a memory stick holding sensitive information. Whilst I gather the memory stick was encrypted, it does raise questions around data sharing and security particularly when secure and trusted collaboration platforms pose such a compelling alternative to old ways of working.
Typically such incidents occur as a result of procedure not being followed and / or poor decision making. Increasingly public services are looking to bring their processes in line with recognised International Standards (i.e ISO 27001 as Alliantist have) and decision models. One such model that is being implemented on a national basis is the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) National Decision Model (NDM).
The NDM was designed by ACPO to help police officers and staff develop the professional judgement necessary to make effective policing decisions and to learn from the outcomes of those decisions, be they successful or unsuccessful. The NDM provides a “simple, logical and evidence-based approach to making policing decisions.”
The implementation of the NDM highlights a focus from the police on supporting the increasing demands on limited policing resources & mitigating risks through evidence-based decision making. “Decision makers will receive the support of their organisation in all instances where they can demonstrate that their decisions were assessed and managed reasonably in the circumstances existing at the time. This applies even where harm results from their decisions and actions.”
The inherent flexibility of the model makes it suitable for all types of police decisions, from spontaneous incidents to planned operations, and can be utilised by individuals or teams. “In every case, the model stays the same, but users decide for themselves what questions and considerations they apply at each stage.”
After looking at the model, we quickly recognised an opportunity to digitise the process. Through an easily repeatable framework for the NDM, users can quickly integrate this national model into the work they are currently doing on pam, either alone or with their partners, to start making better decisions, together.
To find out how pam could benefit your organisation simply get in touch.