Good practice examples: taking informed, transparent decisions and
managing risk
• It is helpful to draw on the support of an offi cer or independent adviser who can advise
on legal issues and procedure, and who has the authority and status to challenge
governance practice if necessary. This works best where there are safeguards and
reporting relationships in place to make sure that advice is not easily ignored.
• A register of governors’ and executives’ interests will make governing bodies and
others aware of any real or perceived confl icts of interest and facilitate the exclusion
of people with personal interests in a decision from infl uencing or taking part in that
decision.
• Documenting all risks in a risk register, together with the risk ‘score’ and the job title
of the person responsible for ensuring that the risk is managed, will help with risk
management.
• The highest risks in the register can be given priority in review procedures to provide
assurance on the effectiveness of risk responses.
• Gaining assurance that risk management arrangements are working effectively can be
delegated to an audit committee or equivalent body, where the size of the organisation
makes this practical.
• Relevant work of internal audit, external audit, review agencies and inspectorates can
be drawn on to provide assurance on the effectiveness of risk management.
• From time to time, governing bodies may decide to commission information from
independent sources, outside the executive, in order to supplement or validate
information from the executive.