Risk management

Every employee at the council has a role to play in risk management. Employees should manage and report risks as part of their role, while the Political and Corporate Leadership Teams aim to instil a culture of risk management throughout the organisation. 

We have summarised our expectations of teams and employees at each level of the organisation. 

Employees 

All employees are expected to: 

• manage risk as part of their role and report risks to their managers 
• develop understanding of risk management at the council through completion of e-learning and attendance at any training required​ 

Risk coordinators 

Risk coordinators are Essex County Council (ECC) employees who act as a link between their service and the risk team. They provide risk management support to their area of the organisation and have a strong knowledge of potential risks within their function. The expectations of risk coordinators are to: 

• support and facilitate risk management for a specified area 
• provide support to directors, head of service and other managers on the management of their risks 
• undertake a regular review of the Risk Register 

Read more about the role of risk coordinators (PDF, 168KB). You can also find out who the ECC risk coordinators​​ (PDF, 40KB) are in your function or area. 

Managers at all levels 

Managers at all levels should: 

• make sure staff have appropriate understanding of their role in risk management and attend any suitable training, including e-learning completion 
• record and manage risks effectively in their service area by owning risks or delegating ownership where appropriate 

A guide to risk for managers (PDF, 145KB) is available.  

Function Leadership Teams (FLTs) 

Functional Leadership Teams should:

• escalate risks up to strategic level when required  
• take ownership for risks within their function and ensure Risk Register is regularly discussed, reviewed and updated ​ 
• champion the risk coordinator role

Audit, Governance and Standards Committee 

The Audit, Governance and Standards Committee:  

• considers the council’s arrangement for corporate governance and risk management and advise on any action necessary to ensure compliance with best practice 
• oversees delivery of the Risk Management Strategy via a regular risk management update report 
• reviews the Strategic Risk Register regularly

Read the risk and internal audit (PDF, 80KB), taken from the risk management toolkit for more information on how these teams work together.  

Executive Director with responsibility for risk 

The Executive Director with responsibility for risk has overall accountability for the effective delivery of the organisation's risk management function including the Strategic Risk Register and the Risk Management Strategy.

Operational Leadership Team (OLT) 

The Operational Leadership Team (OLT) are responsible for operational oversight of the council’s strategic risks providing challenge and recommendations to CLT when required. 

Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) 

The Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) should: 

• set the tone from the top, and promote the benefits of risk management 
• regularly discuss and review the Strategic Risk Register and associated reports 
• work with the risk team and management teams to identify new or emerging risks 

Political Leadership Team (PLT) 

The Political Leadership Team (PLT) should ensure consideration of risk in agreeing organisation's direction of travel and strategic objectives.