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Consultation on draft Humanitarian Assistance Strategic Guidance
This consultation has now ended. The consultation period was 17 February to 14 May 2010.
This consultation seeks views on a draft document aimed to help those responsible for the provision of Humanitarian Assistance in the event of a major incident.
Background
The guidance has been developed with the input of a Working Group which included representatives of Association of Chief Police Officers, Emergency Planning Society, Cruise Bereavement Care, The British Red Cross, Victim Support, Primary Care Trusts, and Government Offices for the Regions, Local Authority Emergency Planners, Department of Health, the Cabinet Office, Department for Communities and Local Government. The Working Group were asked for their views on what should be included in the guidance and fed in suggested material.
The project was overseen by a Project Board which provided guidance on strategy and direction.
The Guidance builds upon the guidance issued in 2008 Humanitarian Assistance in Emergencies – Non-statutory guidance on establishing Humanitarian Assistance Centres and provides a steer on some issues that were not previously covered, eg; medium and longer term care and exit strategy. It also outlines a strategic capability building process that can be followed to ensure that HA is built and integrated into other Emergency Response and Planning activities.
Strategic Guidance Policy
A policy decision has been taken that the guidance will not give prescriptive instructions covering how to respond to every type of major incident. This is not practically possible. We have however, taken note of the Working Groups’ request that we provide direction on some aspects of HA provision.
The consultation will serve to inform us if the guidance will be useful to those it is targeted at- those with an interest in providing HA. (LRFs or other organizations with an interest in providing Humanitarian Assistance). We also hope to find out if it will help build capability in the provision of Humanitarian Assistance.
The consultation responses will be analyzed, alongside any evidence provided, and if appropriate used to redraft relevant sections of the guidance before it is published during 2010.
Sharepoint
The Strategic Guidance is complemented by a website of useful information known for the purposes of this consultation as a “Sharepoint.” Demonstration documents showing the type of information that will be available will be temporarily located on the DCMS website for the consultation. The Sharepoint will include guidance, case studies and information which will serve as a resource to those undertaking HA work.
We hope that this resource will grow as practitioners add their own information and guidance, and that it will become a major route to sharing lessons and developing best practice. The version available for the consultation also suggests titles of information that may be included at a later date.
It is likely that the sharepoint will be located on the National Resilience Extranet being developed by the Civil Contingencies Secretariat, once it is launched during 2010.
The consultation asks separate questions about the Sharepoint.
See also
Demonstration documents mini site
* If you would like to receive a paper copy of the consultation please telephone Alison Morgan on 020 7211 6056
Consultation document(s)
Humanitarian Assistance Draft Guidance document (PDF 485kb)
Humanitarian Assistance Draft Guidance document (Word 1.2mb)
Related document(s)
Consultation questions (PDF 161kb)
Consultation questions (Word 60kb)
How to respond
Open date:
17 February 2010
Closing date:
14 May 2010
Freedom of information
Please note responses may be published, unless you ask us not to do so. In addition under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 all information in responses, including personal information, may be subject to publication or disclosure. If any correspondent requests confidentiality this cannot be guaranteed, and will only be possible if considered appropriate under the legislation.
For enquiries about the consultation (handling) process only please contact DCMS Public Engagement and Recognition Unit (PERU) at the above address or email enquiries@culture.gsi.gov.uk, heading your communication 'Consultation on draft Humanitarian Assistance Strategic Guidance'.
These documents are available online in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format.
