Multi-Agency Planning

Multi-agency planning for Category 1 and Category 2 responders under the Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) 2004 refers to the collaborative process in which various organisations work together to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. This approach ensures that the response to an incident is coordinated, effective, and leverages the expertise, resources, and capabilities of all involved agencies.

Key Aspects of Multi-Agency Planning:

Collaboration and Coordination:

• Category 1 responders (e.g., emergency services, local authorities, NHS bodies) and Category 2 responders (e.g., utility companies, transport operators) work together to develop joint plans and strategies.
• This collaboration is crucial for identifying risks, sharing information, and coordinating the allocation of resources during an emergency.

Shared Risk Assessment:

• Responders participate in Local Resilience Forums (LRFs), which are platforms for Category 1 and 2 responders to conduct Community Risk Registers (CRRs). These registers help identify and assess risks within a particular area.
• The multi-agency approach ensures that the plans consider a wide range of hazards and threats, such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, or public health emergencies.

Joint Planning for Response and Recovery:

• Agencies jointly develop emergency plans, business continuity plans, and recovery plans that outline their respective roles and responsibilities during incidents.
• Joint training and exercises are often conducted to ensure that responders understand their roles and can work together effectively in real-world scenarios.

Communication and Information Sharing:

• Effective multi-agency planning relies on transparent and efficient information sharing between organisations. This includes sharing real-time data, situational awareness, and intelligence that can improve the speed and effectiveness of the response.
• This process allows responders to build a common understanding of the situation, coordinate their efforts, and ensure a unified message is communicated to the public.

Integrated Response Structure:

• Multi-agency planning leads to the creation of an integrated command and control structure, such as the Strategic Coordinating Group (SCG), which oversees the strategic response during a major incident.
• This ensures that all relevant agencies contribute to decision-making processes, enhancing the effectiveness and coordination of the overall response.

 

Purpose of Multi-Agency Planning:

• Enhanced Preparedness: Ensures that all responding agencies are prepared for potential emergencies, with clear roles and pre-determined actions.
• Efficient Resource Use: Facilitates the sharing of resources and capabilities, ensuring that no agency is overwhelmed and that help is directed where it is needed most.
• Consistent and Unified Response: Provides a coordinated and consistent approach to managing emergencies, ensuring that responses are not duplicated or contradictory.
• Improved Community Resilience: By working together, responders can better prepare communities for emergencies, reducing the overall impact of incidents and speeding up recovery.

In summary, multi-agency planning enables Category 1 and 2 responders to work collaboratively to ensure that their emergency plans are aligned, their actions are coordinated, and their response is as effective as possible. It emphasises joint efforts in preparing for emergencies, managing risks, and supporting community resilience.

A list of current multi-agency LRF plans, guides and frameworks is shown below.

This list is not exhaustive and many agencies manage their own portfikio of specific local response plans.