Senior leaders are now able to demonstrate an ability to anticipate, prepare for, and recover from crises under new National Occupational Standards launched by the UK Resilience Academy (part of the Government’s Cabinet Office).
The new standards expand the existing suite of standards by introducing a dedicated focus on strategic resilience leadership. They outline the leadership competencies that can be incorporated into recruitment and assessment frameworks and Success Profiles for senior roles.
Covering the financial and economic dimensions of resilience, long-term strategic planning, and leadership within UK institutions, the new standards set clear expectations for senior leaders in addressing and responding to systemic and chronic risks.
The UK-wide standards reflect a concerted effort by the UK Government to strengthen resilience leadership across the UK, supporting leaders from the public, private, and voluntary sectors to develop the competencies needed to address emerging domestic and global threats.
Ministerial departments, government agencies, and the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are exploring adoption pathways for the non-statutory NOS within their leadership talent management frameworks, with wider adoption encouraged across organizations operating within the UK’s resilience system.
Roger Hargreaves, COBR Director at Cabinet Office, commented:
“Senior leaders are increasingly being asked to navigate complex and fast-moving challenges, often with significant consequences for communities and critical services.
“These standards provide a practical framework for developing the leadership capabilities required to plan ahead, make informed decisions under pressure and coordinate effective responses across organizational boundaries.
“Strong resilience depends on strong leadership. By embedding preparedness, exercising and partnership working into day-to-day leadership practice, we can build more resilient organizations and a safer, better-prepared society.”
To find out more about the new National Occupational Standards – Resilience and Emergencies visit: wdtrust.org.uk/nos-resilience-emergencies
