In a voluntary welfare organisation (VWO) like the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS), strong governance, rigorous compliance, and transparent regulatory reporting are foundational to ensuring public trust, legal fulfilment, and sustainable service delivery.
As one of Singapore’s largest social service agencies serving persons with intellectual disabilities, MINDS is subject to multiple governance requirements under charity and corporate regulation, funding agreements with government agencies, and accountability standards from stakeholders.
CBF-7 (Governance, Compliance, and Regulatory Reporting) encompasses all activities that establish corporate direction, enforce ethical conduct, mitigate risk, and fulfil reporting obligations to regulatory agencies and stakeholders.
For MINDS, this includes Board governance oversight, policy and standards administration, assurance activities, compliance with charity and corporate regulations, risk management practices, and timely reporting to authorities, donors, and partners.
The following table outlines detailed Sub-Critical Business Functions (Sub-CBF) under CBF-7, their descriptions, and examples specific to MINDS.
|
Sub-CBF Code |
Sub-CBF |
Description of Process / Activity |
Examples (in MINDS context) |
|
7.1 |
Board Governance & Strategic Oversight |
Establish and maintain effective board structures, committee charters, and strategic directive processes. Ensure alignment of governance practices with organisational mission and legal requirements. |
• Board of Directors convenes regular meetings to approve strategy, budgets, and policies. • Governance subcommittees (e.g., Audit/Risk Committee) review organisational risk and compliance frameworks quarterly. |
|
7.2 |
Policy Development & Review |
Formulate, update, and maintain governance policies (e.g. conflict of interest, whistleblowing, code of conduct) and ensure they are communicated and enforced throughout the organisation. |
• Review and refresh MINDS’s Whistle-Blowing Policy and Supplier Code of Conduct annually; publish templates for reporting concerns. • Policies aligned to Code of Governance for Charities & IPCs. |
|
7.3 |
Regulatory Compliance Management |
Identify applicable legal and regulatory obligations (Charities Act, ACRA, NCSS guidelines, funding covenants) and implement systems to monitor and ensure adherence. |
• Compliance checks for charity registration and Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) reporting requirements. • Regular training for staff on Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and regulatory obligations. |
|
7.4 |
Risk Management & Internal Controls |
Implement a systematic risk management framework and internal controls to anticipate, evaluate, mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risks. |
• Risk assessment exercises across programmes and workplaces to meet bizSAFE standards. • Quarterly risk reporting to Board/Risk Committee. |
|
7.5 |
Internal Audit & Assurance |
Plan and conduct internal audits to verify compliance with standards and effectiveness of control measures; follow up on audit findings. |
• Internal audit reviews policy compliance, procurement practices, and financial controls; results reported to Audit Committee. |
|
7.6 |
External Reporting & Filings |
Compile and submit mandated reports to regulatory authorities (e.g. Commissioner of Charities, ACRA, NCSS) and publish transparency disclosures to maintain public trust. |
• Annual Return to Commissioner of Charities. • Submission of financial statements and audit reports. • Publication of governance awards and accountability achievements on the MINDS website. |
|
7.7 |
Stakeholder Accountability & Transparency Communications |
Provide stakeholders (donors, beneficiaries, partners, general public) with transparent performance information, governance disclosures, and updates. |
• Publish annual governance and accountability highlights, including Charity Transparency Awards. • Communicate outcomes of AGM and strategic milestones via newsletters and website. |
|
7.8 |
Ethics & Whistleblowing Management |
Operate mechanisms for ethical reporting, investigation, and resolution of misconduct or compliance breaches confidentially and responsibly. |
• Maintain confidential whistleblowing channels with guidelines and escalation protocols. • Track and resolve reports in accordance with organisational policy. |
For MINDS, CBF-7 Governance, Compliance, and Regulatory Reporting is not only about meeting statutory obligations but also about reinforcing a culture of accountability, transparency, and ethical stewardship.
Through a structured set of Sub-CBFs — from board governance and policy development to compliance tracking and transparent reporting — MINDS upholds public trust, mitigates organisational risks, and ensures sustainable delivery of services to beneficiaries.
These processes collectively enable MINDS to demonstrate responsible use of resources, compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks, and effective oversight aligned with its mission to empower persons with intellectual disabilities across Singapore.
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Implementing Business Continuity Management for MINDS: Ensuring Continuity of Care and Services |
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