[BCM] [MC] [E1] [C2] Understanding Your Organisation: Marymount Centre

Understanding the organisation's structure, operations, and critical services is essential to building a robust business continuity management (BCM) framework in alignment with ISO 22301.

This chapter delves into Marymount Centre in Singapore's core components, mission, and services to residents and clients.

By comprehensively understanding the organisation, we can identify its critical functions, potential risks, and the necessary steps to ensure resilience in disruptions.

Overview of Marymount Centre

Marymount Centre is a beacon of hope and support for individuals and families in Singapore, operating under the umbrella of the Good Shepherd mission.

The Centre is dedicated to providing holistic care and rehabilitation to those who have experienced trauma, abuse, or other life challenges. It comprises three key entities:

Ahuva Good Shepherd

This includes three residential homes that provide safe and nurturing environments for women and children who have faced domestic violence, abuse, or other forms of trauma.

The homes offer shelter, counselling, and rehabilitation programmes to help residents rebuild their lives.

Good Shepherd Centre

This facility focuses on community-based support services, offering counselling, case management, and outreach programmes to needy individuals and families.

The Centre aims to empower clients by helping them address their challenges and develop coping mechanisms.

Good Shepherd Student Care

This service caters to children's educational and emotional needs.

It provides after-school care, tutoring, and enrichment activities. It ensures that children from vulnerable backgrounds receive the support they need to thrive academically and socially.

Mission and Values

Marymount Centre is guided by the mission of the Good Shepherd Sisters, which is rooted in compassion, justice, and the belief in every individual's inherent dignity.

The Centre's core values include:

• Compassion: Providing empathetic care to all residents and clients.

• Empowerment: Equipping individuals with the tools and resources to overcome their challenges.

• Respect: Upholding the dignity and rights of every person.

• Collaboration: Collaborate with community partners, volunteers, and stakeholders to deliver comprehensive support.

Critical Business Functions and Services

Identifying the critical (business functions and) services Marymount Centre provides is crucial to ensuring the continuity of operations during a disruption.

These services are essential to the well-being of the residents and clients and must be prioritised in the BCM framework:

1. Residential Care (Ahuva Good Shepherd): Providing safe housing, counselling, and rehabilitation services for women and children in crisis.

2. Counselling and Case Management (Good Shepherd Centre): Offering emotional support, therapy, and case management to individuals and families facing trauma or abuse.

3. Student Care and Enrichment (Good Shepherd Student Care): Ensuring children's educational and emotional development through after-school programmes and tutoring.

Stakeholders and Dependencies

Marymount Centre operates within a network of stakeholders, including:

• Residents and Clients: The primary beneficiaries of the Centre's services.

• Staff and Volunteers: The dedicated individuals who deliver the programmes and support services.

• Community Partners: Organisations and agencies collaborating with the Centre to provide additional resources and support.

• Donors and Funders: Entities that provide financial support to sustain the Centre's operations.

Understanding these stakeholders' dependencies is vital for developing a resilient BCM framework.

Disruptions in funding or staffing could significantly impact the Centre's ability to deliver its critical services.

Potential Risks and Challenges

Marymount Centre faces several risks that could disrupt its operations, including:

• Natural Disasters: Floods, fires, or other emergencies that could damage facilities or displace residents.

• Pandemics or Health Crises: Outbreaks that could affect staff, residents, or clients and necessitate temporary closures.

• Funding Shortfalls: Reductions in donations or grants that could impact service delivery.

• Staffing Issues: Shortages of qualified staff or volunteers due to illness or other factors.