The practical problem

Trusted people are not the same as tested authority.

PCO looks at what must keep working when the normal decision-maker is unexpectedly unavailable and unable to give instructions — who steps in, what they may do, which systems they can use, what limits apply and what still depends on a professional, provider or formal approval.

Practice structures

The Diagnostic changes with the way the practice is structured.

01 · Structure

Sole HR consultant

One consultant holds most client context and delivery responsibility.

02 · Structure

Small advisory practice

Two or more consultants share cases, client deadlines and systems.

03 · Structure

Outsourced people-services firm

Multiple consultants, payroll / HRIS interfaces and client teams create broader handovers.

Profession-specific focus

What PCO would examine in a hr & people advisory practice.

Sensitive employee data

Client case files

Labour deadlines

HRIS / payroll access

Client mandates

Handover notes

Consultant capacity

Supplier / operating payments

Questions that matter

The Diagnostic tests the operating reality, not just whether a document exists.

Examples from the HR & People Advisory pathway:

01If the principal consultant becomes unexpectedly unavailable and cannot give instructions before a disciplinary process, labour deadline or major client meeting, who has enough context to coordinate the next step?

02Can another consultant access the relevant case file without gaining unnecessary access to every employee record?

03Who may communicate a recommendation to the client, and who may not make commitments outside the agreed mandate?

04If payroll or HRIS administration is part of the service, are named users and approval roles available without the principal’s credentials?

05Are case histories and open action lists documented well enough that a colleague can understand why decisions were made?

Practice Protection Diagnostic fees

Three structures. A defined entry price for each.

The Diagnostic price reflects the amount of work normally created by the profession and structure. After the Diagnostic, PCO assesses the actual work required and provides one fixed Practice Protection Implementation fee covering the Guided Governance Review and preparation and completion of the Practice Protection Plan.

Sole HR consultant

R4,500

excl. VAT · standard published scope

Profession-specific Practice Protection Diagnostic for this structure.

Small advisory practice

R5,500

excl. VAT · standard published scope

Profession-specific Practice Protection Diagnostic for this structure.

Outsourced people-services firm

R7,500

excl. VAT · standard published scope

Profession-specific Practice Protection Diagnostic for this structure.

Standard published scope: one legal entity and an ordinary small-to-medium professional practice. Multi-entity groups, more than 10 professionals, or more than two operating locations / branches are confirmed by PCO before payment.

The full Diagnostic

Twelve protection areas have to work together.

01Decision responsibilityWho normally decides, who can step in, and where decisions must escalate.

02Professional eligibilityRegistration, scope, competence, supervision or other eligibility required for regulated work.

03Client / patient / matter handoverWhat is live, urgent, incomplete or at risk if the principal stops giving instructions.

04Records & information custodyWho may see records, what must stay confidential, and how access is controlled.

05Systems & authenticationNamed-user access, portals, MFA, recovery routes and single-person credential dependencies.

06Money & payment limitsBanking, payroll, suppliers, refunds, client money where relevant, approval limits and backups.

07Contracts, mandates & approvalsWho may instruct, approve, sign, vary, renew or escalate commitments.

08Providers & third partiesBanks, SARS, regulators, laboratories, insurers, vendors and other external dependencies.

09Deadlines & renewalsFilings, court dates, project milestones, licence renewals, audits and client promises.

10Staff & operating coordinationWhat managers and staff may do, where their limits sit, and what cannot be casually delegated.

11Escalation & prohibited actionsWhat must not be done without the principal or required professional/provider approval.

12Evidence, testing & reviewWhat proves the arrangement exists, who accepted the role, and whether access and fallbacks were tested.

How it works

From free indication to a controlled plan.

01Practice Protection DiagnosticPCO tests the full 12-area pathway and produces findings.

02Practice Protection ImplementationPCO conducts the Guided Governance Review and develops the Practice Protection Plan.

03Your Practice Protection PlanThe completed PPP becomes the controlled operational outcome of the implementation.

04Ongoing Protection / NEXUSKeep the plan current as people, authority, providers, systems and circumstances change.

Important boundary: neither the free assessment nor the Diagnostic verifies that a POA, bank mandate, professional registration, provider permission, system entitlement or other arrangement is legally or operationally effective merely because the client says it exists. PCO identifies and tests the dependency; the relevant adviser, institution, regulator or provider confirms what only they can confirm.

Two useful starting questions

Would the practice know what to do tomorrow?

01If the principal consultant becomes unexpectedly unavailable and cannot give instructions before a disciplinary process, labour deadline or major client meeting, who has enough context to coordinate the next step?

02Can another consultant access the relevant case file without gaining unnecessary access to every employee record?

Start the free assessment Ask PCO privately

Related profession pathways

What happens to an HR or people-advisory practice if the principal cannot give instructions?

Trusted people are not the same as tested authority.

The Diagnostic changes with the way the practice is structured.

Sole HR consultant

Small advisory practice

Outsourced people-services firm

What PCO would examine in a hr & people advisory practice.

The Diagnostic tests the operating reality, not just whether a document exists.

Three structures. A defined entry price for each.

Twelve protection areas have to work together.

From free indication to a controlled plan.

Would the practice know what to do tomorrow?

Explore other professional practices.

Explore common authority and key-person questions.