At its core, the compliance officer fulfills an independent advisory and supervisory role, supporting adherence to relevant laws and regulations and internal standards, and promoting ethical conduct. At Partou, this field is extremely broad, ranging from pedagogical quality to fire safety. What makes Esra’s role unique is its positioning within the organization. She reports directly to the CEO and operates independently from specific departments.
The power of centralization
This central positioning enables Esra to analyze processes across HR, Real Estate, and Quality in an integrated way from her independent role. “In the past, responsibility for compliance lay with the departments themselves,” Esra explains. “But given Partou’s scale, that fragmented approach was no longer efficient.”
Central insights
An important focus over the past year has been transforming the way regions and departments learn from each other. Esra explains: “Although departments such as Quality, Pedagogy & Innovation (KP&I) have always supported settings during, for example, GGD inspections, we are now taking an additional step in centralized follow-up.”
Thanks to this central monitoring, location managers no longer have to reinvent the wheel each time. Insights from one region are immediately translated into central measures that mitigate risks across the rest of the organization.
The Quality Committee
“A crucial part of my work is the Quality Committee, which meets quarterly,” Esra continues. “Here, together with representatives from management, we discuss key data: from incidents and complaints to GGD findings and training progress. This data tells us exactly where we stand as an organization and where we need to adjust.”
Translating data to the workplace
A concrete result of this data-driven approach is the further development of learning pathways. Analyses within the Quality Committee showed a need for more depth on topics such as the reporting code, fire safety, and safe sleeping. Although an offering already existed, there was room for additional focus on awareness and training.
Esra explains: “To achieve this, we joined forces in a multidisciplinary team with experts from HR, Quality, Pedagogy & Innovation, and Facilities & Real Estate. HR facilitated the platform, while the substantive expertise came from the other departments. This resulted in a valuable enrichment and addition to the existing offering with two strong learning pathways.”
For location managers, this means a comprehensive package with modules on risk assessment, fire safety, the reporting code, physical workload, and hygiene. In addition, specific training programs have been developed for pedagogical professionals, focusing on group supervision and the different routes within the reporting code.
“We now monitor via the Quality Committee whether these training programs actually have the desired effect on the workplace,” says Esra.
Integrated heat policy
The multidisciplinary approach is also proving effective for topics that were previously addressed mainly at a local level, such as heat policy. Extreme weather requires an integrated approach that goes beyond providing shade at the sandbox.
Esra emphasizes the need for this collaboration: “This affects everything: we need to organize it well for the children (KP&I), but also for our employees (HR). In addition, Facilities & Real Estate plays a crucial role in enabling technical solutions such as ventilation and sun shading. Where previously action was mainly taken locally when temperatures rose, Partou now applies a central strategy that supports local action. By both proactively identifying risks and centrally monitoring whether complaints or GGD remarks about heat are coming in, the organization can immediately evaluate the policy and adjust it where necessary for the next summer.”
The future with digitalization
Esra is now working on the next step in professionalizing compliance: “We are currently working hard on implementing the Compliance Information System (CIS). This system will significantly ease the burden on our location managers. Instead of having to navigate different ways of working, they will soon be guided step by step through processes such as inspections.”
Digitalization ensures uniformity and insight. The ultimate goal of Esra and her team is clear: “If we do our job well, you hardly hear anyone talk about compliance. When processes behind the scenes run seamlessly, a strong foundation emerges. That foundation enables professionals at the settings to focus fully on what truly matters: the optimal development and care of the children.”
For a resilient society
Impact is often found in the smallest moments. Each of those moments may seem small, but together they make a world of difference. For children, parents, colleagues, and the society of tomorrow. In our annual report, you’ll read how we work every day to create a warm and safe place for every child.