how to establish a compact or partnership agreement compact voice july 2015
TRANSCRIPT
How to establish a Compact or partnership agreement
Compact VoiceJuly 2015
What is the Compact?• A voluntary agreement aiming to
foster strong, effective partnerships between public bodies and the voluntary and community sector (VCS)
• Every government department is signed up to the Compact
• Has cross party support
• Applies to England
About local Compacts• Reinterpret the principles of the
national Compact to reflect local circumstances
• There are around 165 local Compacts across England
• Can be established at borough, district or county level
What is included in local Compacts?Issues covered by local Compacts include:
• Funding arrangements
• Policy and service development
• Advancing equality
• VCS independence
• Volunteering practice
• Improving cross-sector relationshipsPhoto courtesy of Kevin Dooley via www.flickr.com
Creating a local Compact: What to consider• Engage your local partners
• Read the national Compact
• Include practical examples
• Style is important, but not as important as substance
• Create supporting documents
• Find out what other areas have done
Drafting your local Compact• One person should take the lead on
writing the draft
• Get your introduction attributed to a senior local figure
• Use a tag-line to help you promote your Compact
• Include a summary and a glossary of terms
Photo courtesy of Stan Wiechers via www.flickr.com
Consulting on the draft• Consult as widely as possible
• Hold events to gain feedback
• Recruit “Compact Champions” to raise awareness in their own organisations
• Show how you have taken on board responses
Photo courtesy of Highways England via www.flickr.com
Who to involve• The local authority and the local VCS
are the two key partners, but other local partners could include:
• Police authority• Police and Crime Commissioner• Fire authority• Housing association• Job Centre Plus• Clinical Commissioning Group• Chamber of Commerce• Healthwatch• Health and Wellbeing board• Local Enterprise Partnerships
Local Compact signatories• In some areas signatories are
limited to representatives signing on behalf of a wider group, while in others areas, individual organisations sign up
• Signing up to a local Compact often involves including the names of the signatories in the local Compact, but some areas have an online list of signatories that can be easily amended
Establishing a steering group• Should include representatives
from both sectors
• Guide the process of creating a local Compact
• Help embed the Compact in local partnerships
• Can mediate in local dispute resolution
Photo courtesy of Mark Morgan via www.flickr.com
Case study: Lewisham local Compact• Consultation included 100 in-depth
interviews with community groups and council officers
• The council funded a Compact Officer to work part time
• Compact steering group included a nominated person from each council directorate
About Compact Voice• Represent the VCS on the Compact
• Co-signatories of the national Compact
• Work to support partnerships across sectors both locally and nationally
• Support use of the Compact through influencing, sharing positive examples of partnership working in practice, and providing expertise
Further InformationThe national Compact: www.compactvoice.org.uk/sites/default/files/the_compact.pdf
Find your local Compact: www.compactvoice.org.uk/compacts-map
Partnership working toolkit: www.compactvoice.org.uk/resources/briefings-and-guidance/partnership-working-toolkit-voluntary-sector
Email Compact Voice for advice and support: [email protected] or visit the website: www.compactvoice.org.uk
Photo courtesy of Mark Morgan via www.flickr.com