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Local Compacts User Guide

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1. O Key audiences e Directors and assistant directors middle managers and operational staff in statutory bodies e Small volunteer led community groups e Voluntary and community sector staff trustees and volunteers e Elected members Councillors 2 Local Compacts A User Guide Section 3 Communicating the Compact to different partners 3 Key Compact messages and how to communicate the benefits of Compact working to different audiences ae aeecce as Commissioning The Compact helos commissioners do their job better It is not an extra hurdle Following Compact principles helos make the commissioning process Clear reduce ambiguity and creates shared expectations The Compact helps you get what you want The Commissioning cycle is the process of assessing local need working out how best to address this sourcing or procuring services and monitoring and reviewing if the service meets agreed outcomes and needs Community and voluntary sector organisations often have good solutions to designing and delivering local services which should be explored and they often have close contact with service users They can do a lot to helo make consultation and needs analysis more successful Compliance i The Compact has power and can be used to hold public sector bodies to account Compact commitments have to be met or a very good reason needs to be formally given for not doing so
2. e Have an evaluation system for measuring how the ocal Compact is working e Use relationship polls at events and conduct an nnual local Compact survey e Hold a Joint Annual Review Meeting e Draw up an Annual Action Plan which includes examples of what success would look like e Commit to revising the Compact document after a maximum of 6 years jab 5 00 Compact voice Section 1 About the Compact Section 1 About the Compact In this section e About the Compact e What is a local Compact e The national Compact e A brief history of the Compact e Geography which areas do local Compacts cover Compact Voice www compactvoice org uk Compact Voice is an independent organisation with 2500 members and rising that supports the voluntary and community sector with taking forward the Compact We offer practical helo and advice on how to get the Compact working effectively for your organisation and in your area We e Provide training resources information and expert advice on how to get the most from your Compact e Use our influence to ensure that any changes to he policy landscape which might affect how the Compact is used reflect the needs and interests of he sector e Arrange and attend Compact relevant events and conferences e Work with government departments to make sure they understand why involving the voluntary and community sector is so important The Compact
3. Renewing your Compact Talks and training can be booked for free using our speaker request form at www compactvoice org uk supportmenu Many areas plan local or regional Compact events such as a small training session an awards ceremony an annual review event or a scoping event to inform a Compact update Award events are often a chance to showcase achievements to a wide audience Compact Week takes place during the first full week in November Many local events including local Compact awards focus on the Compact and aise its profile a It can be useful to e Train people to be able to pass the Compact message on e Have an event training for specific sectors or for particular groups such as BME groups e Bring together representatives from different sectors and levels of employment This provides a valuable chance for people to meet and learn from others they might not have the opportunity to meet in their day to day work e Integrate a Compact session with wider events for example a workshop on how the Compact can contribute to equality at an event about the Equality Act Local Compact events can typically include e Guest speakers for people to learn from and to challenge e Discussion groups to share insight on particular local issues or how to implement policy e Informal opportunities to network ideally over refreshments Compact Voice provides a menu of information a
4. Executive Walsall Voluntary Action Revenues and Housing Stratford on Avon council
5. Calderdale s approach to action planning Soo Nevison Chief Officer Voluntary Action Calderdale Calderdale wanted to get away from an action plan that mentioned specific partners and instead create one which emphasised working together Below is an example of the action plan for Calderdale s Compact group For specific partners they produced an implementation toolkit containing checklists For example Task Already Need to work doing this on this by Provide a clear rationale for all funding decisions Well managed and transparent application and tendering processes which are proportionate to the desired objectives and outcomes of programmes Do we agree with partners how outcomes including the social environmental or economic value will be monitored before a contract or unding agreement is made Do we ensure that monitoring and reporting is relevant and proportionate o the nature and size of the opportunity Are we clear about what information is being asked for and why and how it will be used Example Excerpt from Calderdale s Compact action plan 1 Awareness Raising the Compact s profile Publicity re Compact Produce one article in Calderdale per quarter ocussing on public private voluntary national or Promotion of the ocal issues Calderdale Compact and Compact Toolkit Compact presence at relevant partnership events Compact Week Event Provide
6. Councils are accountable to the Local Govemment Ombudsman The Compact is supported by public law Following the Compact reduces the risk of a public law challenge The Local Government Ombudsman has the power to investigate reported local Compact breaches Social value for investment i 4 Local Compacts A User Guide The Compact helps ensure you get the maximum social value for investment there is a strong business case for working according to Compact principles A Compact way of working being open about funding and strategy across sectors focused on shared outcomes helps to maximise the social value which can be gained from limited resources ee oo e oe eecee coocoo ewangana secces ae as be et ecgee eseece eessse secace oo 0 oo LA 1 Quotes and examples Further resources Compacts are about much more than just a measure with which one sector can reprimand another if relationshios break down They are about setting out the foundations on which close and collaborative partnerships can be developed which put the community not sectors at the centre of service design and delivery Daniel Fluskey Compact Advocacy Officer See the NCVO Website www ncvo vol org uk compactadvocacy The return on our investment has been value for money Through the Compact budget we provided some funding for the Citizens Advice Bureau to provide advice for people threatened with mortgage repo
7. Voice Board is made up of representatives from leading voluntary sector organisations with national regional and local reach as well as front line workers A full list of the Compact Voice board members is available at www compactvoice org uk board Compact Voice s staff consist of a head of team who iaises with the board members a manager a communications officer a team and communications assistant a full time engagement officer based in London who also covers the South East and two part time engagement officers one providing support in the North West North East and Yorkshire amp Humber and one in he South West West Midlands and East Midlands Compact Voice also works with regional leaders who are based in each of the regions in England Regional leaders are Compact workers who also receive and share information with Compact Voice provide and distribute resources and information to organisations within their region and help Compact Voice better understand what is happening locally Compact Voice works alongside NCVO s Compact Advocacy Programme which helos support better outcomes for voluntary and community groups in their dealings with public sector bodies Further information about the Compact Advocacy Programme can be found at www ncvo vol org uk compactadvocacy Does Compact Voice also provide support to the statutory sector Compact Voice is the voice of th
8. and the NHS and community sector lead officer and a voluntary and community sector focused Councillor There is no doubt that having those kinds of people with those labels definitely helped us feel that the council was taking the Compact more seriously David Smith Chair of Compact Implementation Group and Director of LeedsVoice pictured Set up Third Sector Leeds an alliance of key networks and larger organisations whose public health bodies can engage effectively with service users and have put on a major event which focuses on this Developed a link with Leeds Year of Volunteering a volunteering toolkit explaining what the Compact means in practice and a itemark which acts as a quality guarantee that organisations will meet Compact commitments on volunteering practice This offers quality reassurance to potential volunteers and funders resulting in less monitoring How Compact Voice can help Compact Voice has developed a renewal support programme An Engagement Officer can provide support both in terms of advising on the process and also facilitating sessions Sometimes local partners react better to a facilitator who is independent of local associations Please visit the Compact Voice website to book the Renewing your Compact package free of charge from our training options We can Provide tailored support to help you renew your local Compact
9. be a Europe wide Compact drawing on the strengths of local and national agreements Section 1 About the Compact 7 Example Developing a local Compact Martin Howie Director Voluntary Action Lewisham Lewisham was one of the first areas to develop a local Compact in 2001 They began by consulting widely with voluntary sector groups and council departments including 100 in depth interviews with Community groups and council officers The council funded a Compact Officer to work part time A Compact steering group made up of people from the council and voluntary sector umbrella groups was revamped twice The second time it was changed to include a nominated person from each council directorate Lewisham did not use the term Compact Champions but the expectation was that the nominated person would spread information throughout their directorate The strategic partnership endorsed Compact principles and the Compact group now includes How Compact Voice can help We can Run events and workshops to promote the Compact in your area Provide speakers or presentations for your local events Share good practice about what works elsewhere Provide resources to help you implement your local Compact both the local NHS and mental health trust A recent refresh of their Compact took out things no longer relevant and developed a code of practice on commissioning To inform the refresh Lewisham Comp
10. examples of how it relates to each role s work www voice4change england co uk See the research report Working Better Together Implementation guide for community groups and local public bodies available in the resources section of www compactvoice org uk 6 Local Compacts A User Guide Section 3 Communicating the Compact to different partners 1 Voluntary and community groups The national Compact emphasises the importance of grants and help in kind 3 2 Consider a wide range of ways to fund or resource Civil Society Organisations CSOs including grants contracts loan finance use of premises and so on Work to remove barriers that may prevent CSOs accessing government funding thereby enabling smaller organisations to become involved in delivering services where they are best placed to achieve the desired outcomes Community Groups CVS Statutory Bodies especially those involved in conducting consultations The Compact is a way in for more constructive dealings with the Council police NHS or other services If community groups feel they get sidelined or only asked for opinions on particular issues the Compact could be a way of becoming more of a partner Compact events and meetings are a good opportunity to meet and network with people from other sectors Council and councillors Council and councillors 8 Local Compacts A User Guide The Compact is non party pol
11. find out which Compact is in place in your area and was developed from recommendations in the go to www compactvoice org uk or ask your local Deakin Commission Report which concluded that Council for Voluntary Service CVS or council government should recognise the legitimacy of the NAVCA has a list of local CVS available on their voluntary and community sector s diverse roles as website www navca org uk well as its responsibility to promote a healthy sector e The first national Compact for England was e The national Compact discussed throughout this produced in 1998 and was developed by the document covers England only Home Office and a steering group following a postal Local Compacts exist in all top tier local authority consultation with 20 000 community groups areas Top tier authorities are County Councils e This was followed by a set of codes that helped Unitary Authorities Metropolitan Districts and clarify how the Compact applied The codes ondon Boroughs covered Funding amp Procurement Volunteering Compacts also exist in second tier local authorities Consultation amp Policy Appraisal Community Groups which include District Councils and Borough Black and Ethnic Minority organisations Councils The appropriateness of having a Compact e Each local area was encouraged to develop a local at this level will naturally be determined by local Compact using the national Compact as a basis circumstances e Many local Co
12. neil and the voluntary and for a local Compact to should be engaged effectively the ful spectrum of agencies The ideal Compact group would be made up of the following members e Representatives from each voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisation including Councils for Voluntary Service CVS and other local community networks or forums These may include local black and minority ethnic refugee faith advice or creative networks and forums n which local people e Representa relevan e Local executi e e Coun Loca politi t dist ives from each council directorate and rict oorough councils cians including both executive and non ve councillors owned arms length management organisations housing associations or a representative from he local housing association group e Local health trusts and consortia e Police fire and rescue services e Further education providers e Job Centre Plus e Some local areas find it helpful to have a business representative which may include a representative from the local chamber of commerce Members of the group should be excellent at passing information to those they represent It is also vital that representatives are key decision makers For example the chief executive of the CVS the assistant director of each council directorate or the head of th engagement team Some areas have an application pr
13. of their work If you are attending relationships other people s events mention your event there and DON T fall into the trap of thinking that it is easier to ask if you could insert something in their delegate speak to different sectors separately A core function pack about your event Other examples of spreading of Compact events should be to help the different the word are organisations e newsletters individual sectors see things from each others point of view mailing lists make sure you paste the list into the BCC section of an email or personal emails 3 Outline why you are having events good for elected members and council and NHS DO think about what you d like your outcome to be newsletters Find out who the communications Having a clear sense of what you want to get out of officers are and ask them when their deadlines are the event and why you are hosting it in the first place DON T simply pitch the event to the usual can help you ensure that you and your participants suspects who always attend benefit as much as possible DON T simply hold Compact events for the sake of 6 Go to the audience it IF you are not clear about what everyone is getting DO think tactically about finding your audience If out of an event then the likelinood is that they will you find that people don t respond well to events be getting very little this can damage perceptions about the Compact but th
14. seeds sedis ground between the fire service and the Somali community They helped with little or no English give the community a better understanding of what they can do in their homes to keep them safe from fire Housing associations eize Housing associations are usually keen to support Tenants and Residents Associations TRAs who advocate for their local neighbourhood and work to make improvements Using Compact principles around community involvement can help develop TRAs and neighbourhood based initiatives by training TRA members or housing officers on how to run a properly constituted TRA how to raise funds or even how to put on community events The local CVS will often run training like this Tip Housing associations may also be interested in how Compact partnerships have addressed anti social behaviour see the Working together to tackle shared issues example at the end of this section and the Islington example in the events section Tip Housing providers often have documents called tenant participation Compacts Make it clear that these are not what you mean by your Local Compact Tip Larger housing associations are considered statutory because unlike private landlords they manage large amounts of public money Private sector weeds Local private sector businesses are in many ways indistinguishable from charities and community groups in providing employment training and advice and other local
15. separate out the specific effect of the Compact from other Initiatives The fact that items on our action plan have happened is what matters most Martin Howie Director Voluntary Action Lewisham A Compact action plan can be something shared widely across the Compact partnership or just for the reference of the Compact group It can be useful for organisations or departments to develop their own action plan detailing how to embed Compact principles in day to day work and monitor implementation using internal processes For more details see the Calderdale example opposite 2 Local Compacts A User Guide Common headings for an action plan include funding long term financial planning full cost recovery premises information technology identifying available non financial support opportunities reducing regulation and simplifying processes Ask each partner their biggest challenge and what they most want to achieve link these with consideration of strategies and activities to address community engagement partnerships and the role of the voluntary and community sector These can then be combined into an action plan As the starting point develop a short action plan with a few quick wins in the coming year and include agreeing a proper action plan Consider having an ambitious 3 year rolling action plan and include what success will look like to ease Subsequent evaluation Example
16. simply to facilitate the work of local Compact champions or it may focus more on publicity and delivery The role may include e Servicing the Compact group by arranging meetings and taking minutes e Managing the Compact budget if there is one e Publicising the Compact through o organising and delivering training and events o tailored presentations and workshops at different organisations meetings o web and print publicity and promotion e Communicating opportunities for engagement or responding to consultations ensuring that awareness of the Compact is high and that stakeholders are aware of the relevance of the Compact e Developing an action plan with clear steps for monitoring evaluating and reporting on the Compact e Developing tools that helo embed Compact principles and commitments such as a commissioning framework which sets out good practice for commissioners working with community and voluntary groups Section 2 Compact groups officers and champions 3 e Co ordinating a Compact renewal process or review for example developing a consultation questionnaire facilitating discussion groups CO ordinating a writers group drafting text to ensure the best possible Compact document e Advising on compliance and addressing non compliance e Staying aware of the Compact nationally and the wider policy and funding landscape Difficulties for officers may include havi
17. the LDA made an offer to Sustain to make a payment at the full cost The Compact and public law Sometimes compliance can be encouraged by showing how the Compact links to the law by e Illustrating how it supports the implementation of legal requirements For example Compact principles can be used to help deliver the public sector duty on equality by facilitating partnerships which can reach groups protected by equality legislation e Showing how following Compact principles reduces the likelinood of a legal challenge Some aspects of the Compact overlap with public law duties For example although there is no duty in public law to consult there is a duty to give those affected by a decision a fair hearing One of the difficulties has been people having some belief in the Compacts strengths That s why we linked it with the judicial reviews and public law Belinda Lowis Chief Officer Chester le Street CVS pictured above Section 7 Addressing non compliance 5 How does the Compact relate to public law The Compact is part of a public sector body s policy framework A public sector body s policies and its previous behaviour can amount to the creation of legitimate expectation a public law concept f for example a council normally consults on major changes and normally adheres to Compac commitments around consultation it could be argued hat there was legitimate expectation tha
18. they probably already know that the local community is very important to their activities so the Compact is a way of connecting with them selling their services making friends getting to know the community they serve and want to be on the right side of Ingela Andersson Compact Advocacy NCVO See the report Working Better Together Implementation guide iz for community groups and local public bodies available in the resources section of www compactvoice org uk Elected members fit in three categories They are active citizens they are community focussed like small groups are and they are also statutory sector Saffi Price Compact Development Worker Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council Having member support and high level senior management support in the county has been helpful The leader is very supportive of the Compact and we co plan with the voluntary sector a lot There is also a cabinet member with responsibility for the voluntary sector Monica Wambu Surrey County Council Section 3 Communicating the Compact to different partners 9 Topic Points to communicate Quotes and examples Further resources Health services seize The straightforward guidance and ground rules of the Compact will help amp amp sa See the example from Working together to tackle shared issues at the Commissioning boards engage with community groups ina meaningful FFF
19. to tackle shared issues at the end and Victim Support but may not be aware of the benefits of working with of this section small local community groups Working with community groups helps police identify their concerns and the priorities of local communities and to solve the problems that matter to them It can also help police to gain insight into how to address negative perceptions of the police The Compact is the structure that supports these relationships The National Policing Improvement Agency NPIA Citizen Focus and Neighbourhood Policing Programme Team aim to increase engagement with the public and provide guidance on how police can do this in partnership with community groups They advocate the use of the Compact calling it an informal but legitimate tool Tip Police may be pro partnership but not necessarily relate it to a good Compact Show how Compact partnerships have addressed police priorities such as anti social behaviour and preventing domestic violence and hate crime 1 Local Compacts A User Guide Section 3 Communicating the Compact to different partners 1 1 Topic Points to communicate Quotes and examples Further resources Fire and rescue service wanito Community groups have a strong role to play in the prevention of fires and In Haringey for example a local community group took the middle accidents for example by helping with home fire safety checks for people eige sedis
20. when times are last year in particular funding to approximately 13 BME day centres has ds COMpacts at Work available from Decommissioning tough can leave a legacy that continues to pay dividends long after testing been protected The issue certainly engaged a section of the VCS that the resources section of economic conditions pass t sa previously were not active under our local Compact Hopefully bringing www compactvoice org uk Ensuring that any cuts are made in a Compact compliant way for example the results of our impact assessment to the eyes of elected members will giving three months notice makes the process straightforward and protects increase recognition of the vital role played by these organisations against challenge Paul Tolley Chief Executive Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action Working with community groups to assess the potential impact of cuts can significantly help lessen the impact on the public Infrastructure organisations seeds The Compact was developed specifically to support community groups and For information tailored to Black infrastructure organisations and Minority Ethnic organisations see Voice4Change England s Tip Point out exactly where your Compact mentions community groups eefje code eaaa ooeige aneka celts seeds aneda coodte costs enika manika ceeds cookie oudje sedie seige ooa oelje Webetla Wile ras aeece called Wi Tete The Compact and You Tip Use
21. Compact voice Local Compacts A User Guide DO ke e o p Ta e ae ao ee 9 nor a e oe 6 ooo 6 Implementation Checklist The below checklist contains some of the key principles contained in this document to use as a reference guide when considering how to implement your Compact Awareness Raising your Compact s profile e Log publicise and showcase your Compact successes e Lead local activity in Compact Week first full week in ovember e Engage black and minority ethnic and small community groups e Distribute nationally and locally produced Compact materials your local Compact leaflets to explain the Compact posters copies of the national Compact and transparency and accountability guide e Include regular Compact updates in newsletters e Brief trustees councillors staff in public bodies and voluntary and community groups e Refer to and display your local Compact at events e Have a Compact section on local websites that includes your document explains it and shows how it is being taken forward ink your web pages to www compactvoice org uk and send a PDF of your local Compact to Compact Voice Resources and responsibility Who does what and how to pay for it e Hold regular Compact Group meetings and or add the Compact to the agenda of other meetings such as team meetings cross sector strategic meetings e Recruit Compact Cham
22. Rob Allison Director of Policy and Partnership Voluntary Action Coventry Lucy Ashall Third Sector Development Officer London Pat Fairfax Community Issues Coordinator Leeds counci Jacqui Foile Chief Officer Voluntary Action Epping Forest Neil Frackelton Sefton CVS Compact lead Borough of Kensington amp Chelsea Sue Graham Compact and Networks Officer One Voice Network County Durnam Belinda Lowis Chief Officer Chester le Street amp artin Howie Director Voluntary Action Lewisham DROLO Gev Pringle Director Gateshead Voluntary Organisations Council Sarah Prior Compact Officer Exeter CVS Liz Louch Chief Executive loswich and District Council for Voluntary Service Giles Rankin Regeneration and Community Partnerships Manager Islington Council Keltie Seaber Compact Officer Cornwall VSF Mike Sheriff Chi f Executive Voluntary Action Islington David Smith Chair of Compact Implementation Group Director LeedsVoic Tamsila Taugir Compact Action Advisor Birmingham Voluntary Service Council Darren Thomas Haringey Compact Paul Tolley Chief Project Officer HAVCO Executive Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action Donna Turnbull Strategy and Policy Support Officer Voluntary Action Camden Monica Wambu Senior Corporate Policy Manager Surrey County Council Dave Webb Head of lan Willetts Chief
23. Share good practice about what s working well elsewhere Compact voice Section 7 Addressing non compliance o 0 0 se ee 6 si B a 6 o 9o 60 oe o D amp Section 7 Addressing non compliance In this section e How to challenge non compliance e The Compact Advocacy Programme e The Compact and public law When partners agree their local Compact there is legitimate expectation that its principles and commitments will be followed in practice When one or more partners do not follow a commitment this is considered to be Compact non compliance The most common areas of non compliance are e Shortened consultations Shortened notice period for ending or changing funding arrangements e Not assessing the impact on service users or beneficiaries of a change to funding arrangements e Lack of attempts to minimise monitoring burdens Of course prevention is better than cure The Compact isn t just a list of principles to bring out when hings go wrong Established relationships and high awareness of Compact principles improve Compact compliance and can avoid breaches happening in the first place However raising a challenge is not necessarily a negative move Sometimes relationships improve as a result of a challenge Using the Compact to challenge non compliance can result in decisions being changed bad practice being improved and can enable more effective partn
24. a is different and has its own approach to meeting needs e Working together to develop implement and embed a local Compact building stronger partnerships e Enabling both sectors to better manage disputes or disagreements by clearly outlining expectations What has been achieved by working together on our Compact There has been a lot more communication between the sectors there s a better relationship and they have had the chance to meet their parallel officers in the other sector Tamsila Taugir Compact Action Advisor Birmingham Voluntary Service Council Local Compact structures Local Compacts take the principles of the national Compact which are outlined below and interpret them to reflect local need Many local Compacts were developed by a Compact Group of decision makers from local organisations such as the council police NHS voluntary and community sector organisations and business representatives Compact Groups Sometimes known as Compact implementation or steering groups take the lead on making their Compact relevant to local partnerships community needs and circumstances See the section on Compact Groups for more information A local Compact is usually Supported by a mutually agreed action plan which may link to other local policies and strategies Refer to the section on Action Planning for more detailed information 4 Local Compacts A User Guide Section 1 About th
25. act group looked at similar work others had done around the country Martin Howie says We are fortunate that we have strong partnership relationships in the borough A supportive mayor makes a huge difference the person at the top sets the tone Compact voice Section 2 Compact groups officers and champions Section 2 Compact groups officers and champions Steps taken to implement a local Compact frequently include Creating a cross sec or Compact group who meet regularly to discuss Compact issues Officers from the Cou Recruiting and empowering advocates to spread Compact knowledge in their organisation and act as he eyes and ears of the Compact in the field See he section on Compact Champions for further details ncil and from local infrastructure organisations having formal responsibility for implementing the Compact as part of their job description Some areas fund full time Compact Officers Not all areas find this structure works for them Adapting to meet local need is the essence of the Compact An effective Compact group agreemen work mos understan Local Compacts recognise agencies are responsible for meeting local need By coming together and developing mutual ding partners can and efficiency of the services o rely At the core of most local Compacts is an t between the cou community sector However ha many differen mprove the quality
26. at they are interested about your local Compact in commissioning events general voluntary and community sector conferences or training sessions then either re brand your event accordingly linking it to the Compact or organise presentations highlighting links with the Compact at other events 4 Make it topical DO frame your events in response to issues affecting partnership working in your area Identify themes for events by asking yourself questions like what has been achieved locally over the past year What are the current myths challenges and opportunities for cross sector partnerships Section 4 Events and training 3 For more ideas see Section 3 Communicating the Compact to different audiences Example Islington Compact Awards Islington developed local awards to recognise outstanding examples of partnership work happening in the area The awards were judged by the Chair of the local NHS the Assistant Director of Strategic Planning and Regeneration from Islington Council and the CEO of the local OVS Voluntary Action Islington The awards ceremony held in the Town Hall attracted 70 people and the presentations were made by the leader of the Council and the mayor A press release which was drafted in partnership by the CVS and a council communications officer helped local papers pick up on award How Compact Voice C an help We ca
27. benefits They may also have a strong sense of corporate social responsibility and want to develop partnerships with charities The Compact may helo small businesses to develop local contracts and give insight into the statutory sector The national Compact advocates equal treatment across sectors when tendering for contracts Tip Invite businesses to events and focus some workshops on business issues rather than simply community and voluntary sector issues Tip The local chamber of commerce can advise on the different ways of relating to businesses Such as communicating successfully Tip Point out the benefits but emphasise that the Compact is not a legal requirement Larger private sector businesses however may need to be reminded in writing that if they are receiving public money distributing funds on the government s behalf they must adhere to commitments in the national Compact and apply the Compact when distributing European Union funding Regarding subcontracting Compact principles are written into the contracts of some government departments 1 2 Local Compacts A User Guide Section 3 Communicating the Compact to different partners 1 3 Tailored ways to embed the Compact Example Haringey CVS HAVCO s Compact Implementation Toolkit A lot of issues with the Compact are to do with communications Sometimes the problem with the Compact is accessibility It s a framework but understanding how
28. bid according to competitive criteria 3 year contracts where able Outcomes monitoring approaches Case by case basis for grants or commissioning Full cost recovery basis Outcomes amp outcomes based commissioning development Campaigning for mixed economy of funding Review of relationship with VCS 3 5 year contracts in place amp 9 month extensions granted NHS Camden Commercial Strategy with commitment to Compact Briefings amp procurement events attended by VCS Volunteering Monitoring of providers using amp Supporting volunteers Volunteering featured in some contracts Promotion coordination amp management of range of volunteering opportunities Training amp mentoring for volunteers amp managers Support to volunteer led initiatives Joint promotional events with VCS Appointment of volunteer coordinator Opportunities for VCS to develop skills for health related volunteering Opportunities developed to be promoted through VCS 4 Local Compacts A User Guide Section 5 Compact Impact Action planning monitoring and evaluating 5 Evaluating your Compact Information gathering is crucial for the effective implementation of the Compact locally and nationally While quantitative data is useful for example how many Champions number of noncompliance issues recorded and resolved it is the collection and sharing of exper
29. cial enterprises and voluntary and community sector organisations The national Com These are pact focuses on five key outcomes e Astrong diverse and independent civil society e Effective and transparent design and develooment of policies programmes and public services e Responsive and high quality programmes and services Clear arrangements for managing changes to programmes and services e An equal and fair society 6 Local Compacts A User Guide voice ey Pest TAA NAN ALM Nagi ee AT NN A aT ee ies i we Th he Specific commitments and undertakings for government and the voluntary and community sector show how each of these outcomes will be delivered The principles of the national Compact apply to every public sector body on Bodies and Executi Departmental by an outlines steps to tal Public including government departments Bodies Arms Length ve Agencies It is accompanied Accountability and Transparency Guide which e at national and local level when relationships break down including dispute resolution intern functi ONS al complaints procedures and ombudsmen A brief history Geography which areas do of the Compact local Compacts cover e The first national Compact was established in 1998 To
30. differing levels of seniority Elected members are a natural fit and the mayor is particularly well placed to be a champion as they frequently visit community organisations What should Champions do e Promote the Compact as a way of working together during the course of their work e Advise organisations on Compact compliance e Report non compliance e Represent their organisation at Compact relevant meetings e Report and share good practice Signpost people to further resources Find further information and examples of Compact Champions in the resources section at www compactvoice org uk How Compact Voice can help We can e Help you review your Compact group s effectiveness e Support you to engage new members e Provide support and resources for Compact officers e Provide training and support for Compact Champions Share good practice about what s working elsewhere e Provide resources to help you implement your local Compact Compact voice Section 3 Communicating the Compact to different partners Section 3 Communicating the Compact to different partners In this section e Publicity and awareness raising e Key audiences e Key Compact messages and how to communicate the benefits of Compact working to different audiences e Tailored ways to embed the Compact Clear communication is vital for motivating people to integrate Compact principles and commitments into th
31. e Compact 5 ot N BMinlerwns AN Areas may have a dedicated Compact Officer employed by a local statutory or infrastructure organisation and or people who have responsibility for their local Compact ideally as part of their job description Many areas have Compact Champions who promote and implement Compact principles and commitments in their organisations and work Refer to the section on Compact Officers and Champions for further details In some local areas individual organisations formally sign up to a local Compact In others lead organisations sign up on behalf of everyone for example a Council for Voluntary Service CVS might sign the Compact on behalf of local community organisations Everyone who signs up to the Compact is expected to follow Compact principles when working in partnership across sectors The Compact is designed to be responsive to changes in the environment such as cuts in public sector funding changes in funding opportunities from the EU or d important thing is ifferent laws coming into effect The that the principles in the Compact should be at the heart of partnership working The natio The national Com nal Compact pact is the agreement between central government in England and voluntary and community organi sations who are referred to as Civil Society Organisations in the most recent version This is defined as including charities so
32. e Volunteers and staff at every level Local health services and consortia Councils Police fire and rescue and ambulance services Social housing providers Further education bodies D Any other organisations responsible for distributing public money locally or Supporting and resourcing eee he voluntary and community sector in other ways Section 1 About the Compact 3 What is a local Compact Voluntary and community sector organisations and local public sector bodies frequently work together for the benefit of local communities A local Compact is a mutually agreed document and approach to partnership working between sectors Local Compacts contain principles and commitments that are shared across sectors Central themes of local Compacts are e Funding arrangements including procurement e Consultation and involvement in policy and service development Promoting and advancing equality Supporting the independence of the voluntary and community sector Good volunteering practice e Working together to continually improve the relationship between sectors Key strengths of the Compact include e Giving a clear sense of how to work together and what to expect of each other e Recognition that sectors working together brings more benefit to communities than working alone e Clear links between national policy and local policy accompanied by the understanding that each are
33. e voluntary sector on the national Compact Locally Compact Voice aims to make the Compact work well Local Compacts help local public sector bodies and voluntary and community sector organisations work together to provide seamless services for the benefit of local communities The focus of our services is primarily community groups and local support agencies such as Councils for Voluntary Service CVS but our materials are available for all By supporting statutory services to use the Compact Compact Voice supports community groups too We go where the Compact goes Kelly Ventress Communications Officer Compact Voice Compact Voice helps facilitate learning between local Compact areas Please send us your Compact stories so other organisations can learn from what you ve done 2 Local Compacts A User Guide Who is this guide for Some business private sector organisations especially small and medium enterprises who work This guide is for everyone involved in partnerships within the community or have Corporate Social across sectors in local areas in England especially Responsibility CSR programmes those implementing their local Compact agreement It can be used by This includes n e Those new to the Compact e Voluntary and community sector organisations e Those with experience of working with Compact and social enterprises also known as civil society principles organisations
34. eir partnerships Developing a communications strategy is recommended Three key ways to communicate the Compact are e Giving examples of how your Compact is used and what it has achieved lllustrating what the Compact could achieve for example sharing what has worked in other areas Showing its relevance to different partners in a tailored way Tips e Bea good listener treat opposition as legitimate e Log new questions and share with others involved in your local Compact and Compact Voice e Use prepared answers Publicity and awareness raising can take many forms e Leaflets and guides Compact Voice can provide hese or they can be developed locally ewsletters Email groups Social networking Websites Phone calls One to one and group meetings about the Compact Integrating the Compact into the agenda of other meetings such as partnership and trustee boards networks and forums which develop understanding of how the Compact can link to other policies especially area wide or national policy e Referencing or specifying following Compac principles in job descriptions and grants and commissioning criteria Integrating information about the Compact in induction processes and training e Organising local Compact awards and other Compact events and training or organising workshops or info sessions at other relevant events refer also to the Events section of this guide
35. eir refreshed Compact a clear trend had emerged amongst Solihull organisations those who were involved in developing the Compact had stayed interested and seen the benefits But small organisations that were farthest away from the Compact design process had remained unaware and largely uninvolved Faisal Hussain Head of Community and Voluntary Relations at Solihull Council sees Compact awareness as akin to ripples emanating from the centre In other words the Compact message gets weaker as it is passed along and if people don t know about something or how it applies to them then they can t or won t use it Showing what it can achieve for each organisation is key to getting the core messages of the Compact across to a wide audience Attempts to promote the Compact were being made but only at an organisational level Rather than every organisation developing a separate strategy the implementation group created a unified strategy with objectives for each organisation to report against every quarter The Communications Strategy was launched and greater awareness of Compact followed 14 Local Compacts A User Guide Example Working together to tackle shared issues Some young people in the Streetley area of Walsall were engaging in antisocial behaviour damaging property in the local park and pavilion This behaviour included spraying graffiti displaying hostility towards local residents and engagi
36. end of this section and structured way that is likely to improve health outcomes because commissioning is based on need A Compact way of working results in better policies and engagement with patients and stakeholders The Compact can help Health Services to be flexible responsive and based around the patient Community groups can address health inequalities by sharing their knowledge of the communities they represent and are trusted by and can work with you to improve techniques for getting health messages across Working with Community groups can help make efficiency savings The Compact can help the relationship with the wider organisations that help a hospital run especially services run by volunteers If you treat them well you can engage them and get a better hospital Local Compact partnership meetings and events provide a forum that can help develop practical ways of working together such as health groups having sessions at surgeries or neighbourhood groups giving key messages to their community such as keeping hospital appointments Tip Two parts of the NHS have particular relevance to the Compact service provision and commissioning Each will have a different relationship with the community and voluntary sector and will use different elements of the Compact at different times Police sedis Police already work closely with charities such as Neighbourhood Watch amp amp sa Se the example from Working together
37. ership working For an example of this see the Thurrock case study in the publication Local Compacts at Work which can be found in the Resources section of the Compact Voice website www compactvoice org uk The Compact is a tool for us both voluntary and community and statutory sector to use to get the best out of partnership working It s not a weapon for the voluntary sector to use Liz Louch Chief Executive Ipswich and District Council for Voluntary Service The emphasis is on good relationships You don t get public partners round the table if they think its a council bashing exercise It s important that the VCS know that its Important to abide by it and are operating within the Compact For example you are obliged to inform the council if you are having a problem It s not a one way street Sue Graham Compact and Networks Officer One Voice Network County Durham 2 Local Compacts A User Guide Reasons for non compliance Considerations Unavoidable Crisis or external factors overrode Compact compliance for example a consultation less than 12 weeks long Effort should still be made to mitigate the negative impact of non compliance In the case of a shorter consultation period the public sector body should make every effort to circulate the consultation as widely as possible and assist with gathering responses Mistake Lack of awareness or understanding of
38. formance between organisations and areas and track progress from your previous results What should you evaluate It is helpful for those involved with a Compact to focus on achievable outcomes that are measurable There are anumber of approaches to deciding this You could simply ask overarching questions and then think about what measures would allow you to answer them For example Question Are partners satisfied with the Compact Measure Partners rate satisfaction level from 1 5 Or Question What is the evidence that partners are effectively implementing our Compact Measure Number of non compliance cases number of champions How to evaluate your Compact Annual Local Compact Survey Surveys can enable you to collect information quickly and easily especially benchmarking information As the following example shows there are additional benefits Example Essex County Council Compact survey Simon Banks Community Planning and Engagement Officer at Essex County Council found a number of advantages to undertaking a survey about the Essex Compact The survey acted as a reminder for people to take action for example a question about whether the Compact was Included in inductions and in contracts encouraged people to use tt The survey also revealed new trends The main type of complaint was about corners being cut in procurement of services rather than about grant cuts where Compact b
39. formation can be found at e Compact Advocacy Programme website www ncvo vol org uk compactadvocacy e Compact Advocacy Case Studies www ncvo vol org uk compact case studies e The Accountability and Transparency Guide www compactvoice org uk 4 Local Compacts A User Guide Example Compact Advocacy case Sustain the alliance for better food and farming advocates for food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals improve the working and iving environment and enrich society and culture Sustain had a funding arrangement with the London Development Agency LDA to deliver a project in London The LDA withdrew funding for the project without Sustain receiving appropriate costs that they had legitimately incurred Sustain had written to the LDA to request their costs be released to them but had received no response Compact Advocacy wrote to the LDA to support Sustain s position on the basis that the Compact states that payment should be prompt and that organisations should be funded on a full cost recovery basis As aresult the LDA offered to settle the matter with Sustain but not at the full cost rate that they were entitled to Compact Advocacy continued to advocate on Sustain s behalf stating that they are entitled to recover all of the administrative and overhead costs that they had incurred Following this correspondence
40. g just that the way that the decision was made was wrong A judicial review challenge needs to be made as promptly as possible and within three months of when the decision you are challenging was made Remember it can cost nothing to use the Compact but taking a public sector body to court requires a solicitor and you may end up liable for the other side s costs as well 6 Local Compacts A User Guide Section 7 Addressing non compliance 7 Example TravellerSpace Cornwall Using the Compact to challenge and clarify policies TravellerSpace supports Gypsies Irish Travellers and New Travellers in Cornwall and the South West to access the services and opportunities available to the wider community and to have a voice in decision and policy making processes TravellerSpace were informed by their local council that they were not eligible for Discretionary Rate Relief DRR as they were a single interest group and not yet a registered charity In response they made a Freedom of Information request to the council s Equality amp Diversity Officer and discovered that DRR was granted to other apparently single issue groups TravellerSpace sent a letter pointing this out and referencing the equality and diversity codes of the Cornwall Compact G TravellerSpace wishes to access the Comwall Compact mediation process as we feel Comwall Council has breached the code par
41. g implications of proposals for the community sector and typically commit partners to working together on identifying gaps avoiding duplication using resources effectively and providing better services The Compact is about working in partnership to improve services for local communities The voluntary and community sector can help get opinions of different communities get messages to the right audience and feed back service users experience Compact principles and commitments provide a ready made straightforward and easy to follow framework for cross sector partnerships Involvement sedis Being involved in Compact related events and meetings is a way of connecting See the Working together to tackle shared issues example at the end of with other sectors or other parts of your own sector It s a way into what goes 3 E this section on locally to information insight resources local communities and networks Involvement with the Compact can helo forge links with others who want to work with the same members of the public Winning or organising Compact awards makes organisations and partnerships look good as well as promoting actions and activities Cuts _ Good relations with the voluntary and community sector can bring tangible Using the Compact prevented unlawful reductions to VCS organisations See the publication Local TATA seto benefits to the statutory sector A Compact way of working
42. hallenge 1 Research Build up a timeline and get an idea of how many other local organisations might be in the same position Consider collaborating 2 Identify Which parts of the local or national Compact have not been followed 3 Decide on your objectives What do you want to achieve Is it realistic What would be a satisfactory result 4 Who should you contact Who are the relevant people in the public sector body Should your local Council for Voluntary Service CVS be kept in the loop Who are your local Compact officers Would you like Compact Advocacy to review your plan of action Do you want to take it as far as contacting your local media Member of Parliament or Local Government Ombudsman 5 Action Raise your concems at the earliest possible time in the best way Is it meetings phone calls letters See the TravellerSpace example at the end of this section for a model letter The Compact Advocacy Programme The Compact Advocacy Programme is able to mediate disputes on your behalf and help you try to reach an agreement See the following Compact Advocacy Programme example for more details They have also published a short guide called Effective Dispute Resolution Tactics which is available in the Advice and Support section of www ncvo vol org uk The Local Government Ombudsman is another option hat can be used if the local council s actions have caused an injustice Further in
43. iences perceptions and good and bad practice that adds most value This qualitative information is the currency which enables a Compact to improve by allowing ideas to spread and trends to be identified Adam Pickering Engagement Officer A local Compact does not in and of itself bring about positive change It is the commitment and hard work of those who use and advocate for it that helos spread its message and embed continuous improvements in partnership working It is essential to monitor the effectiveness of local Compacts in order to identify where gaps in relationships may affect the quality of services to communities and how they can be improved 6 Local Compacts A User Guide Why evaluate your Compact The more you know about what is happening on the ground what the barriers are to better Compact working and what issues are looming on the horizon the more effective you will be in implementing your Compact Reasons to evaluate your Compact To benchmark and leam where you are To leam what works and what doesn t To find good practice and report it To give early waming of problems which are arising To find out what people really think do perceptions match the facts If not why do people think what hey do e Because people act differently when they know heir performance is being monitored asking about performance can act as a wake up call e twill allow you to compare per
44. itical The three major political parties have expressed their support for the Compact and many consider one of its strengths to be its non political nature The Compact can help provide greater accountability for what is happening within the community by strengthening the links between the voluntary sector and elected members Better dialogue between elected members and representatives from the voluntary and community sector not only helps to positively influence local policies but should also be seen as a democratic necessity Tip Make sure you keep elected members informed They can also help spread the message to community groups during visits and publicity work Tip Councillors should be involved in Compact development kept regularly briefed especially newly elected members and each main party group should be offered a seat on the Compact Group Avoid your Compact being too closely aligned with any one political party or personality Quotes and examples Further resources We ve used our Compact to develop new grants schemes and it was successfully invoked to obtain a contract extension and a budget line for a community based project Sarah Prior Compact Officer Compact for Devon See the report Working Better Together Implementation guide for community groups and local public bodies available in the resources section of www compactvoice org uk In terms of police fire and NHS think
45. l document 3 Local Compacts contain principles which provide a crucial framework for local relationships but sometimes people find it hard to see how they affect their work on the ground By providing practical examples either real or hypothetical it is possible to make the commitments in the document come alive to new audiences A Some Compacts are designed documents with pictures whilst others are simple word documents There is an argument that says that giving the Compact a distinctive local visual brand can help to raise its profile but style should not be substituted for substance 5 Backing a local Compact up with supporting documents such as guides and toolkits can ensure that people know how to use it turning it from a wish list into a powertul tool 6 Why do all the hard work when you can look at other local Compacts and copy the best ideas from them 2 Local Compacts A User Guide Example Updating the Leeds Compact Leeds revised their Compact to bring it up to members talk date with changes in the financial climate tackle about and indifference from the voluntary and community promote the sector and lack of knowledge of the Compact Compact in from the statutory sector The revision and meetings with subsequent promotion has achieved a huge both sectors amount of positive change Is using the new The Compact group Compact to help clarify how Successfully requested a voluntary
46. mpact partnerships also developed e Although the participation of Town and Parish heir own codes Councils in the Compact is important they usually e The national Compact was refreshed in 2009 The do not have specific Compacts set of codes were adapted to a list of principles e Some regions in England have also developed covering three areas of commitment Involvement regional Compacts Compact workers from across a in Policy Development Allocating Resources and region sometimes form a regional group for example Advancing Equality the West Midlands Compact Group e The national Compact was renewed in 2010 e The other nations in the United Kingdom have their ollowing the establishment of the Coalition own engagement responsibilities and versions of a Government Compact for example the Scottish Compact was e The Office for Civil Society OCS is responsible set up in 1998 or implementing the Compact across every 2 Our Compact is admired and has inspired other government department Compact Voice works agreements There are versions of the Compact in closely alongside OCS to ensure that the views and Sweden Croatia Estonia Denmark Hungary needs of the voluntary and community sector are France and Poland There are also agreements represented and understood between government and civil Society organisations e The Compact continues to enjoy support across the in the USA Canada the Philippines and Egypt main political parties 2 In the future there may
47. n Run training sessions Tor you Provide materials such as case studies and presentations for your events Help plan your events Provide speakers for your local events Islington Compact Awards 2010 winners A summary of the winners work and photographs were sent to all participants attendees and everyone in the local CVS newsgroup The awards ceremony was an enjoyable way for community groups and the statutory sector to learn about each other and provided a rare opportunity to honour very important partnership work Winners remarked that they had not realised what positive impact the recognition of their partnership would have especially on funding applications Compact voice Section 5 Compact Impact Action planning monitoring and evaluating Section 5 Compact Impact Action planning monitoring and evaluating In this section e Compact action plans e Evaluating your Compact e Scorecard How well does your partnership work An action plan is essential for making local Compacts work It shows clearly what is needed from partners to progress your local Compact is a key tool for monitoring progress and is the basis for showcasing your SUCCESSES The picture use to help explain the Compact is a house The Compact is the foundation stone The trouble is that foundation stones are buried in the ground People want to know what actually has the Compact done but it is tricky to
48. nd opportunities showing some of the training programmes we provide This offers useful tips about running similarly themed events This is available online at www compactvoice org uk supportmenu 2 Local Compacts A User Guide Tips for organising a successful Compact event 1 Define your audience DO make sure you re clear on who you want to attend your event and what the benefit to them is Some events may require different levels of Compact knowledge or relate to a specific area of interest or expertise Those who can t engage meaningfully may feel disenfranchised and bringing them up to speed could limit the usefulness of the event to others DON T limit the remit of all Compact events by targeting only a generic audience While it is important to bring everyone together from time to time there can be advantages in targeting specific audiences Mix up the sectors DO invite representatives from the statutory and voluntary sectors and any relevant private sector representatives in your area this will provide an opportunity for them to network and build working DON T feel as though you have to talk about the Compact in isolation Linking the Compact in with issues people are interested in can be a great way to demonstrate how relevant the Compact is Get the word out DO brief your team on any events so that they can tell external audiences when they engage with them during the course
49. ng in under age drinking The Local Policing Unit Community Cohesion Department and West Midlands Neighbourhood Watch County Association a registered charity used their local Compact to take a unified approach to the problem agreeing to pool their resources and work more closely together They talked with the young people and provided them with alternative activities got local fire and rescue and youth services involved and also the NHS who were working towards tackling obesity and teenage pregnancy This proactive approach resulted in young people becoming involved in different projects particularly participating in barbecues and games in the park and allowed young and older people to How Compact Voice can help We can e Provide examples and case studies relevant to different audiences e Provide information for newsletters and press releases e Provide leaflets and other resources e Attend key meetings in your area Section 3 Communicating the Compact to different partners 1 5 talk about the problems they had encountered in the park which made the teenagers aware of how they were being antisocial Sergeant Chris Sprague from Walsall Local Policing Unit stated that Anti Social Behaviour reports had been slashed by 50 percent since the introduction of the barbecue in the park initiative The good work continues in the area where the partnerships are setting up a gym for
50. ng to squeeze he Compact in with competing work commitments particularly when the role is not full time or Compact responsibilities form just part of a job description Relating the Compact to other policies strategies and targets can help by showing others that the Compact is integral to good practice and not an additional bureaucratic exercise Compact Champions The role of Compact Champions was devised to address a common barrier to establishing an effective Compact that it can be difficult to spread understanding of the Compact By helping people from organisations locally from front line staff to directors to understand the Compact it is possible o generate greater understanding of and support for he Compact and encourage more people to advocate for its use and inclusion in policy and service design t should be recognised that not every Compact refers o or has Compact Champions Local areas have their own approaches to delivering a local Compact However here are a number of examples of local Compacts which have benefited greatly from building up a group of well informed well connected Compact Champions Who can be a Compact Champion There are no set requirements for being a Compact Champion Ideally every public body and larger voluntary and community sector organisation should have at least one named Champion while councils should have Champions who represent different departments and
51. ocess and a role description for positions on the Compact group Compact group meetings Because the strength of the Compact group lies in the seniority and decision making capacity of its members who expect to meet others at the same senior level as hemselves at the Compact meeting it is important to invest time and effort in ensuring people attend The Compact group meeting should not be a talking shop Some ways e Establishing wh group and shou which organisa e Long e Anin e Regu dou and eres lar m dance include o help ensure atten at representatives expect rom the formally agree term line s of reference which he shared mission of the group and ions are expected to be represented short term aims for he group ing relevant agenda with good and accurate minutes maintained eetings for example six times a year e Guest speakers for example the police explaining how they hey work A venue that a oin with community groups will feel comfortable attending One to one meetings with new members before e A clear process for dealing with any issues between mem bers e Recognition and celebration of achievements e Community 2 Local Compacts A User Guide 6 6 oe a 6 o 6 e ee AA e e Acknowledgement that smaller voluntary and See also community organisations ma
52. ollaboration Established links to local partnerships across a range of SSUES Effective dispute resolution processes agreed Ongoing development with good use of tools Low awareness knowledge and use of Compact amp working together All partners recognise Compact s value and support it being implemented at all levels Compact Group delivering action plan that links with key strategies amp processes Partners working successfully towards full potential of Compact Compact making significant difference to policy development equalities resource allocation and outcomes How Compact Voice can help We can e Help you develop an action plan Facilitate evaluation sessions elp you develop an evaluation framework Provide resources to help you evaluate the impact of your local Compact Share good practice about what s working well elsewhere Compact voice Section 6 Revising renewing or creating your Compact Section 6 Revising renewing or creating your Compact In this section Creating a local Compact e Example updating the Leeds Compact How Compact Voice can help In order to maintain public sector engagement and support to prioritise the Compact within Councils we refreshed our Compact and put codes of practice In one document Every year we come up with new publicity targeting councillors and officers in the dist
53. opportunities for sign up to Calderdale at all partner events 2 Resources and Responsibility Who does what and how you will pay for it Record and monitor Budget for 10 11 agreed and managed by CMBC resources from partners Secure existing ember organisations and partners identify and or additional resources to support delivery of Compact resources Other sources private sector resources to support he Compact e g promotion on business websites Section 5 Compact Impact Action planning monitoring and evaluating 3 Example Camden Compact group s delivery overview Camden Compact group developed an overview guide to their local Compact which lists different partners who are involved in working together and how they deliver key aspects of better partnership working between the sectors Delivery overview Partners Themes Stronger partnerships amp collaboration between sectors Children Schools 4 Families Resourcing of VCS network and children amp amilies development work Housing amp Adult Social Care VCS involvement in commissioning groups safeguarding board etc Access to training for VCS Voluntary amp Community Sector VCS Supporting networks fair selection processes for VCS partnership members Range of development and capacity building initiatives for involvement amp joint working Culture amp En
54. pions with defined roles in public bodies partnership boards and voluntary groups and or build up a base of people who you now see the benefits of the Compact and will raise it in their day to day work e Have a contact for more information or problems when using your Compact e Share costs between partners and programme bids and fund a local Compact officer Compact Voice Regent s Wharf 8 All Saints Street London N1 9RL Email compact compactvoice org uk Website www compactvoice org uk Twitter compactvoice Application and use Compact approach to partnerships as the normal way of doing business e Adopt a Compact way of working together for partnership governance Link the Compact to the local strategic board and sign up the partners e Ask all partnerships to consider how they are using the local Compact Include Compact information in recruitment packs and induction programmes e Cover your Compact in training courses and provide joint training on it e Boost involvement of local groups in service planning design delivery review and improvement e Compact proof policy publications and decision making papers Compliance Robust mechanisms for making sure everyone keeps to the Compact e Establish a dispute resolution process e og local Compact non compliance and analyse causes Signpost to Local Ombudsman and Compact Advocacy Evaluation Demonstrating what works and what doesn t
55. reaches seemed rarer This information is crucial in understanding barriers to good relationships between the sectors reading between the lines to locate the realities behind negative perceptions and suggest positive actions to be taken Compact Voice Annual Survey Compact Voice undertakes a national survey of local Compacts This allows you to compare your local Compact with others For more information visit www compactvoice org uk Overview and Scrutiny Councillors are well placed as community leaders to be able to assess how well a Compact is being implemented within and without the council Scrutiny reviews have ed to the recognition of weaknesses and subsequent improvements in Compact working in Thurrock Bristol and Hertfordshire See also the publication Local Compacts at Work which can be found in the Resources section of www compactvoice org uk Involving people in the evaluation process One of the best ways to measure the effectiveness of a Compact is to ask the people who use it or who should be using it what they think about it There are lots of options to choose from when consulting an audience from social networking tools to facilitated evaluation sessions which Compact Voice can deliver see the support section of www compactvoice org uk However there are some which are particularly useful The following table provides a framework for assessing how well a local Compact is
56. rict or county council Sarah Prior Compact Officer Compact for Devon We did a revision of the Compact for Leeds just as the budget was arising It was useful to have a very recent document rooted in the current context People may have negotiated something three years before and may have left and new people con t feel they own it This is the same at the local level and at the political level That s one reason to revise David Smith Chair of Compact Implementation Group Director LeedsVoice Revising the Compact does cement the working relationships It aids communication and helps us think through priorities Pat Fairfax Community issues co ordinator Leeds council Creating a local Compact There are no rules about how a Compact should be structured or presented but what follows are some useful guidelines 1 Good local Compacts are those which reflect the needs circumstances and aspirations of local partners the clue is in the name A local Compact should be the product of an open discussion between local partners in fact its strength will likely be determined by the extent to which partners have been engaged in the process N However the national Compact provides a useful template on which local Compacts could be based or take their inspiration from Indeed some areas have adopted the national Compact as their local Compact as a temporary measure whilst they update their loca
57. ssession Thats helped prevent people from losing their homes Another example is our social transport scheme a multi agency partnership We use volunteer drivers and voluntary sector staff take the bookings It s benefitting some of the most vulnerable residents older and disabled people The VCS are a key part of the success Dave Webb Head of Revenues and Housing Stratford on Avon Council See the research report Economic and Social Benefits of Applying Compact Commitments which can be downloaded from the resources section of www compactvoice org uk Research report How the Compact Applies to Participatory Budgeting an Analysis which can be downloaded from the resources section of www compactvoice org uk Section 3 Communicating the Compact to different partners 5 Topic Points to communicate Quotes and examples Further resources Partnerships seite Working together to assess need and plan services ensures that gaps Engaging and involving the voluntary and community sector in designing are addressed and that best practice is followed This can help deliver son gg services from the earliest possible point recognises that such groups often services and policies which benefit communities Ti ee have significant understanding and connection with communities Adam Pickering Engagement Officer Compact Voice Local Compacts often include commitments on assessin
58. t they would consult on a major policy change For example in the court case of R Berry v Cumbria County Council in 2007 Judge Mackie said It seems to me that the Compact was more than a wish list but less than a contract It is a commitment of intent between the parties concerned Example Southall Black Sisters A well known public law case concerned Ealing Council withdrawing funding from Southall Black Sisters who provide services to all BME women in Ealing experiencing domestic violence The council intended to fund a service to all individuals irrespective of gender sexual orientation race faith age disability resident within the Borough of Ealing experiencing domestic violence Southall Black Sisters made the point that specialist provision does not undermine social cohesion Ultimately Ealing Council withdrew from the case but the judge still made a ruling quoting the Compact emphasises the importance of independent non profit organisations run by for and located within black minority ethnic communities Further details of this case can be found on the Public Law Project s website at www publiclawproject org uk Judicial review A public sector body s decision can be subject to a judicial review a court case where the judge looks at the public sector organisation s behaviour Judicial review cannot decide that a decision is wron
59. the local Compact principles or spirit for example a prime Anyone distributing funds on the government s behalf must adhere to the Compact When entering a new partnership or when working with new staff ensure contractor and or their supply chains have not been adhering to the Compact they are briefed on the local Compact Work towards getting high level buy in to the Compact Leadership on Compact compliance will encourage wide spread Compact working Consider recruiting senior level Compact champions across both sectors This requires a serious review of the whole relationship Engage relevant stakeholders and lobby decision makers for change Consider enlisting the help of an external facilitator Section 7 Addressing non compliance 6 How to challenge non compliance Most local Compacts have mediation or dispute resolution procedures for addressing or resolving non compliance Usually the first step is to discuss the non compliance and find solutions or leaming points The bit always felt we got wrong was the dispute resolution process The original was quasi legal but in practice getting everyone together around one table and working through issues was more effective than adversarial tyoe processes outlined in the original Compact Martin Howie Director Voluntary Action Lewisham The Compact Advocacy Programme suggests the following before making a c
60. ticularly with regards to Equality amp Diversity How Compact Voice can help We can Advocate and intervene on your behalf Support you to challenge non compliance Refer you to the Compact Advocacy Programme Provide examples of how poor decisions have been challenged elsewhere The Compact states that Cornwall Council must Operate fair and equal access by groups to funding programmes particularly those that impact significantly on the protected characteristics Gypsies and Travellers are legally recognised as ethnic groups and are protected from discrimination by the Equality Act 2010 Travelling people make up a significant proportion of our society and yet remain one of the most marginalised groups For TravellerSpace Discretionary Rate Relief is a form of 5 5 funding that we are being denied TravellerSpace copied the letter to all councillors and the Chief Executive of the council The matter was resolved within ten days DRR was granted TravellerSpace have since become a registered Charity Acknowledgements Bhati Nicole Catenazzi Tom and Kelly Ventress Compacts work ering Thank you to Ingela Andersson Pau Elkins This guide was researched and written by Amber Alferoff with Adam Pic Barasi Neena Rosalind Stannard And very grateful thanks to the following people who shared their insight into what makes local
61. vironment Inclusion of VCS in Council s Equality Impact Assessment framework Strategic Liaison Group Capacity building support NHS Camden Staff involvement in VCS forums Involvement of VCS in specific work areas and events Work with the LINK Metropolitan Police VCS representation on ward panels Consultation amp influencing decision making Consultation with VCS on strategic plans commissioning amp policy development Joint commissioning events amp research with VCS VCS inclusion on strategic amp work groups Meetings seminars outreach work increasing VCS knowledge amp involvement Research amp providing evidence Piloting new monitoring approaches Partnership approach to developing outcomes Annual joint event on commissioning amp direction of travel VCS involvement in consultation on plans amp strategies Infrastructure Resourcing work or effective VCS involvement Supporting range of strategic sub boards with VCS members Providing training opportunities for VCS in key policy areas VCS involvement in Community safety work programme Capacity building and development across Action Plan themes Resourcing organisations o alleviate economic hardship Work to embed Compact principles in NHS strategy documents Funding relationships amp service delivery Grants used to allocate capital funding Training for VCS to
62. working Section 5 Compact Impact Action planning monitoring and evaluating T 6 Ng e e e How well does your partnership work Ways of evaluating your Compact 1 not effective 5 very effective None or few Sufficient recruited Local training Supported and Networked in sector amp public resource providing active regularly briefed bodies training to all new and playing an Champions increasingly effective role Partners have little Training delivered amp Opportunities for Involvement Awide range knowledge amp skills issues addressed joint working are in policy and of local groups on how to engage by partners being seized processes from both Sector well positioned skilled led amp Supported to engage productively boosted in quality and quantity sectors including community BME and faith groups are increasingly engaging effectively Little exists or is being developed Development of good practice Effective promotional initiatives taken Partners improving their compliance amp logging good practice Compact proofing of decisions and policies high compliance Compact wins and outcomes are growing and well publicised locally and with other areas case studies on Compact Voice website Little or no formalised processes for implementing the Compact Implementation group is effective and infrastructure is able to coordinate cross sector c
63. y find it harder than statutory sector officers to take time away from service delivery and fundraising with efforts made to address any imbalance between sectors e Giving attendees a clear understanding of the benefits of attending for their organisation and their users Without the Compact and the work of the group there would have been real problems for organisations delivering family and children s services under new contracts The Compact heloed us to ensure fairness and treatment of groups as equal partners in the contracting process Mary Gardiner Chief Executive of Kensington and Chelsea Social Council e The section on communicating the benefits of Compact working to different audiences e The section on Compact Impact Action planning monitoring and evaluating e The publication Local Compacts at Work which is available in the resources section of www compactvoice org uk Compact officers Local Compact officers have the Compact as part of their job description or as an explicit aspect of their role A handful of local areas fund a dedicated Compact officer Compact officers are usually located in either the council or the local CVS or share their time between the two One main task of a Compact officer is to share information about the Compact An officer s ability to work comfortably in the statutory and the community and voluntary sector is an asset The Compact officer role may be
64. you implement the framework is a different story Darren Thomas Compact Project Officer Haringey CVS HAVCO HAVCO felt that community groups may not fully understand the Compact even though they might be working in Compact compliant ways In response they developed a Compact toolkit for the voluntary and community sector The toolkit Provides a clear method for implementing Compact principles Brings the Compact alive by showing practical examples of what each of the principles means Allows organisations to internally assess and improve their ways of working The toolkit sits alongside a statutory sector oolkit that was used to improve council policies Developing the toolkit took a couple of months Feedback was provided by the Compact mplementation Group which included a wide range of local advocates and representatives Darren Thomas Compact Officer said he Compact is part of an approach which helos to modemise public services The toolkit helps to not only improve partnership working but also voluntary and community organisations ability to deliver public services in partnership Ultimately local citizens are the ones to benefit Working together in this way can enhance lives reduce inequality and improve chances It s basically about meeting local need and providing value for money Example Solihull Compact communications strategy Sixteen months after launching th
65. young people PC Gary Hall from the Community Cohesion Team said This is a fantastic way of showing that partnerships working together can be extremely beneficial to the community and it was a pleasure for me to bring the partners together to succeed in this venture Compact voice Section 4 Events and training Section 4 Events and training In this section e Compact Voice s Events amp Training Programme e Tips for organising a successful Compact event Events and training helo people understand the Compact what it offers them how it integrates into heir work and how they can contribute to partnership working in their day to day activities Some agencies such as the police and hospitals don t fund the sector so the benefits of being involved in the Compact are not immediately obvious Our local Compact awards scheme brought them into the fold Rob Allison Director of Policy and Partnership Voluntary Action Coventry Compact Voice s events and training programme Compact Voice organises events which showcase examples of good practice We can also support local events and deliver training We offer the following free services e Talks developed to cover the most popular subjects requested by our members We are more than happy to discuss developing bespoke talks and presentations too e Training modules and targeted programmes of support for example Selling the Compact or

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