A Compact for Camden Framework agreement between the Voluntary and Community Sector and Public Sector partners in Camden

Working in partnership – a Compact way of working A Compact is an agreement that improves relations between local public bodies and voluntary and community groups for mutual advantage A Compact is a living document setting values, principles and commitments for how best to work together to achieve more for the local community A Compact is a way of working in partnership that gets it right together rather than wrong alone

Aims of A Compact for Camden Widen the community's access to decision-making processes. Develop the relationship between and across sectors at all levels Improve communication and information flow between organisations and with the general public. To develop the network between public bodies and voluntary and community organisations.

Examples of a Compact way of working LB Camden Tenant Participation Compact BME Consultative Forum Terms of Reference Safe as Houses Initiative HAZ Funding Process

What supports partnership working between public bodies and voluntary and community groups? partnership rules mutually supportive process adequate and supported representation of the voluntary and community sector equal treatment of partners, sharing out partnership roles and no vetoes or unilateral decisions understand each other’s priorities and constraints manage conflict positively community accountability and shared information encourage local groups to run projects review how the partnership is working and not just the outcomes

What is in it for you? What is in it for public bodies? Demonstrates commitment to partnership working Better relations – better decisions – better services What’s in it for the voluntary and community groups? Enabling and supportive public bodies Consultation and involvement that works What’s in it for everyone? Stated promises A process for sorting out things that go wrong Building relations that change how partners behave, engage and work together

Concerns and how the Compact can seek to allay them VCS may be concerned that: their campaigning role may jeopardise their funding by public bodies unequal relationship between VCS and public bodies their involvement may be “tokenistic”, they may be taken for granted and/or overstretched Ways of addressing these concerns include: Rights of VCS to manager their own affairs Right of VCS to pursue their aims independently Fair allocation of resources to the VCS Promotion of effective infrastructure for VCS

Concerns and allaying them cont’d………… Public bodies may be concerned that: VCS is not representative VCS is not accountable VCS is not consistent Ways of addressing these concerns include: endorsement of Compact by VCS bodies designated VCS named contact on Compact ensuring proper representation by VCS promoting equality and social inclusion by VCS

Implementation check list Resources and Responsibility Application and Use ComplianceEvaluationAwareness

Who should join up to a Compact? AT NATIONAL LEVEL Central Government Departments, New Deal Partnership Boards and other Government Agencies, Compact Working Group (on behalf of the Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) AT LOCAL LEVEL All local public bodies – Local Authorities, Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs), Learning and Skills Councils (LSCs), Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), Emergency services. All local VCS organisations.

Partnership Boards LOCAL COMPACT Service Planning Scrutiny Process Community Strategy LSP LSP Partners in Service Delivery Best Value Informal Joint Working Working Local Compact links

Compact Partners include Acute NHS Hospital Trusts (UCLH and Great Ormond Street) Business Camden Town Partnership Camden Council Camden Housing Association & Co-op Forum Camden NHS Primary Care Trust Camden Network of Networks Holborn Business Partnership Job Centre Plus Joint Chairs of Governors Learning and Skills Council London Fire Brigade Metropolitan Police Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust Voluntary Action Camden University College London

Using the Compact Some ways the Compact can be useful: Some ways the Compact can be useful: Best Value Reviews Inspection Process Partnership programme bids Development of area Compacts

Compact Action Plan The Camden Compact includes an Action Plan. The Plan sets out undertakings which are the responsibility of: all organisations public bodies voluntary and community sector Compact Group

What should you do now? Read the Compact Relate it to your work area Work out who will take it forward Work out how it will be taken forward Make it come alive

Compact Group Monitor, evaluate and oversee the development and implementation of the Compact especially: Produce an annual implementation monitoring report Review performance and plan for the next year To develop mechanisms to share learning across all sectors

Tenant Participation Compact A Compact way of working in action “The Tenant Participation Compact has made a real difference to the way we work together..and produces better results” (Neil Litherland, Director, Camden Housing and Adult Social Care) “It provides a framework within which to reconcile both the needs of those who live in Camden properties, and the services provided by Members of the council and council staff (Tom McGarry, Chair of the Tenant Participation Compact Monitoring Board

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