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Partnerships and collaborative working Wesley Harcourt AdviceUK VSF Conference 19 July 2011 Why set up a partnership? • Capitalise on a funding opportunity • Meet a funders criteria • Fill a gap in service delivery – Deliver new services • Develop a network of providers – Work more closely with existing agencies • Coordinate a collective response to a policy issue – influence local/regional/national policy Range of partnerships Types of partnerships • Geographical: Borough wide, Sub regional, Pan London • Sector: single sector, cross sectoral involving private, public or statutory sectors • Purpose: service delivery, strategic, created for funding, single issue or a number of projects Partnerships with the statutory sector • NHS • Regeneration • Social services – e.g. service delivery partnerships • Children’s services – e.g. multi agency partnerships to deal with gang violence • Big society – libraries, community interests Models of partnership structure • Separate organisation • Virtual organisation • Co-location of staff from partners • Steering group Types of agreement • Memorandum of understanding • Terms of Reference • Service level agreements • Formal/legal contracts Benefits • Access • Encouraging innovation • Opportunity to collaborate • Manage existing resources Risks to working in partnership • • • • • • • Limited resources Incompatibility Managing expectations Reputation Loss of identity Conflict of interest Imbalance of power Steps to partnership • Preparation – Identify the need for your partnership • Decision making and planning – Identify potential partners – Agree how to work together – Measure partner contribution – Get commitment Steps to partnership • Implementation – Formalise the partnership – Manage the partnership • Organisational • Financial • Project • Review and learning – Monitoring and evaluating your partnership – Exit strategy BAN – a case study BME Advice Network • 43 agencies across London • Set up in response to Big Lottery • 18 agencies funded by London Councils • All have CLS Quality Mark • Written partnership agreement • Terms of reference Issues • A two tier partnership? • Conflict between ‘funded’ and ‘non funded’ members • Boundaries between the two can be blurred • Standardisation/consistency of monitoring • Lead partner role • Sanctions The future London Councils funding ends September 2012 Option 1 • Partnership ends when funding ends Option 2 • Continue as a loose network or forum Option 3 • Incorporation