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Purbeck partnership working

Find information on the council's toolkit and register, which covers the approach to new partnerships and gives guidance when reviewing existing arrangements, and 'The Dorset Compact'.

Partnership working presents both opportunities and risks for the council.  It is essential that both staff and members have a framework to allow us to provide strong and visible support and leadership in any partnership setting we are involved with. 

In order to apply clear processes and procedures to respond to the complexity of partnerships and their role in delivering services efficiently, effectively and with propriety, the council has developed the following documents:-

These documents ensure that:

  • The council is clear about its purpose, duties and expected outcomes when entering into partnerships 

  • The council's own agreed objectives and priorities are being met

  • Best use is made of available resources

  • There is clarity in relation to accountability for outcomes and quality

  • Partnership involvement, activity and outcomes are monitored and reviewed in line with the council's Performance Management Framework

  • Risks for the council, and for the partnership, are assessed and agreed, e.g. in achieving delivery of statutory or other targets

  • Each partnership maintains a relevance to its agreed purpose over time

  • Partnerships are properly authorised and empowered, and their legal status understood

  • Partnerships demonstrate they are achieving value for money

The Dorset Compact

Voluntary and community organisations have a vital role in society as the nations ´third sector´ working alongside both national and local government and the private sector. The contribution of voluntary and community organisations to civil life is immense, invaluable and irreplaceable through the engagement of volunteers, the services they provide and the support they give to individuals and to groups.

Voluntary and community organisations and the public sector bodies in Dorset share a fundamental aim to serve and represent the interests of local people and communities.

The Dorset Compact provides a general framework of principles and codes of practice to underpin and guide relationships between the different sectors based upon shared values and mutual respect. This links in well with and provides supportive structures for the Community Planning process involving partnership working at all levels.

The Compact aims to:

  • Build on the existing relationships and good practice between the public sector and the voluntary and community sectors

  • Strive to maintain and improve the quality of life for individuals and communities in Dorset

  • Base relationships on trust, openness, fairness and consistency

Purbeck District Council has pledged a commitment to the Dorset Compact by approving the Compact Partnership Agreement and the accompanying code of Good Practice for Consultation. Further codes on Funding and Volunteering have recently been prepared and will be presented to Council for approval.  All codes will be reviewed on an annual basis.

The Compact has been produced by the Dorset Compact Group, a county-wide group of voluntary and community and public sector organisations chaired by VOLNET, the community sector support network managed by .

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