The Surrey Compact is a commitment to continually improve relationships between public sector organisations, the voluntary and community sector, and

Transcription

1 The Surrey Compact is a commitment to continually improve relationships between public sector organisations, the voluntary and community sector, and organisations representing service users and carers. This document is a practical tool to achieve this.

2 What is the Surrey Compact? As our vision says: The Surrey Compact is a commitment to continually improve relationships, between public sector organisations, the voluntary and community sector, and organisations representing service users and carers. This document is a practical tool to achieve this. A wide range of groups and organisations has helped to create this Surrey Compact. It has also been shaped by the many views expressed during a formal consultation in All Surrey voluntary and community organisations, and public bodies, are invited to support the principles and practices of the Surrey Compact, and to take part in its development. The Surrey Compact aims to help us: f communicate better with each other f understand and respect each other s views f work together more effectively to support the people of Surrey. 2 What are our Compact principles? We recognise that: f community involvement is vital to improving the quality of life for people in Surrey f the differences between the voluntary sector and the public sector should be respected and valued f each sector has its own set of responsibilities and constraints f the diversity within each sector should be valued and respected f the independence of the voluntary and community sector, and organisations representing service users and carers, should be respected f relationships between the sectors should be open and respectful (but we are realistic enough to acknowledge that, even in the healthiest partnership, problems will sometimes arise) f in our joint working we should give equal value to contributions from all sectors and communities f all organisations have the right to contribute to, and if necessary challenge, matters that affect them without penalty.

3 How can we put the Compact principles into practice? Together we will: f develop policies and services taking into account the experience and views of both sectors f use our resources including people, buildings, knowledge, skills and money to produce the best results for the people of Surrey f raise awareness of Surrey s needs at regional, national and European levels f promote the Compact principles in our working relationships f update the Compact by reviewing it regularly f develop Compact Codes of Practice f resolve problems in a constructive and open way. Participating public bodies will observe the Surrey Compact in their interaction with the voluntary, community, service user and carer organisations. All future arrangements will be made within the context of this Surrey Compact, and will apply its principles and practices. They will also contribute to the ongoing process of developing the Surrey Compact. 3

4 The proposed Codes of Practice What are the Codes of Practice? Codes of Practice will help us bring the Compact principles into our day-to-day work. The Compact Working Group will produce framework Codes of Practice. All Compact participants are invited to be involved with this. Organisations from both sectors will be invited to adopt the framework Codes of Practice, and any relevant additions, as they are developed. To ensure that these Codes are relevant to the public bodies in their area, participating organisations may, if necessary, wish to build on these framework Codes. The Codes of Practice will be based on these themes: f Funding f Volunteering f Working with Community Groups f Equality and Diversity f Policy Making and Consultation. The following page sets these out in more detail. 4

5 Funding Providing funding for the local voluntary and community sector, and organisations representing service users and carers, helps to ensure that the needs of all Surrey s communities are met. We will develop a Code drawing on the National Funding Code of Good Practice that will: f encourage openness and transparency f make it easier to find out about what funding is available f improve the process of applying for funding f address the issue of changes to, or withdrawal of funding f enable us to attract funding from outside Surrey f encourage appropriate and proportionate monitoring and evaluation f address the need for longer term funding arrangements as appropriate f recognise the value of assisting organisations that support other voluntary and community groups, and service users and carers. Volunteering Volunteers provide a valuable contribution to the quality of life in Surrey, but are a declining resource. We will draw on the many examples of national and local good practice to produce a Code that will address: f the recruitment and retention of volunteers f training and development needs f supporting and managing volunteers and f the costs associated with volunteering. Working with Community Groups Each community group is different in its purpose, its size, its membership and so has different needs. To make the most of their valuable contribution to Surrey this Code will: f provide a straightforward way to directly involve them in issues that affect them f encourage involvement through use of plain language f involve them in developing the Surrey Compact. Equality and Diversity Surrey has a diverse range of communities with many unmet needs within them. A commitment to applying the principles of equal opportunities is a central part of a fair and democratic society, and is vital to the success of the Surrey Compact. We recognise that issues of equality and diversity take many forms. Our Code will link to existing laws and ways of working. It will provide a source of good practice to address issues such as: f black and minority ethnic needs f disability f gender and sexuality f faith f age discrimination f rural and social isolation f the needs of service users and carers. Policy Making and Consultation More can be achieved for Surrey by involving each other in our day-to-day activities, but we recognise that lack of time, resources and flexibility may hinder involvement. The Code will: f provide a framework that enables people to get involved in decision-making early enough to make a real difference f recognise that service providers, service users, carers and campaigning organisations each have different needs f offer a minimum of twelve weeks for formal consultations, taking holiday periods into account f encourage quality in how consultation is designed, carried out and used f remind everyone of their responsibility to encourage wider involvement in decisionmaking, and f incorporate the principles outlined in the best practice guidance for service user and carer organisations. 5

6 How we got here and the way forward The Compact Working Group This document was developed by the original Compact Working Group whose membership included: f Central Surrey Council for Voluntary Service f Citizens Advice, Surrey f Runnymede Borough Council f Surrey Community Action f Surrey Council for Voluntary Youth Services f Surrey County Council f Surrey Learning & Skills Council f Surrey Primary Care Trusts f Surrey Wildlife Trust Following the consultation with over 3000 organisations in Surrey and a redrafting, new members joined an interim Compact Working Group to take the Surrey Compact forward. They have agreed that the duties of the group will include: f appointing an independent chair f ensuring that the working group membership is representative of all sectors and groups f agreeing terms of reference and ways of making decisions f meeting at least six times each year f drawing up an action plan for producing the Codes of Practice and applying them f each member being responsible for sharing information and developments with their organisation, group and membership f monitoring, reviewing and updating the Surrey Compact each year f developing ways of communicating about the Surrey Compact f creating a reference group to comment on drafts and participate in related events. Accountability To ensure accountability, the Compact Working Group will: f work in an open and transparent way f make its minutes and decisions available to the public f produce an annual report and hold a review event each year f be accountable to their own organisations and networks, in relation to the Compact. Mediation If an organisation has a problem involving the application of the Compact or its principles, the Compact Working Group will try to solve it by talking to the people involved. If this doesn t work, we will seek an independent point of view for example, by referring the matter to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) Compact Mediation Service. If no agreement is reached, the matter can be referred to the Local Government Ombudsman. For further information For further information or to discuss involvement in the Surrey Compact, please contact: The Compact Working Group Tel: scwg@surreyca.org.uk 6

7 Surrey County Council has offered the Compact Working Group the following service: If you would like this document in large print, on tape or in another language, please contact us on: tel: minicom: fax: