Herefordshire Local Compact
What is the Compact and what
should it do for you?
National Compact
The national Compact is an agreement between the voluntary and community sector and government to improve their relationship for mutual advantage.The Compact in England was drawn up in partnership following extensive consultation with the voluntary and community sector and Government Departments. It was published in 1998.
The Compact is deliberately not exhaustive but, recognising the diversity of third sector, (voluntary, community and non-profit), organisations and its activities, it represents a reciprocally beneficial and constructive relationship between the statutory and voluntary sectors.
The Compact and its Codes of Good Practice list the rights and responsibilities to which both sectors should adhere in order to make that relationship work.
National Codes of Good Practice
Funding
- Ensuring well-managed, accountable organisations with good governance
- Acting lawfully (and for charities, following the Charity Commission’s guidance)
Consultation
- Encouraging sector participation in government consultations
- Showing who your response represents
Community Groups
- Ensuring communities can identify their own needs and run projects
- Simplifying funding to boost access (including for faith groups)
- Developing race equality strategies jointly with the Government
- Being accountable to local communities
- A named responsible manager and trustee as a champion for volunteering
- A fair deal for volunteers including their treatment, training and support
Local Compact
Local Compacts have the same aims as the national Compact, achieved through agreements between the sector, local authoriites and other local public bodies.
The original Herefordshire Health and Social Care Compact, which came into effect in April 2004, and was refreshed in 2006, was subsumed by the Wider Local Compact, which applies across the herefordshire Partnership.
The Health and Social Care Funding and Procurement Code of Good Practice was published in November 2005, with its commitments and actions being phased in under the auspices of the cross-sectoral Compact Code Implementation Group, chaired by the PCT.
Members of The Alliance sign up to the Compact and Funding and Procurement Code as a condition of membership.
A Health and Social Care Code of Good Practice on Policy Development and Service Design, including consultation and information sharing, is being drafted during 2008/09.
See Also Hereford Health & Social Care Compact & Codes of Good Practice
More information about the national and local Compacts can be found at:
www.thecompact.org.uk