Reviewing Partnerships in the Public Sector

Partnership working is a key means though which much of government policy is being delivered at a local level. However, the challenges of bringing together public, private and voluntary sectors are formidable.

This unique course brings together the commonest issues, to provide a single source for a reviewer’s all round understanding of the structures, risks and rewards of partnership operations.

Suitability and duration

Suitability: All levels

Duration: 2 days

Who should attend

This course is designed for all reviewers who need to evaluate a Partnership.

Benefits

Skills

After completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Appreciate the drivers, vision and management of partnership models
• Review and evaluate partnership arrangements
• Form an opinion of the adequacy and effectiveness of a partnership agreement

Support materials

Programme

Partnerships – drivers, models and constraints

• The drivers behind partnerships
• Partnership models – public-public, public-private, joint procurement, shared services, collaboration
• Legal partnerships – applicable partnership laws
• Regulatory issues – UK and European

Partnerships – vision

• Relationship expectations
• Strategic expectations
• Financial expectations

Partnerships – management

• Risk analysis relevant to partnerships
• Management of partnership programmes and projects
• Funding – partnership budgeting: pooled budgets, joint funding, third party funding

Reviewing strategy – gathering information

• Gathering information and collecting benchmarking data

Reviewing strategy – evaluation

• Evaluation of shared and common interests including inter-party communications and co-operation – does the partnership achieve added value through synergy and a common vision?
• Evaluation of the sharing of risk, responsibility and reward – are the risks proportionate to the reward?
• Evaluation of financial architecture – does the partnership achieve financial equity?
• Evaluation of the treatment of assets supplied or loaned under the partnership agreement
• Authorisation and authority for binding, and for variations and amendments – evaluation of the partnership board
• Evaluation of change management – does the partnership manage process, people and culture change effectively?
• Evaluation of Service Level Agreements and standard of performance – is any party failing to perform and are all parties monitoring service achievement?
• Evaluation of contingency and partnership continuity – is the partnership structured to withstand materialisation of risks such as third party funding withdrawal?
• Evaluation of partnership efficacy and results – does the partnership achieve “best value”? Evaluation of residuals – matters that may continue after a partnership terminates, dissolves or re-forms

Reviewing strategy – reporting

• Reviewing – opinion on overall effectiveness, performance, yield and value for money, accountability and administration
• Reviewing – opinion on governance, regulation, ethics and financial control
• Reviewing – opinion on whether the partnership is evolving through lessons learned?