Compact Working Group

More information

Wakefield Compact (pdf document)
The Wakefield District Compact (2008-11). This is the framework of principles that underpins relationships between public sector and voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations in the Wakefield District.

The Compact Engagement Toolkit (pdf document)
This toolkit aims to help VCS and public sector organisations signed up to the Compact to improve their understanding of the Compact and to embed it in the way that they work.

Minimum Standards for Complaints Investigation (pdf document)
This document outlines the minimum standards that The Compact Group expects Compact signatories’ complaints procedures to meet.

Positive Disputes Procedure (pdf document)
This procedure sets out what The Compact Group expects of its members if a complaint is made about their compliance with the Wakefield Compact, and what it will do to help resolve disputes.

National Compact (external website link)
The national Compact, refreshed in December 2009. This is the longstanding agreement that sets out shared commitments and guidelines for effective partnership working between government and the third sector in England.

What is the Compact?

The Compact is an agreement between the voluntary and community sector (VCS) and statutory agencies such as Wakefield Metropolitan District Council (WMDC) and the Police about how they will work together. The Compact Working Group undertakes the implementation of the Compact. This group consists of Compact champions from the statutory agencies and VCS organisations with a responsibility for implementing the Compact.

The Compact Working Group

The membership of the Compact working group is made up of representatives from the statutory and voluntary sector agencies (the Council, Police, Wakefield College, Wakefield and District Housing, NHS Wakefield District, Vox, Voluntary Action Wakefield District, Voluntary integrated services for older people (VISOP), Wakefield Community Foundation, Groundwork Wakefield and Young Lives). The group:

• promotes the development of good practice in partnership working between the public sector, the voluntary and community sector and where appropriate, the private sector
• recommends reviews and updates of the Compact as necessary and seeks approval for these changes
• supports the Compact signatories in helping them to develop and monitor the use of the Compact in their organisations
• advises and ensures training on the implementation of the Compact’s principles and good practice guidance
• develops action plans for the development of the Compact
• supports the development of quality standards in the statutory, voluntary and community sectors, and where appropriate, the private sector
• undertakes formal reviews of the Compact, normally at three yearly intervals
• produces an annual report for the Wakefield Together Partnership board
• acts as the delivery group for the 'Environment for a Thriving Third Sector' Local Area Agreement indicator.