Networking and partnerships

Level 1 – the organisation is an active member of the community, and communicates with relevant agencies.

Contact details of other relevant organisations are held.

Information about services and activities is exchanged with other organisations.

There are plans to work with other organisations to increase effectiveness, and plans are carried out.

There are visits to and from other organisations.

Staff go to external meetings to improve services.

Level 1 – Examples of Evidence

• Up to date information on other organisations.
• records of mail-outs and information on other agencies and local services
• business plans, aims and objectives
• records of meetings and correspondence with other organisations
• minutes of meetings with key contacts.

Level 2 – the organisation is an active member of the relevant networks, and joint working adds value to planned activities.

The organisation has clear aims in developing networks with other organisations.

The organisation actively networks to reach potential users and get the information it needs.

There are systems for referring clients to other appropriate organisations.

Joint initiatives with other organisations are planned in line with the organisation’s aims and objectives, mutually agreed and documented in an action plan. Responsibilities of each participant are clearly outlined.

People from your organisation contribute to local, regional or national networks, sharing learning and ideas.

Staff, trustees and volunteers promote the organisation externally to increase its profile and to attract marginalised groups.

There is effective co-ordination with other agencies involved in providing care and support for each client.

Level 2 – examples of evidence

• Partnership plans are linked to strategic objectives
• records of meetings with key contacts, and of attendance at conferences and campaigns
• referral procedure and records of referrals
• working agreements, signed contracts and proposal plans, service level agreements
• membership agreements, affiliation documentation, records of attendance at regional and national conferences and networking events
• minutes of planned meetings, correspondence with other organisations and records of other information passed on to other organisations, staff briefed on organisation’s key messages
• records of meetings, correspondence.

Level 3 – The organisation develops its partnerships strategically and all joint initiatives enhance the services received by clients.

The organisation regularly has joint events with other agencies.

Other agencies actively promote the use of your services to potential clients.

Joint working with a range of other organisations creates a comprehensive network of services for clients.

Networking activities are reviewed for their effectiveness.

All joint initiatives and partnerships are evaluated.

Monitoring information is used to show how partnerships further the aims of the organisation.

Level 3 – examples of evidence

• Joint events and related publicity and records

• referral records, publicity materials, articles and advertisements

• records of referrals and feedbacks from users

• results of networking review meetings, and minutes of staff, team and project meetings

• evaluation projects

• monitoring information, reports to trustees and funders.

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