Principles for Effective Partnerships

Salford’s Principles for Effective Partnerships (formerly known as the Principles IN Good Governance) promote and support effective working within and between the city’s partnerships and the community.

“To practise good governance is to provide clear direction, manage risk, communicate well, include everyone and be open to change.”

The principles are as follows: (to help you achieve these principles the partnership team has developed a Governance Review Tool)

1. Collective understanding of the purpose of the organisation or partnership

This means:

Being clear about the organisation’s purpose and its intended outcomes for service
Making sure that users receive a high quality service
Making sure that taxpayers receive value for money

2. Performing effectively within clearly defined functions and roles

This means:

Being clear about the functions of the governing body
Being clear about the responsibilities of non-executives and the executive and making sure that those responsibilities are carried out
Being clear about relationships between governors and the public

3. Establishing and promoting the values of the organisation or partnership in order to achieve governance

This means:

Putting organisational values into practice
Individual governors behaving in ways that uphold and exemplify effective governance

4. Taking informed, transparent decisions and managing risk

This means:

Being rigorous and transparent about how decisions are taken
Having and using good quality information advice and support
Making sure that an effective risk management system is in operation

5. Developing the skills, knowledge and experience of governance in order to govern effectively

This.means:

Making sure that appointed and elected governors have the.skills, knowledge and experience they need to perform well
Developing the capability of people with governance responsibilities and evaluating their performance, as individuals and as a group
Striking.a.balance,.in the membership of the governing.body, between.continuity and renewal

6. Engaging all partners equally and making accountability real

This.means:

Understanding formal and informal accountability relationships
Taking an active and planned approach to dialogue with and accountability to the public
Taking an active and planned approach to responsibility to staff
Engaging effectively with institutional stakeholders

Adapted from the Independent Commission for Good Governance in Public Service.

The Governance Review Tool (Draft)

is a development tool designed to help you reflect and assess the effectiveness of your partnership's working practices.
provides a structured approach using the six Principles IN Good Governance as the organising framework.

The tool comprises three main elements:

The Governance Review Tool contains a detailed question framework and action plan for improvement. The Governance Review Tool with Prompts gives some additional support in using the tool.
These guidance notes give the context for the tool.
The Partnership Indicators list positive and negative indicators for each of the six principles.

Download all these elements of the Governance Review Tool as one document.

For further information or advice on implementing these standards contact Jon Stephenson or Gerry Stone

The Principles for Effective Partnerships and the Gold Standards in Community Involvement and Community Consultation have been endorsed by Partners IN Salford. All partners are signed up to delivering governance and community involvement in this way.