Guiding Principles for All Involved with Team Hackney

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR ALL INVOLVED WITH TEAM HACKNEY

1.  What is Team Hackney?

Team Hackney is a partnership dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone in the borough, whether they live, work, invest, rest and play in Hackney. It is our local strategic partnership (LSP), which brings the different parts of the public, private, community and voluntary sectors together to achieve this aim.

All involved recognise that no partner can do this on their own and it is only by local people and local organisations working together that we can really bring about lasting change.

Hackney’s LSP used to be known as the Hackney Strategic Partnership but changed its name to Team Hackney in February 2006. The name changed to show how we all need to be part of the same team for a better Hackney. Much has been achieved by working in partnership, with significant improvements in education, health and reductions in crime but there is still much to do and Team Hackney is committed to working together to deliver these improvements.

For the partnership to be successful we all need to develop ideas co-operatively. This involves changing the ways we work, reallocating resources and adapting initiatives and schemes so that they tackle issues that really matter to local people.

Team Hackney is about developing new ways of working and about fast tracking improvements in service delivery and outcomes. The Partnership has produced a Community Strategy and this forms the basis of our Local Area Agreement (LAA).

More information about Team Hackney’s work is available online at www.teamhackney.org. This site hosts all relevant minutes, agendas and newsletters concerned with the partnership.

2.  Team Hackney – our structure

Team Hackney consists of a family of partnerships working together to implement the Community Strategy and the LAA. At the centre is the Team Hackney board, which oversees the work of five other ‘thematic’ partnership boards. These in turn link up with a number of sub partnerships helping us to deliver better outcomes for local people.

3.  Team Hackney – The Community Strategy

Team Hackney is committed to delivering the Community Strategy, which outlines objectives for the area up to 2015. There are six outcomes of the Community Strategy:

·  A Good Place to Grow Up

·  A Dynamic and Creative Economy

·  Thriving, Healthy Communities

·  Better Homes

·  A Safer, Cleaner Place to Live

·  A Sustainable Borough

4.  What is required from Partner Agencies and Organisations?

All agencies and organisations involved in Team Hackney, in whichever part of the structure – board, theme partnerships and organisations delivering interventions on behalf of Team Hackney have agreed to:

1.  Adopt the principles and ethical framework for the Partnership, How We Do Things (see Appendix1).

2.  Abide by the Seven Principles of Public Life – taken from the Nolan Report (see Appendix2).

3.  Adopt and support the Team Hackney Equality and Diversity Statement (see appendix 3).

4.  Strive to develop effective and open partnership with each other.

5.  Ensure that all staff are aware of and support the objectives of the Community Strategy.

6.  Seek to promote excellent communications both internally and externally.

7.  Utilise local labour and knowledge where possible.

8.  Support community led initiatives, which demonstrate added value.

9.  Apply the principle of ‘Best Value’ to their operations through challenging existing practice and vested interests, seeking coherence, consistency and co-ordination with other partners, establishing monitoring and evaluation systems and developing a culture of continuous improvement.

10. Encourage genuine involvement and participation, particularly with groups and communities traditionally regarded as hard-to-reach.

11. Work to build up the capacity and confidence of all staff to develop partnerships with local residents in their dealings with them.

12. Operate open and transparent complaints procedures, which encourage learning to take place.

13. Commit to relevant learning and development with a cycle of continuous review through self-assessment and other means.

14. Commit the resources necessary to make a real contribution to the Partnership.

15. Demonstrate openness and accountability in all operations.

All members of the Team Hackney board and the thematic partnerships are required to sign a Letter of Appointment (see Appendix 4), monitoring information (see Appendix 5), and a declaration of interest proforma (see Appendix 6). All organisation delivering interventions on behalf of Team Hackney are required to sign a statement agreeing the above principles (pro-forma attached as Appendix 7).

Individual members of the Partnership and those delivering interventions on behalf of Team Hackney, whose behavior is incompatible with the principles of these guiding principles, may be subject to a complaints procedure which could lead them being required to stand down from the Partnership or cease to deliver interventions on behalf of the Partnership.

In addition any other complaints relating to points of order, procedure and process of Team Hackney will be subject to the same complaints procedure. The complaints procedure is available as a separate document (see Appendix 8).

(Appendix 1)

HOW WE DO THINGS

Ethical Framework for Team Hackney

Principle / How to tell if it is happening
1.  Be inclusive – looking to engage local people in more creative ways / Wide range of people involved reflecting the community; wide and creative range of ways of getting people involved.
2.  Be proactive – creating opportunities for everyone to get involved
3.  Focus on outcomes and ways of speeding up service improvement / Majority of time spent on working creatively to improve services and the quality of life in the borough (rather than discussing procedure, going through papers etc).
4.  Value diversity and treat people with respect / People feel valued, respected and really listened to. When meeting facilitators explain what is happening and why. All feel able to participate. There is no sense of decisions having been made beforehand.
The Partnership can show that it is involving a cross section of everyone in the borough fairly.
Partners show commitment through prioritising Partnership business.
5.  Ensure quality of opportunity and equality of access for everyone / Active steps being taken to ensure equality of access and opportunity. People feel they have equal access and opportunity. Partnership can show that it is involving a cross section of everyone in the borough fairly.
Communication is clear and understandable. People stop the process if they do not understand what is happening.
6.  Promote social inclusion and action to combat disadvantage / Evidence of change which has led to greater inclusion and reduced disadvantage.
7.  Be proactive in identifying new opportunities for joint working / Partnership works together with real listening between all involved to agree what issues are best worked on together.
8.  Aim to develop customer
focused services – with an
emphasis on continuous
improvement and sustainable
Development / Service users feel listened to and able to influence service provision for the better.
Staff listen to users with respect and improve services as a result.
All members of Team Hackney must be seen to be acting solely in the public interest. By following the Nolan Principles of Public Life, by declining gifts or hospitality which might be seen to compromise their objectivity, by declining to be involved in any decision where they or any organisation which they represent may benefit or have an interest in the outcome.

(Appendix 2)

The Seven Principles of Public Life

Selflessness

Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of

The public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial

or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.

Integrity

Holders of public office should not place themselves under any

financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations

that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.

Objectivity

In carrying out public business, including making public appointments,

awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards

and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.

Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and

actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever

scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

Openness

Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the

decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for

their decisions and restrict information only when the wider

public interest demands.

Honesty

Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private

interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve

any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.

Leadership

Holders of pubic office should promote and support these

principles by leadership and example.

(Appendix 3)

Equality and Diversity Statement

Team Hackney’s vision of a community based on fair and equal treatment for all and respect for the dignity and value of each person is summed up in its equality and Diversity statement:

‘Team Hackney acknowledges and respects the fundamental human right of every person not to be discriminated against on the grounds of perceived difference. Direct and / or indirect discrimination, harassment or victimisation will not be tolerated within the workplace, or in the way services are delivered or functions and duties carried out.

Team Hackney is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, eliminating unlawful discrimination and promoting community cohesion within the borough. It will seek to protect the right of everyone not to be discriminated against and work to ensure equality of opportunity for all, so that each person is supported to realise their potential’.

Team Hackney will not contract with any individual or organisation that discriminates against any person or group on the basis of age, race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.

(appendix 4)

Dear Colleague,

Team Hackney Letter of Appointment

Thank you for agreeing to serve on the Team Hackney board / theme partnership.

The guiding principles for Team Hackney sets out the mutual expectations of the Partnership and its Members. In particular members shall agree to:

(a)  uphold the values and objectives of the Partnership;

(b)  uphold the Partnership’s core policies, including those for equal opportunities;

(c)  contribute to and share responsibility for the decisions of the Partnership;

(d)  prepare for and attend meetings, training sessions and other events;

(e)  represent Team Hackney on occasion;

(f)  declare any relevant interests;

(g)  respect confidentiality of information;

(h)  uphold the principles of good governance.

I should be grateful if you would sign and return the attached copy of this letter to indicate your willingness to comply with the requirements of these guiding principles. You are also asked to complete the monitoring information attached and a declaration of interest form (if you have not already done this).

Please note that in relation to (d) above the Partnership has resolved that it expects members the Team Hackney board and theme partnerships, other than those who attend solely as observers, to attend the vast majority of meetings, seminars and other events scheduled for each year.

If you are unable to attend please send apologies and written comments at least 24 hours in advance.

Yours sincerely,

Mayor Jules Pipe

Chair, Team Hackney

------

I agree to comply with the requirements set out in the Team Hackney guiding principles and in this Letter of Appointment to Team Hackney.

Name ……………….………………… Thematic Board …………………………

Signature ……………………………….. Date …………………

Please return to Ian Lewis, Room 77, Hackney Town Hall, London E8 1EA

(Appendix 5)

Monitoring Information

Name ...... ………………………………………………………….

Our ethnic background describes how we think of ourselves. This may be based on many things, for example, our language, culture, ancestry or family history. Ethnic background is not necessarily the same as nationality or country of birth. It is not possible to list all of the ethnic groups but those listed below reflect the largest ethnic groups in Hackney. Please study the list and tick the most accurate description of yourself, or write in a more specific group if you wish.

White

Any other white background

Please specify if you wish…………………………

Mixed

Any other mixed background

Please specify if you wish…………………………

Asian or Asian British

Any other Asian background

Please specify if you wish………………………..

Black or Black British

Any other African or black background

Please specify if you wish………………………….

Chinese or other ethnic group

Any other South East Asian

Please specify if you wish……………………………

ORM (Appendix 5 continued)

Any other ethnic group

Any other group

Please specify if you wish……………………………

DISABILITY MONITORING INFORMATION

Do you have a disability?

The definition of disability according to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), is: “A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”. (Long term in this definition is taken to mean more than 12 months). This definition also includes long term illness such as cancer and HIV or mental health.

Do you consider that you have a disability under the Disability Discrimination Act definition?

To help us classify our results, please tick the definition/s below which best describe your impairment.

Hearing (deaf, partially deaf or hard of hearing)

Vision (blind or fractional/partial sight. Does not include people whose visual problems can be corrected by glasses/contact lenses)