Community Learning Development Resource 302 – 09
PARTNERSHIP PROTOCOLS – A CASE STUDY
SUMMARY
The development of co-working arrangements between agencies are usually formally recognised and organised. Arrangements made between workers on the ground are frequently more informally defined. Is there a need for co-working protocols – shared, agreed and understood codes of conduct, agreements, and procedures? This resource (302-09) explores the need for protocols, using a case study from local practice.
CASE STUDY
The delivery of a programme of free short IT courses by the local county LEA Service in partnership with Age Concern at a local Age Concern Centre was neither publicised at and around the centre within publicity leaflets and posters headlining ‘’Learn Computing at Age Concern’’, nor was the LEA Service contribution recognised in reports by Age Concern.
- That no mention was made of the actual provision being delivered by the LEA Adult and Community Learning Service was an issue for that service and its workers, concerned to gain public recognition of the work. Was it appropriate not to publicise this partner agency?
- It was felt by the local Age Concern manager that the Age Concern centre should be perceived as a venue in its own right, without announcements that the course was provided by the LEA through their local centre
- It was also perceived by the manager that the LEA as a statutory body with a formal ‘education and training’ identity could be off-putting or threatening for some older adults
- The LEA Service and Age Concern were both concerned individually to demonstrate success in their work, where achieving targets played a significant part in securing ongoing funding
- The co-working acknowledgement and publicity issue led to a breakdown of the partnership arrangement, and the IT courses did not continue, even though there had been considerable success in reaching and accessing numbers of target older learners to the first series. Consequently the needs and wants of these and other local older learners ceased to be addressed through the initiative.
PROMPTS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION
- Why is evidence of co-working important to agencies and workers? Should partners be concerned to publicly identify or promote partnership arrangements in reviewing and reporting work practice and outcomes?
- Protocols characterise formal organisation and arrangements, how appropriate are they, when workers are thinking about co-working at individual level or within local community settings?
- Can concern for protocols constrain the development of initiatives and interventions in community development work?