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Partnership Charter

published in:Local Partnership Activities on Mon, 02 Apr 2007

  • County Kilkenny VEC recognises that major change in this organisation requires the active participation and support of all staff. Any change introduced in the organisation that is agreed by consensus for discussion at the local working group is considered relevant. This can be achieved through partnership within the VEC and we recognise this is the preferred way to promote and achieve change in our organisation.

  • In County Kilkenny VEC Partnership is an active relationship between management and employees based on recognition of a common interest to secure the competitiveness, viability and prosperity of the VEC.

  • County Kilkenny VEC acknowledges its obligations to inform and consult employees on matters of importance to them and undertakes to do this through the established partnership structures.

  • Partnership involves a continuous commitment by employees to improvement in quality and efficiency; and the acceptance, by County Kilkenny VEC that our employees are stakeholders with rights and interests to be considered in the context of major decisions affecting their employment.

  • Partnership involves common ownership of the resolution of challenges, involving the direct participation of employees / representatives and an investment in their training, development and working environment.

  • County Kilkenny VEC commits to actively promoting partnership through our Local Working Group which will be made up of an equal number of management and employee representatives. 

Composition

  • The Local Working Group(LWG) will be made up of at least 4 and no more than 10 people.
  • There will be equal numbers of management and staff representative nominees.

  • The management nominees to be chosen from the following:

    • CEO
    • Head of Administration \ Education Services \ AEO
    • Head of HR                 
    • Head of Finance  
    • Committee member (or a person designated by them to represent them)
  • The staff representative nominees will be nominated by:
    • IMPACT
    • SIPTU
    • Amicus MSF
    • Other representative bodies. 
  •       The Local Working Group may invite observers to attend meetings as required.

Objectives

  • The LWG is the group primarily responsible for the promotion and development of partnership within the organisation.
  • It is required to ensure the organisation meets the requirements of national agreements as set out by the VEC  National Partnership Forum.

  • It is responsible to ensure that all employees are informed and consulted about changes taking place within the organisation. 

Core Values

The successful implementation of the core values of Co operation, Leadership, Teamwork, Participation and Customer Centeredness is the most effective means by which Partnership will be achieved within VECs.  County Kilkenny VEC will work to implement these in as many ways as possible across the organisation and use them as guiding principles in all decision making.

Agreement

  • When Held
    • Meetings of the Local Working Group will be held in accordance with the LWG rules set out in Appendix 1.
  • What will be dealt with
    • It will deal with issues arising out of the national agreements.
    • Issues from statutory requirements such as the Education Plan and Service Plan.
    • Issues raised by any member of the committee.
  •   How IR issues will be dealt with
    • The LWG will not deal with any issues that are related to the terms and conditions of employment that are agreed at national level.
    • The LWG can decide any issue is an industrial relations issue which can be referred to the industrial relations process.
  • How decisions are made
    • Decisions will be made by consensus at LWG meetings.
  • How disputes within the LWG will be handled.
    • In the case of local disputes there will be a number of discussions to resolve the issue.
    • If there is no resolution the LWG will call on the NPF to facilitate the discussion in a process agreed with the LWG

Organisation 

How the LWG is organised

  • The LWG membership is set out in section two above.
  • It may invite additional members to attend meetings for a set period of time.
  • It may ask to be represented in other groups within the VEC.

How the LWG relates to other bodies within the VEC

  • The LWG may by agreement invite representatives of other project groups to join the LWG.
  • The LWG may by agreement send representatives to other project group on invitation.

How it relates to VEC partnership groups

  • The LWG may establish sub groups to deal with projects, all members may not be
     members of the LWG.
  • The LWG may establish links with existing groups and adopt as partnership groups.

How it relates to any other bodies

  • The LWG will nominate a representative to attend the Regional Network Group with the support of the NPF.
  • The LWG may nominate a representative to attend other local partnership groups. 

Communications                                                    

  • What will be the standing communications and how you can find out about partnership in County Kilkenny VEC:
    • Details of the membership of LWG and how it operates will be available in head office and on the staff login section of County Kilkenny VEC's website.
    • Annual Bulletin of what's achieved and in hand.
    • Capture of information on the website of the VECNPF.
  • County Kilkenny VEC LWG will provide regular communications with regard to issues raised and decisions made.
  • How issues of immediate concern or great importance will be communicated to the relevant staff.
    • Personal Briefings        
    • Bulletin                     
    • Notice Board    
    • Staff  Newsletter     
    • Email                 
    • VEC Website  

Training and Development

County Kilkenny VEC is committed to providing and enabling staff to attend partnership training and development activities as appropriate.   The following principles will apply in respect of such training:

  • Attendance at training seminars will be:
    • Available to all staff members
    • Available firstly to those on LWG
    • Available firstly to those involved in partnership in the organisation
  • How will people be selected for partnership training:
    • On the nomination of the joint chairs
    • On the nomination of the CEO
    • On  the nomination of Senior Management
    • In consultation with the joint chairs and senior management   

   

LWG : Staff Side Chairperson:                            ....................................................
 
LWG : Management Side Chairperson :            ....................................................