Programme partnership
A defined collaboration around an approved audience, objective, delivery plan and review process.
Partnerships & referrals
Clear partnerships protect purpose, people and trust.
Partnership and referral arrangements should define shared purpose, eligibility, consent, responsibilities, communication and review before activity begins.
Governance before activity
Start with the setting before selecting an activity.
A partnership is more than a shared interest. It requires clarity about who is being supported, why the organisations are working together and which responsibilities remain with each party.
Referral routes also need boundaries. A person should understand what information may be shared, whether acceptance is guaranteed and what happens if the service is not suitable.
Choose the arrangement
Different relationships require different agreements.
Referral arrangement
An agreed route covering information, consent, eligibility, response and feedback boundaries.
Knowledge collaboration
Co-development of appropriate learning or guidance where expertise and responsibilities are clear.
Supporter or funder conversation
Explore an intended use of support, governance expectations and realistic reporting without promising unverified outcomes.
Referral governance
Consent, eligibility and information flow should be mapped before referrals begin.
A structured scoping process can turn shared intent into an accountable plan. It makes room for difficult questions before people are invited to participate.
A partnership may not be the right next step. A professional consultation should be able to say when scope, capacity, ethics or timing do not align.
Engagement pathway
A clear route from enquiry to review.
- 01
Shared purpose
Define the specific reason for working together and who the arrangement serves.
- 02
Eligibility and capacity
Confirm what can be accepted, delivered or referred at the present time.
- 03
Consent and information
Agree what is collected, shared, retained and reported.
- 04
Responsibilities
Document safeguarding, communication, logistics, funding and decision ownership.
- 05
Review and closure
Set review points, escalation routes and how the arrangement may end responsibly.
Readiness and risk
Unclear assumptions become operational gaps.
Conditions to resolve
- Different organisational priorities, language and decision processes
- Unclear eligibility, capacity, funding or delivery boundaries
- Consent and privacy requirements not mapped early enough
- Pressure to move quickly before governance is agreed
What may happen when they are not resolved
- Participants receiving inconsistent information
- Delays, duplication or gaps in safeguarding responsibility
- Confidentiality being misunderstood by partners or referrers
- Relationships weakening when outcomes or reporting differ from assumptions
Written responsibilities protect people, purpose and working relationships.
- Programme scope, delivery capacity, timelines, fees and locations require written confirmation after a needs conversation.
- Individual participation should be voluntary wherever possible, with clear information about purpose, privacy and how feedback will be used.
- Employers, schools and partners do not automatically receive private counselling or participant information. Reporting boundaries must be agreed before delivery.
- Safeguarding, referral and escalation responsibilities must be documented for the specific setting. A programme cannot replace statutory or emergency services.
Before the first conversation
Questions decision-makers usually need answered.
Details vary by setting. The first conversation is used to confirm what is relevant and what still requires agreement.
Can a programme be tailored to our setting?
A needs conversation can clarify the audience, purpose and constraints. Any proposed adaptation, delivery format and limit should then be documented before implementation.
What information will our organisation receive?
Only the reporting approach agreed in advance. Private individual information should not be shared without an appropriate lawful and ethical basis.
How is success considered?
Measurement should match the programme objective and distinguish participation, outputs, feedback and longer-term outcomes. No result should be promised before delivery.
A proportionate next step
Start with a professional consultation.
Clarify purpose, responsibilities and referral expectations before activity begins.