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This presentation explores how partnerships can be instrumental in implementing local alcohol policies through a multi-component approach, strategic framework, and community mobilization. Key issues such as policy tensions, sustainability, and governance are discussed, along with factors affecting the success of partnerships. Lessons from other fields provide insights into addressing alcohol-related harm effectively. Various resources are referenced to offer guidance on managing and evaluating local strategic partnerships.
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Partnership as a mechanism for delivering local alcohol policy Rachel Herring, Middlesex University AERC Alcohol Academy Launch Event 9th June 2009
Brief background • Devolution of the responsibility to local authorities for action to address alcohol-related harm and help achieve national targets. • Use of partnerships as a mechanism for developing and implementing local alcohol policies e.g. CDRPs, DA(A)Ts, PCTs, LSPs (and LAAs). • GORs have a supporting role. • Alcohol as a cross cutting issue – health, criminal justice, community safety, commerce.
What is partnership? “An agreement between two or more independent bodies to work collectively to achieve an objective” (Audit Commission , 1998, 2005) Vary in size, service area, membership and function: • Statutory e.g. CDRP and voluntary e.g. LSP • Strategic/operational • Micro-partnerships • Informal (‘organic) rather than formal (invented)?
Multi-component approach • Strategic framework with a theoretical basis for action • The identification of problems defined at local levels • Programme of co-ordinated projects based on a integrative programme design where singular interventions run in combination with each other and/or are sequenced together over time • Identification, mobilisation and coordination of agencies, stakeholders and local communities • Defined aims, objectives, indicators & measures of effectiveness for the programme as a whole (individual projects will also have specified aims, objectives and outcome measures). • Evaluation as an integral part of the programme Source: Thom and Bayley (2007)
Key issues • Policy tensions • Transference • Alcohol-focused or embedded approaches • Community mobilisation • Institutionalising change (sustainability)
Evaluation of the LSPs: governance issues Considerable differences in the extent to which LSPs had been able to establish robust and sustainable governance arrangements • previous history of partnership working • different kinds of local authority areas • leadership, membership, need for a clear understanding of the role and purpose of the partnership • engagement of partners and stakeholders
Evaluation of LSPs: delivery issues • Prime drivers of activity were national policies • Wide range of activity • Clear relationship between the ‘maturity’ of the LSP and the amount of progress made • Mainstreaming: ‘strategic’ and ‘initiative’: • LA, police and health organisations are key players • Area based initiatives e.g. NRF provide a stimulus & learning tool • Importance of councillors, senior officers & middle management • ‘Locality’ planning good place for main programme reshaping
Key factors • Individuals • Champions • Achieving ‘buy-in’ at all levels • Cultures • Time pressures • Complexity of policy context • Sustainability
Addressing alcohol-related harm: lessons from other fields • Long term commitment • Ownership of the problem • Framing the problem • Understanding the target • Planning • Positive messages • Multiple approaches • Competition • Research
Reading • Audit Commission (2005) Governing partnerships. Bridging the accountability gap. London: Audit Commission. • Audit Commission (2009) Working Better together? Managing local strategic partnerships. London: Audit Commission. • Geddes, M. (2006) National Evaluation of Local Strategic Partnerships. Theory of Change Paper Issues Paper. London: Department for Communities and Local Government. • Stead, M. et al (2009) Changing attitudes, knowledge and behaviour. A review of successful initiatives. York: JRF. • Thom, B. and Bayley, M. (2007) Multi-component programmes: An approach to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm. York: JRF • Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Department for Transport (2006) National Evaluation of Local Strategic Partnerships: Formative Evaluation and Action Research 2002-2005. Executive Summary to Final Report Programme. Wetherby : ODPM Publications.