Contract with Partner Agency

Contract between research in practice and (name of agency/group of agencies)

1 Aim and Mission

1.1 The overall aim of research in practice in its partnership with local authorities, their local partner agencies, and national voluntary child care organisations is to promote and support the development of evidence-informed practice and policy in child welfare by offering a distinctive service to Partner agencies.

1.2 The Service on the part of research in practice is designed to:

• assist with the dissemination, implementation and adoption of relevant applied research
• assist staff within the context of increasing multi-disciplinary working frameworks
• assist services in social care, education and health deliver improved outcomes for children and families.

2 Commencement and Duration

2.1 This Partner Contract shall commence on (date agreed with joining agency). It is a rolling contract requiring two year's notice of termination (see section 7.1).

3 Specification

3.1 The Service to be provided to Partners by research in practice and the standards which it shall meet are defined overall within the annual workplan, which serves as a service specification for this Contract.

4 Price and Payment

4.1 The price for the Service shall be £12,500 for the year starting 1 April 200x. Fees will be fixed at this rate until the following March. The year starts on 1 April.

4.2 research in practice will invoice Partner agencies not later than the end of February each year. Partner agencies will pay the amount owing by no later than 7 April in each year.

4.3 Where a Partner agency wishes to pursue additional, individual research or developmental objectives, it may, subject to negotiation with research in practice , draw up individual specifications, prices and payment arrangements in addition to the core agreement set out in this Contract.

5 Quality of Service and Monitoring

5.1 The quality of the Service will be monitored and evaluated.

5.2 research in practice shall take appropriate steps (including consultation with Partner agencies and surveys of Partner agency satisfaction) to monitor and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of its Service. It shall provide an annual report to the Partner agency upon the results of this monitoring and evaluation, together with plans for the forthcoming year. There will be evidence that these plans are informed by the results of the monitoring and evaluation.

5.3 In addition to the monitoring described in 5.2, the Partner agency’s Link Officer will be responsible for ensuring that there is monitoring and evaluation of their agency’s participation in the research in practice network.

5.4 research in practice shall at all times operate a policy of equal opportunity in both staff recruitment and delivery of the Service.

5.5 Subject to compliance with any provision in legislation or statutory guidance regarding disclosure of information, both research in practice and the Partner agency shall ensure that confidentiality is maintained at all times in respect of information or materials specifically indicated as being confidential to the other party.

6 Exclusivity

6.1 Without prior negotiation and agreement with the Partner agency research in practice shall not provide the Service to third parties not subject to this contract.

7 Termination

7.1 A Partner agency may give notice at the end of the first full year (i.e. by 31 March 200x) of their intention to terminate the arrangement. The period of notice is two years. The contract will roll on until the Partner agency gives two years’ notice, which, after the first year, can be given at any time but which will always be timed from 1 April following notice being given. Notice must always be given in writing.

For the Partner agency ..................For research in practice

Name of agency ………………………………….

Signed…………………………………..……………. Signed…………………………………..……………..

Name (print) ………………………………………. Named (print)………………………………….……

Designation ………………………………………… Designation ……DIRECTOR….………………