Following the Shetland Alcohol & Drug Forum ½ day workshop, held on Thursday 14^th February 2008, the following has been agreed:

1: Forum Objectives

The objectives of the Forum are to:

·        To promote events and projects that offer a healthy lifestyle and an alternative to drugs and alcohol. This includes sharing project ideas and plans with members and working proactively to promote such.

·        To provide support for drug and alcohol awareness projects in the community

·        Make Shetland Drug and Alcohol Forum approachable by, and of benefit to, the Shetland community by promoting the partnership and openly inviting views from the community

·        To contribute to the wider debate regarding development of local strategies for the prevention of alcohol and drug misuse

·        To promote, through the SADAT, the implementation of local strategies, and recommend the provision of the necessary resources for agencies to tackle identified problems at a local level. This includes using the Forum’s seat(s) on SADAT to this advantage whenever possible

·        To promote multi-agency working and co-ordination between statutory and voluntary agencies at a local level, which the availability for services to provide information and updates at Forum meetings

·        To contribute to the debate on best practice and value for money and to share information and experience with others

·        To assess the provision of services in Shetland for people with alcohol and drug related problems and to develop and recommend, through the SADAT, the implementation of proposals for improvement in services re-organisation, and resourcing of services where required

·        To contribute to the development of the SADAT alcohol and drug strategy and to provide operational expertise necessary to inform planning for alcohol and drug services

• To participate in, contribute to, influence and inform through the SADAT the formulation of policy at a national level

2: Duration of the Agreement

This Partnership Agreement will take effect on the date on which it is signed by all partners and will remain in force for a period of 12 months.

3: Forum Partners

Forum partners are the organisations and services that are responsible for carrying out specific Forum activities, where required, and who are responsible for representing the interests of said organisations at the Forum. At present, partners include:

Ø      Community Alcohol & Drug Services Shetland (CADSS)                   Shetland Council of Social Service

Ø      Shetland Health Board                                                                        Northern Constabulary

Ø      Brian Tulloch Memorial Trust                                                              SIC Community Safety

Ø      Papa Stour Project                                                                              SIC Education Services

Ø      Shetland Community Bike Project                                                      SIC Legal Services

Ø      SIC Youth & Community Services                                                      Shetland Area Licensing Forum

Ø      SIC Housing Services                                                                         Shetland Halls Association

Ø      SIC Social Work                                                                                  Shetland Churches Council Trust

Ø      SIC Criminal Justice                                                                            Dogs Against Drugs

Ø      Turning Point Craft Initiative                                                                Anderson High School

Ø      Shetland Association of Community Councils                                     Servewise

Ø      Salvation Army                                                                                     Youth Voice

Ø      Shetland Youth Information Service

4: Organisational Structure of the Forum

The Forum is presently chaired by Ms Pearson, CADSS and supported by Dr Helen Ward as Vice-Chair. The Forum and its Chairs are further supported by the Alcohol & Drug Development Officer and Assistant. The Forum Constitution should be referred to for a more detailed summary of roles and responsibilities.

The Forum will have the ability to delegate specific tasks or responsibilities to sub committees where appropriate. These tasks may include specific pieces of research, individual projects and/or events as identified by the Forum.

5: Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

Shetland Alcohol & Drug Action Team will monitor the Forum and regular reports and updates will be disseminated to the SADAT via the Forum representation by the Chair and Vice-Chair.

In some instances the SADAT may require the Forum to undertake a specific piece of work, for which Forum partners will have a joint responsibility to complete.

6: Communication & Publicity

The Forum will adhere to guidelines for communication and publicity as laid out in the SADAT Communications Strategy. The Forum will play an active role in disseminating information relating to its business. As laid out in the Communications Strategy, the main responsibility for communications and publicity lies with the Chair, Vice Chair and SADAT Support Staff. However it is the responsibility of all partners to co-ordinate publicity activity.

7: Confidentiality

The Forum partners agree that any information/documents shared and exchanged are kept confidential, provided that one partner or the Forum itself explicitly requests such.

8: Modifications, withdrawals & disputes

Any modification to the present Partnership Agreement must be made in writing to the Forum Chair, to be given approval by the Forum partners.

Forum partners agree not to withdraw representation unless there are unavoidable reasons for it. Should one representative be unable to attend the organisation should endeavour to send another representative.

In case of any disputes amongst Forum partners, the obligation will be to work towards and amicable settlement. Disputes will be referred to the Forum, but where these cannot be resolved, the SADAT will have overall responsibility of settling disputes.