2.2 Define the key features of partnership working

This guide will help you answer 2.2 Define the key features of partnership working.

Partnership working is an approach where two or more people, teams, or organisations agree to work together for a common aim. In youth work, partnerships often mean youth workers joining with other professionals, services, or agencies to support young people. Good partnership working does not happen by accident. It relies on careful planning, clear communication, and respect between partners.

In this guide, we cover the features that define successful partnership working in youth work settings.

Shared Purpose and Clear Aims

Every partnership needs a shared purpose. All partners must agree on what they are trying to achieve. Clear aims help everyone stay focused and reduce misunderstandings.

Everyone involved should be able to answer these questions:

• What is the partnership for?
• What do we want to change, improve, or achieve for young people?
• How will we measure success?

Having a written agreement, action plan, or terms of reference helps keep aims visible and agreed.

Defined Roles and Responsibilities

Partners should be clear about who does what. Each organisation or person must know their role and responsibilities. This avoids duplication, confusion, or tasks falling through the cracks.

For example, a health worker might provide sexual health information while the youth worker focuses on building trusted relationships. If roles overlap, agree how to share or divide the work.

Job descriptions, contracts, or partnership agreements often set out these roles. When everyone knows their duties, the partnership operates smoothly.

Good Communication

Open, honest, and regular communication is a core feature of strong partnership work. Clear communication supports joint decision-making and solves problems quickly.

Ways to encourage good communication:

• Set regular meetings or check-ins
• Use simple language, avoiding jargon
• Agree on preferred ways to update each other (emails, calls, face-to-face)
• Share relevant information on time
• Encourage feedback

When everyone knows what is happening, work is more effective and trust builds.

Respect for Different Skills and Expertise

Each partner brings different strengths, knowledge, and skills. Good partnerships value these differences and see them as positive. For instance, youth workers may be skilled at engaging hard-to-reach young people, while social workers understand family risk and safeguarding.

Respect shows through actions like listening to others’ opinions, being willing to learn, and valuing what each partner offers.

Shared Decision-Making

Effective partnership work involves everyone in key decisions. Each partner has a say, so decisions reflect the needs and expertise of all.

This might mean voting on proposals, discussing options until everyone agrees, or creating plans together. Young people may also take part in the decision-making process.

Shared decision-making increases commitment and helps ensure results match the partnership’s aims.

Transparency

Transparency means being open about decisions, actions, successes, and problems. Good partnership working avoids hidden agendas. Partners share information, discuss concerns openly, and do not hide mistakes.

Transparency supports trust and accountability. It helps everyone learn from mistakes so the partnership gets better over time.

Mutual Trust

Partnerships fail without trust. Trust grows when partners keep their promises, respect confidentiality, value each other’s input, and share risk and responsibility.

Trust can take time to build. Keeping to agreed ways of working, being reliable, and being honest about limits or gaps all help.

Confidentiality and Information-Sharing

Partners need to update each other with information relevant to young people’s welfare. At the same time, they must keep private matters safe and share sensitive information only as agreed or required by law.

Good partnership working involves:

• Understanding each partner’s information-sharing policies
• Gaining consent from young people when possible
• Only sharing what is needed for the joint work
• Keeping records accurate and secure

Clear information-sharing agreements protect young people and workers alike.

Flexibility and Problem-Solving

Working together means handling unexpected events. Good partners are flexible and willing to adapt when things change.

They work together to solve problems instead of blaming others. A solution-focused attitude means the partnership can face challenges and still support young people.

Accountability

Accountability means each partner takes responsibility for their own actions. Everyone should be able to show what they have done, what decisions they made, and the results.

Ways to strengthen accountability:

• Set clear targets and deadlines
• Monitor and evaluate progress together
• Share reports and updates
• Acknowledge both good work and mistakes

When partners are accountable, the partnership can learn and improve.

Involving Young People

Authentic partnership working in youth work includes young people as active participants. Their voices and ideas help shape plans and outcomes.

Involving young people might mean:

• Including them in meetings or forums
• Giving feedback on services
• Helping plan activities or make decisions
• Reviewing partnership progress

When young people are involved, their needs are more likely to be met.

Reviewing and Evaluating Progress

Partnerships should regularly review how well they are working. This includes checking if aims are being met, if plans are on track, and if changes need to be made.

Reviewing progress can involve:

• Collecting data on outcomes
• Getting feedback from all partners and young people
• Celebrating successes
• Discussing and solving any problems

Improvement and learning are ongoing parts of strong partnership work.

Final Thoughts

Good partnership working brings together people and organisations with different skills, knowledge and responsibilities. Key features include shared aims, open communication, trust, respect, clear roles, strong confidentiality, flexibility, and accountability.

When these features are present, services for young people are more joined-up, problems are solved more quickly, and outcomes improve.

Understanding and applying these principles in daily youth work helps create effective partnerships that support change for young people.