Equally Safe delivery plan: progress report

Deliverable 8

8. We will develop a streamlined approach to trauma-informed workplace practices that promote and enhance VAWG knowledge, skills and expertise

Delivery plan actions to help meet this deliverable:

8.1 We will develop and implement a national framework that will inform an approach to trauma-informed VAWG training and workforce development across the public and the third sectors.

8.2 We will support and promote initiatives that exemplify and promote workplace policies and practices that take a gendered analysis of VAWG and embed the principles of Equally Safe, particularly in the public and third sectors.

8.3 We will raise awareness of how a trauma-informed approach can support a reduction in health inequalities for women, children and young people.

8.4 We will explore and implement options for a Safe & Together Model for Scotland.

Overview

Led by Scottish Women’s Aid, the Equally Safe in Practice (ESiP) National Advisory Group continues to work to develop a Knowledge & Skills Framework, which outlines the learning and skills required for a VAWG-competent workforce. This will strengthen practice so that our workforce (of all levels & across sectors) understands the prevalence and impact of VAWG and how they should respond within their role.

A guide for employers on ‘Getting ready for Equally Safe at Work’ (ESAW) was launched by Close the Gap in autumn 2025 and shared with prospective employers. ESAW is a Scottish employer accreditation program designed to advance gender equality and ensure all employees feel safe and supported in the workplace. The programme has had fourteen new employers sign up since August 2024, with a further five employers on the waitlist and four previously accredited organisations progressing onto the next tier. Recent participants include NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Highland, Orkney Islands Council, City of Edinburgh Council, Improvement Service, Care Inspectorate, Muirhead Outreach, and Lothian Community Transport.

The Improvement Service coordinated a series of engagement activities over summer 2025 exploring the prevalence of, and relationship between, VAWG, trauma and substance use. The project explored how collaborative, inter-agency working between VAWG partnerships and alcohol and drugs partnerships, alongside other partners, can be strengthened. It focused on ensuring that a trauma-informed approach to service planning, design and delivery is adopted to mitigate the risk of harm to women, children and young people.

The Safe and Together (S&T) Scotland Steering Group - comprising of the S&T Institute, COSLA, Scottish Government, the Improvement Service, and Social Work Scotland - developed a consultation for a proposed national S&T Model and is working towards agreement on a single, nationally agreed framework.

The S&T Steering Group oversees several projects representing a phased approach to integrating S&T into the Scottish context. This includes the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferencing (MARAC) and S&T Integration Project, which involved a six-month pilot integrating the S&T and MARAC systems. An evaluation is currently being undertaken by the Improvement Service and will be available by Spring 2026. The Steering Group also oversees the National Training Project, which coordinates S&T training centrally, to share training spaces across Scotland. As of February 2026, 75 Practitioners have registered for free S&T training, and further activity is planned to encourage more agencies to share spaces and for individuals to register on the S&T training calendar.