Equally Safe delivery plan: progress report

Deliverable 11

11. We will strengthen links between VAWG and other areas of Public Protection to both prioritise actions to prevent and reduce harm and to improve outcomes for adult and child victim-survivors of VAWG

Delivery plan actions to help meet this deliverable:

11.1 We will develop refreshed guidance for multi-agency Violence Against Women Partnerships, clarifying where they sit within wider community planning structures.

11.2 We will respond to the recommendations of the Deep Dive-Learning Report published in 2023 to strengthen local arrangements of Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferencing (MARAC) approach across Scotland.

11.3 We will progress the phased implementation of Bairns’ Hoose to provide a child-centred and joined up approach to delivering justice, care and recovery.

11.4 We will promote new guidance on harmful sexual behaviour to professionals who work with children and young people.

11.5 We will ensure that VAWG interests are included in work to strengthen local and national leadership on public protection.

Overview

Progress has been made in implementing the Bairns’ Hoose Pathfinder programme. There are nineteen partnerships currently at different stages of development and seven hooses providing services since September 2025. Work is also underway to produce national Core Elements, Guidance and a Resource Kit to support incremental national roll-out of Bairns Hoose from 2027. Collaboration with partners, including insights gathered directly from children and young people, is helping to shape a rights based national model aligned with wider child protection, justice, health and social care policy. This phased, collaborative approach ensures learning is captured, analysed and used to support national implementation.

Recognising the vital role of parents in early and effective intervention, the Scottish Government-funded Parent Club website has been updated to signpost to Shore - a confidential online space offering advice to teenagers concerned about sexual behaviour.

The Scottish Government also continues to fund the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice to deliver a regular practitioners’ forum for those working with children and young people. Both support practitioners in using the national guidance to identify and intervene when children and young people display harmful sexual behaviour.