Learning from 25 years of preventative interventions in Scotland
Within Scotland, there has been a long standing interest in preventative approaches. This report includes 15 case studies of successful preventative interventions introduced in Scotland since devolution and draws together overarching observations.
9. Conclusion
The importance of making the shift to prevention has long been recognised. The Christie Commission report in 2011 stated "A cycle of deprivation and low aspiration has been allowed to persist because preventative measures have not been prioritised.”[24] And more recently the First Minister has re-iterated his support for prevention stating ‘“We must change the model of service delivery to promote positive outcomes, prioritise prevention and reduce demand for future services.”[25]
Preventative policy making and implementation is challenging.[26] Whilst recognising this, and that there is clearly much more that can be done, it is important to acknowledge the progress that has been made over the last 25 years in Scotland. The case studies within this report illustrate that there is a strong foundation of preventative interventions that can be learnt from and built upon.
The 15 case studies illustrate how preventative interventions introduced in Scotland have led to improvements in outcomes, cost savings and reduced demands on public services. The case studies are taken from a range of policy areas, and include a mix of primary, secondary and tertiary interventions.
They include examples of fresh policy thinking, where Scotland has led the way internationally. They also illustrate an ability to learn from, introduce and scale up interventions that have been successful in other countries.
Collectively the case studies demonstrate the range of preventative tools available to policy makers and underline the importance of good quality monitoring and evaluation to understand the short, medium and long term impact of interventions and fine tune policy delivery.
Often the preventative interventions have involved organisations working together in different ways to provide person-centred support in order to address complex social problems. But perhaps most importantly, they demonstrate the value of preventative approaches in addressing ingrained, sometimes intergenerational, patterns of poverty and inequality.
Contact
Email: Tom.Lamplugh@gov.scot