National Public Protection Leadership Group: workplan

Priority 4: Tackling the difficult issues of information sharing to enhance multi agency oversight of chronologies

Rationale for inclusion in workplan: Poor information sharing and chronologies are included in inspection reports and in Child Protection and Adult Support and Protection learning reviews as areas that have contributed to negative outcomes for individuals, and which require improvement. Important links to risk assessment, and as part of everyday practice rather than an add-on to jobs.

Lack of information sharing, or a delay in sharing information across protection areas, and across agencies, can result in professionals not having a full picture and therefore lacking information to make a full risk assessment. Delay in information sharing can lead to a delay in action being taken to protect a child/adult at risk from harm. Need for processes to be simplified and for workforce confidence on sharing information on a lawful basis.

Relevant extract from NPPLG term of reference: Work together across Scotland to consider how we can best support and drive innovation and continuous improvement across public protection in Scotland. Identify requirements for national policy responses to emerging risks and issues, and co-develop solutions which respond to identified barriers, and inconsistencies in practice, guidance and legislation across the different spheres of public protection.

NPPLG sponsor: Alan Small/Lynsey Smith and TBC

Objective of NPPLG workstream: Support local public protection partnerships by trying to tackle the data sharing and technology barriers partnerships are facing , with a view to modernising the multi-agency and cross public protection approach to monitoring and assessing risk at an individual level.

Priorities for the NPPLG Workstream

Short term priority

Build on existing evidence on the current information sharing, technological and cultural issues which are making information sharing and multi-agency chronologies difficult and support implementation of best practice as appropriate.

Develop an insight into the extent to which a trauma informed approach is being applied to the use of chronologies.

Develop, pilot and test resources to support improved chronologies practice.

Consider issuing a letter to relevant parties about information sharing when there is an identified risk of harm.

Medium term priority

Consider work to explore how we can make clear(er) links between trauma-informed practice and the use of chronologies to support improvement in practice (To be discussed with chronologies subgroup).

Identify options for tackling the information sharing , including the current work on integrated care records and enhancing use of technology solutions including use of “flags” within single agency systems.

Long term priority

Consider development of a national information sharing strategy across partnerships.

Work to embed greater consistency on data sharing agreements and consider development of a data sharing agreement across all partners.

Establish a new NPPLG Sub group

It is proposed that what is currently the National ASP Implementation Group Chronologies Subgroup will report into the NPPLG.

Complementary work being progressed by existing groups now in the ambit of NPPLG

Work currently being led by the National ASP Implementation Group Chronologies Subgroup which has expanded its membership to include a wide range of practice areas, across the lifespan, including other public protection interests

Chronologies – across the lifespan and across all practice areas, on multi-agency, multi-disciplinary basis. Priority areas of the subgroup remain:

• Involvement of the individual.
• Participation and Engagement.
• Culture change.
• Involvement of relevant professionals.
• Support piloting of chronologies resources.
• Capturing/sharing of good practice.

Work that will not sit under the NPPLG but will be of interest/relevance:

• GIRFEC information sharing guidance
• Work in relation to amendments to s.5 of ASP 2007 Act.
• Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse could be looked at through the new Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group. Child protection flag on Police Scotland’s vulnerable persons database.

Complementary work being progressed through local COG’s which we want to support with a view to supporting the spreading of innovation

Early Partnerships identified:

- Pan Lothian Chronologies Group

Some areas have developed or are developing multi-agency chronology guidance and/or training.

Work on training in chronologies.

Development of templates for multi-agency chronologies.

Letter to staff advising on information sharing.

Processes for child protection and adult protection flags on clinical systems, and advice to primary care for similar flags on their system.