National Public Protection Leadership Group: workplan

Annex A

Mapping of NPPLG terms of reference against the NPPLG workplan priorities

NPPLG Terms of reference – responsibilities and how they are addressed in the workplan.

• Provide national multi-agency leadership of public protection.

Overarching function of the NPPLG, and present through all the work streams

• Develop and agree a definition and vision for public protection in Scotland.

As reported in Paper 3i 29th October 2024 meeting the September survey to COGs asked about composition of COGs. Of those who responded on behalf of COGS (16) 100% had CP; ASP; MAPPA as members of their COG. 88% (14) cover Alcohol and Drug related harm and deaths; 81% (13) cover VAWG and Suicide Prevention; 6 or fewer COGs cover Asylum Seekers / Refugees, Human Trafficking, Homelessness, and Missing People. Priority 3: As part of Priority 3 – ‘Enhancing our Culture of Learning through supporting our Public Protection Workforce’ an action is listed to ‘Develop and agree a definition and vision for public protection in Scotland and consider the development of shared principles for all public protection strands’. Further discussion is required as to whether a separate SLWG is required on this responsibility or whether it could be covered under the remit of the newly proposed Public Protection Learning and Development Group.

• Work together across Scotland to consider how we can best support and drive innovation and continuous improvement across public protection in Scotland.

As we seek to continue to build a culture of learning within the field of public protection, and to tackle some of the wicked issues which we know local partnerships are wrestling with this responsibility cuts across all of the work streams that sit under these priorities. It is relevant in relation to Priority 1 Reviews; Priority 2 Scrutiny and Inspections; Priority 3 Supporting the workforce; Priority 4 Information Sharing and Chronologies; Priority 5 Data and Priority 6 Tackling the difficult issue of transitions and pathways between services.

• Consider relevant data, reviews, national/local reporting, triennial reports, and academic research on related matters such as poverty to support and drive innovation, continuous improvement and sharing of effective practice across public protection in Scotland.

Priority 1 (Reviews) is the main work stream through which this will be delivered.

• 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.

Priority 4 (Chronologies and information sharing) is also relevant to delivery here as one of the areas where we want to progress work on some of the tricky issues that we know partnerships are wrestling with. Priority 5 (Data for improvement and assurance) will be key to the development of processes for the identification and surveillance of emerging risks and harms. Work under priority 6 (Transitions and Pathways) is also relevant here, as we build our understanding of how individuals, families and the workforce navigate public protection services and policies.

• Support sharing of learning and best practice between Chief Officer Groups (COGs) and multi-agency partners, lifting the performance of areas to those who are considered to be implementing advanced practice, and to better understand variation.

Priority 5 (Data for improvement and assurance) will be key to understanding how we can lift the performance of areas to those who are considered to be implementing advanced practice, and to better understand variation.

• Support COGs to understand, from a whole system perspective, the continuum between and across prevention, universal provision, early support, and public protection.

Priority 6 (Transitions and Pathways) is the key work stream to deliver against this responsibility. To note that the NPPLG focus on ‘prevention’ needs further consideration. NPPLG has previously noted its interest in the prevention agenda of the Children and Families National Leadership Group. NPPLG may want to further articulate how it wants to engage and work with other groups on this important issue.

• Contribute to the opportunity of a more joined up, public protection approach to inspection, improvement and implementation support.

Priority 2 is the main workstream through which this will be delivered.

• Develop an approach to the embedment of a human rights based approach to local public protection arrangements.

Whilst the adoption of a human rights approach is a thread through all of the public protection policy and delivery areas, this currently feels like a potential gap in the delivery of the workplan?

• Outline measures of implementation and measures of effectiveness for the delivery of public protection arrangements.

Priority 5 (Data for improvement and assurance).