Public protection national leadership group minutes - April 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Angela Scott, Chair of NPPLG, Chief Executive of Aberdeen City Council 
• Elaine Torrance, group member, Adult Support and Protection and Convener of Dundee Adult Protection Committee
• Tam Baillie, group member, Child Protection Committees Scotland
• Alison White, group member, Chair of West Lothian ADP
• Carron McDiarmid, group member Independent Chair of Highland ADP
• Tracey McFall, group member, Independent Chair of Argyll and Bute ADP
• Sophie Gwyther, group member, Violence Against Women and Girls Partnership 
• Alan Small, group member, Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Tayside
• Lynsey Smith, group member, Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Glasgow
• Julie White, group member, Chief Executive of NHS Dumfries and Galloway
• Eddie Docherty, Vice Chair of NPPPLG, Executive Nurse Director NHS Lanarkshire
• Fiona Duncan, group member, Chief Social Work Officer for Highlands
• DCS Sarah Taylor, group member, Head of Public Protection Police Scotland
• Jon Henderson, group member, Assistant Chief Office and Director of Prevention, Protection and Preparedness Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Nicola Dickie, group member, Director of People Policy CoSLA
• Donna Bell, group member, Director of Social Care and National Care Service Development Scottish Government
• Andrew Watson, group member, Director for Children and Families Scottish Government
• Iona Colvin, group member, Chief Social Work Adviser Scottish Government
• Sinead Power, group member, Unit Head Public Protection Scottish Government
• Jackie Irvine, group member, Chief Executive of the Care Inepectorate

Items and actions

Welcome 

Welcome to the seventh e‑update of the National Public Protection Leadership Group (NPPLG). This newsletter reflects discussion at the Group’s tenth meeting, held on 28 April 2026, and provides a summary of progress, emerging risks and next steps across the NPPLG workplan. 

The NPPLG will continue to share an update following each meeting, highlighting decisions taken, issues under consideration and work being supported or led at national level. Feedback on content and format is warmly welcomed. 

 

Update on workstreams 

Priority 1 – Enhancing our culture of learning through reviews 

Why this matters now 

The national review landscape remains complex, with risks of duplication and fragmented learning across child and adult protection systems. 

What’s progressed

A near‑final overview of national review types and governance routes has been developed. This work confirms longstanding concerns regarding duplication and inconsistent learning loops. 

Key themes emerging include the need to: 

• clarify how review processes interact; 
• strengthen local triage and escalation arrangements for child protection (CP) and adult support and protection (ASP) learning reviews; 
and 
• improve how learning flows from reviews into service and system improvement. 

What happens next 

The Child Protection and Adult Support and Protection Learning Review Group will bring the completed review landscape paper to the July NPPLG meeting, alongside proposals for engagement with Welsh colleagues on their national safeguarding review approach. 

Our ask of Chief Officers Group (COGs) Continue to reflect on local review arrangements, particularly how learning is escalated, assured and translated into improvement.

 

Priority 2 – Enhancing our culture of learning through independent scrutiny and inspection 

Why this matters now 

Inspection, inquiry and review activity has increased, reinforcing the importance of coherence between national scrutiny and local assurance. 

What’s progressed 

Members received an update on the national Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) review and wider inquiry. The NPPLG reaffirmed the importance of avoiding duplication and ensuring alignment between national 
scrutiny and local systems. Links are being actively maintained between  CSAE inspection activity, the development of the Missing Persons self‑evaluation framework and data‑related work, through collaboration 
with Priority 5. 

Our ask of COGs: Maintain oversight of local scrutiny activity and ensure learning and assurance are joined up across partnerships. 

 

Priority 3 – Enhancing our culture of learning by supporting the public protection workforce 

Why this matters now 

Effective public protection depends on a confident, skilled and supported multi‑agency workforce. 

What’s progressed 

Iriss presented Phase 1 findings from the Public Protection Learning and Development Mapping Project, highlighting: 

• variation in learning provision across Scotland; 
• dominance of CP and ASP learning; 
• strong but inconsistently targeted multi‑agency provision; and 
• opportunities to define shared skills and core expectations. 

Members emphasised the importance of multi‑agency learning for relationship‑building, intelligence sharing and coherent assurance, and highlighted the strong links between learning, supervision, audit and review activity. 

 

What happens next 

Iriss will return in July with proposals for Phase 2, focusing on how we support what is common across public protection, including trauma‑informed practice, professional curiosity, information sharing and supervision. 
Our ask of COGs: Support ongoing mapping and contribute to discussion on what learning should be delivered locally and what may benefit from a consistent “Once for Scotland” approach. Professional curiosity in public protection 
Scottish Government has commissioned Iriss to support a shared understanding of professional curiosity across public protection. Work completed to date has: 
• identified individual, team and organisational dimensions; 
• highlighted relevance across all roles and sectors; and 
• proposed a Scotland‑specific definition for public protection. 

Outputs include: 

• Professional curiosity in public protection: Gathering the knowledge (Iriss report) 
• A short animation explaining professional curiosity 

Next steps: Iriss will develop practice examples and a focus on leadership.

 

Priority 4 – Improving information sharing and oversight of chronologies 

Why this matters now 

Information sharing remains critical to effective risk identification and escalation. 

What’s progressed 

Updates were provided on the work of the National Chronologies Group, engagement with Service/Scalable Approach to Vulnerability via Interoperabilty  (SAVVI),  Soiciety of Local Authority Lawyers (SOLAR) and digital chronology solutions, and clarification of the distinction between data, intelligence and professional insight. 

Members agreed the need to build confidence in lawful, proportionate information sharing and to better surface and act on soft intelligence and community insight. Police Scotland will present on the Police Intelligence Portal at a future meeting. 

Our ask of COGs: To bring to the attention of the NPPLG any specific information sharing challenges they face that may require national consideration. 

 

Priority 5 – Strengthening data for improvement, assurance and risk escalation 

Why this matters now 

Current data often captures harm already done rather than emerging risk, limiting preventative action. Data also tends to focus on individual parts of the protection system rather than on how a vulnerable individual are family may experience concurrent risks.  

What’s progressed 

The NPPLG endorsed further exploration of a shared risk approach grounded in risk and protective factors and informed by the WHO Typology of Violence. 

Developments include: 

• learning from Dumfries and Galloway’s data dashboard; 
• Aberdeen acting as a use case for the Common Data Platform for Scotland; 
• alignment with the Prevention Hub and SAVVI; and 
• confirmation of an NPPLG data learning event on 26th of May 2026. 

Our ask of COGs: Share examples of local data, analytics or risk frameworks that support early identification and leadership assurance.

 

Priority 6 – Improving transitions and pathways between services 

 

Why this matters now 

Transitions remain a persistent area of system risk. 

What’s progressed 

Members reaffirmed the importance of this priority, particularly in relation to: 

• transitions between child and adult systems; 
• contextual safeguarding, exploitation and missing persons; and 
• alignment with wider prevention activity. 

 

What happens next 

The scope and focus of this priority will be revisited in depth at the July meeting.

 

Scottish Government Policy Developments 

Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review (DHSR) Statutory Guidance 

The NPPLG has worked closely with Scottish Government to influence the recently published DHSR guidance. Many operational concerns raised by the Group are reflected, including clearer interfaces with existing public protection structures, proportionate review processes, improved information‑sharing expectations and a stronger emphasis on learning culture and family engagement. 

The NPPLG will continue to engage as the model is implemented and support future review of the guidance.

Missing Persons Self-Evaluation 

Progress continues on development of a self‑evaluation tool to support implementation of the National Missing Persons Framework. The tool aims to strengthen local oversight and aligns closely with NPPLG priorities on data, learning and risk escalation. 

Supporting Chief Officer Leadership, Risk and Assurance 

Considering Risk Through a Typology of Violence 

The NPPLG discussed the value of aligning leadership assurance and escalation with the WHO Typology of Violence, supporting a more coherent understanding of cumulative risk across different forms of harm.

Members agreed that the planned refresh of the COG public protection induction resource provides a timely opportunity to highlight  this approach.
 

Chief Officer Group (COG) Public Protection Induction Resource 

Members agreed that the current induction resource no longer reflects the complexity and leadership expectations facing COGs. Any refresh should: 

• be a partnership product; 
• focus on leadership, assurance, risk and accountability; and 
• be concise, accessible and non‑duplicative.
 
Further proposals will be brought back to the Group. 

 

Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), Asylum Dispersal and Safeguarding Guidance 

The NPPLG considered safeguarding risks associated with asylum dispersal and the interface with MAPPA Strategic Oversight Groups. Work will continue with Scottish Government and national MAPPA leads to improve clarity and consistency, with interim learning shared via future newsletters.

 

Learning Events  

NPPLG Learning Event: Using Data and Intelligence in Public Protection - Tuesday 26 May 2026, 4–5pm 

The session will include: 

• Dumfries and Galloway’s Local Integrated Dataset; 
• learning from Greater Manchester’s CSAE data approach; and 
• updates from the Scottish Prevention Hub. 

The event is aimed at chief officers, senior leaders and the wider public protection community and forms part of the NPPLG’s programme of knowledge exchange to support continuous improvement. 

Date & time: Tuesday 26 May 2026, 4–5pm 

The event will be hosted on Microsoft Teams. Please register via the following link: Sign up Here. 

A further learning event on the National Chronologies Group is planned for 29th of September 2026.

 

Updates and Items of Interest 

Using the Trauma-Informed Change Roadmap: A Role for Chief Officer Groups 

The Roadmap for Creating Trauma-Informed and Responsive Change offers a nationally agreed framework to help organisations and systems reflect on progress, identify gaps and plan improvement in embedding trauma-informed approaches across policy, practice and culture.
 
While often associated with workforce development, the Roadmap can also be used effectively at Chief Officer Group (COG) level as a system-wide improvement and assurance tool. 

 

A system-level application for COGs 

COGs are well placed to use the Roadmap to take a whole-system view of trauma-informed maturity across public protection. In practice, this can include: 

• commissioning a partnership stock-take against the Roadmap as a structured 
self-assessment exercise; 
• focusing on system enablers such as leadership, workforce wellbeing, feedback loops, 
power-sharing with people with lived experience, and how trauma-informed principles 
are embedded in governance, policy and service design; 
• positioning the exercise explicitly as improvement-focused, avoiding comparison or 
performance ranking between partners; 
• aligning resulting priorities with existing COG governance, risk and assurance 
arrangements, rather than creating parallel activity. 

 

Supporting assurance and learning 

Used in this way, the Roadmap helps COGs demonstrate how the partnership is addressing known system risks, such as workforce sustainability, consistency of practice and the risk of re-traumatisation, while strengthening learning from inspection, review and inquiry findings.
 
The Roadmap is designed to support continuous improvement, allowing partnerships to revisit the self-assessment over time, track progress and evidence a credible improvement trajectory. 

As partnerships continue to strengthen cultures of prevention, learning and wellbeing, the Roadmap provides a practical, nationally aligned way for COGs to translate trauma-informed ambition into sustained system change.
 

National Adult Support and Protection Learning and Development Framework 

The first Adult Support and Protection Learning and Development Framework was published on the Scottish Government website on 19 February 2026. This framework is intended for all staff and volunteers operating across Scotland who might come into contact with adults as part of their role. The end of the framework includes a list of helpful publications, alongside access to some learning and development training resources. 

If you have any feedback or comments regarding the framework, please let us know 

 

Matters raised by 3MBs 

If there is a matter you would like to escalate to the NPPLG for consideration, please complete a 3 Minute Briefing using the template at the end of this newsletter and send it to the Secretariat at NPPLG@aberdeencity.gov.uk. 

 

3-Minute Brief: Drug-Related Deaths – April 2026 

The NPPLG continues to use 3‑Minute Briefs to surface emerging risk and leadership concern, including the recent sharp rise in drug‑related deaths. These issues will remain under active review, with continued engagement across national partners.

 

Raised by: Aberdeen City COG 

Topic: Home education - Concerns were raised about home educating, particularly in relation to children who had never attended school and potential risks they may face as we may have no awareness of their existence. 

NPPLG Meeting Discussed At: 29th April 2025 

Outcome of Discussion: The issue was flagged as needing further attention and possibly a national response due to its implications for child protection. It was agreed that this issue should be raised with the Scottish Government’s Learning Directorate by CPC Scotland and the Chief Social Work Advisor.

Update: The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills was broadly content with the proposed scope and approach to the Home Education Review which was shared with her prior to the end of Parliament in March. We are now in the preelection period and therefore some activity has been temporarily paused until after the election on 7 May in line with Scottish Government guidance. Some work including factual evidence-gathering should be able to continue, subject to confirmation of what is appropriate during this period. This will support efficient progress after the election. Scottish Government officials will provide advice to incoming Ministers on the review in due course, and will provide a further update to the NPPLG in July. 

 

Raised by: Child Protection Unit - SG 

Topic:  Whistleblowing - Challenges with current whistleblowing procedures, especially in terms of clarity and confidence among staff to raise concerns. 

NPPLG Meeting Discussed At: 29th April 2025

Outcome of Discussion: SOLACE representative to facilitate access to Local Government HR function. The item to be brought back to group following further discovery work. 

Update: Child Protection officials met with Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) to discuss next steps in early March. A set of recommendations are being developed jointly by Scottish Government (SG), ADES and COSLA from the suggestions made by NPPLG. These recommendations will then be taken to the ADES Personnel Network and COSLA Heads of HR Network for consideration given their expertise in this area. Following this, a discussion will be taken to the ADES Directors Network for further views. Officials will keep NPPLG updated on developments. 

 

Raised by: National Health Leadership Group for Adult Support and Protection (SHLAP) 

Topic:  Self-harm – Concerns were raised about an emerging area of concern regarding young people engaging in self-harm by ingesting batteries, with evidence of escalation and peer encouragement via social media.

NPPLG Meeting Discussed At: 30th October 2025

Outcome of Discussion: The NPPLG recognised the scale of the issue and agreed to seek feedback from across Scotland via the newsletter.

Update: 3MB included in previous newsletter for feedback and advice. No new information received to date.  

 

Raised by: Child Proection Committess (CPC)  Scotland Contextual Safeguarding Core Group 

Topic: Contextual Safeguarding - To highlight growing national uptake of contextual safeguarding but emphasises the inconsistent progress. 

NPPLG Meeting Discussed At: 27th January 2026 

Outcome of Discussion: The NPPLG agreed to include Contextual Safeguarding within the scope of Priority Six in the Workplan. 

Update: Workstream 6 sponsors have reached out to CPC Scotland to discuss bringing contextual safeguarding within the scope of the priority in the workplan.  

 

Raised by: East Lothian and Midlothian Public Protection Committee 

Topic:  Non-Fatal Strangulation – To highlight an emerging theme in relation to the increasing concerns about NFS relating to children and young people in referrals to Police and Health services.  

NPPLG Meeting Discussed At: Not taken to NPPLG 

Outcome of Discussion: It was agreed that this issue did not sit directly with the NPPLG and was more appropriately considered within the public health and health improvement agenda. The matter was therefore shared with Public Health Scotland for consideration.

 

Raised by: Public Health Scotland/Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) Representatives

Topic: Drug-related deaths – sustained increase and system risk 

NPPLG Meeting Discussed At: 28th April 2026

Outcome of Discussion: The NPPLG agreed to continue exploring how public protection governance, data, learning and early intervention approaches can better support risk escalation and coordinated responses. Links will be strengthened with work on reviews, data for improvement, information sharing and prevention, and ongoing engagement will continue with Public Health Scotland and partners. 

 

Future Meetings 

Future meetings of the NPPLG have been scheduled for: 

• Tuesday 21st July 2026, 10am-1pm  
• Tuesday 27th October 2026, 10am-1pm 

Contact details 

Your feedback regarding this e-update, or any other matter relating to the NPPLG, is very welcome. Please email the NPPLG Secretariat: NPPLG@aberdeencity.gov.uk. If you have a matter that you would like to escalate to the NPPLG, you can do so by either contacting one of the members, or by completing the 3 minute briefing template at Appendix 1 and sending it to the Secretariat for consideration.