Organisation
Dumfries and Galloway Public Protection Committee.
Legislative context
Constituted in terms of the provisions of the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007, National Guidance for Child Protection Committees (2005), Equally Safe – Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating Violence Against Women and Girls (Scottish Government 2016).
Primary aim
The primary aim of the Committee is to shape the effective discharge and review of public protection activity through strategic oversight and performance review of the arrangements. The Committee will have a dedicated and specific remit on protection issues and overview of all protection work; assuming responsibility for the strategic development and delivery of services to the most vulnerable adults, including women, girls and children who are at risk of significant harm.
In line with statutory responsibilities, the committee has particular focus on high-risk groups and will ensure effective arrangements are in place to manage areas of overlap across the public protection fora.
The Committee will ensure that appropriate planning and management together with arrangements for performance review will be a critical core function and with a clear operational focus on the identification and management of risk, the committee will ensure responses are timely, proportionate, and targeted.
Membership
The committee includes in its core membership the following who shall have delegated authority to represent their organisations and area of responsibility in decision making through the group:
| Title | Agency |
|---|---|
| Independent chair | Public Protection Committee |
| Chief Social Work Officer (Vice Chair) |
Dumfries and Galloway Council |
| Supt - DG Division (Vice Chair) |
Police Scotland - V Division |
| Nurse Director (Vice Chair) | NHS Dumfries and Galloway |
| Dir of Education | DGC – Education |
| Senior Operational Manager – SWS |
DGC – SWS |
| Senior Manager - Children and Families SWS |
DGC – SWS |
| Manager - Public Protection / CJP Chair |
DGC / CJP |
| Manager, Children’s Services |
DGC / Children’s Services |
| Nurse Consultant | NHS Dumfries and Galloway |
| Consultant Paediatrician | NHS Dumfries and Galloway |
| Deputy Chief Operating Officer |
NHS Dumfries and Galloway / DG HSCP |
| General Manager |
NHS Dumfries and Galloway / DG HSCP |
| Det Supt / MAPPA SOG Chair |
Police Scotland - Public Protection |
| CEO – DG Advocacy Service |
DG Third Sector Interface / The Voice Project |
| Community Justice Partnership Manager |
DG Community Justice Partnership |
| Locality Reporter Manager | Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration |
| Independent Chair | DG Alcohol and Drugs Partnership |
| Group Commander, Prevention and Protection |
Scottish Fire Service |
| Governor – HMP Dumfries | Scottish Prison Service |
| Area Manager | Scottish Ambulance Service |
| Elected Member (1 of 2) | Dumfries and Galloway Council |
Support officer
| Title | Agency |
|---|---|
| Lead Officer | Child Protection |
| Lead Officer | Adult Support and Protection |
| Co-ordinator | Violence Against Women and Girls |
The Link Inspector, Care Inspectorate as a guest attendee can attend on an advisory role at discretion of the independent chair.
With prior agreement of the chair, a core member of the group shall be entitled to be represented in their absence by a named deputy of equivalent standing and appropriate mandate.
The chair and vice chairs may agree at their discretion to co-opt into membership of the group such additional persons not exceeding four in number who they consider will contribute to the functions of the group. Those co-opted members shall hold temporary office for such period as they shall determine.
Chair and Vice Chair
The Adult Support and Protection Act (2007) states that the council will appoint the committee “convenor“ and that the convenor must not be a member or officer of the council. To adhere to the legislative requirements, the chair shall be independent from Dumfries and Galloway Council. Vice-chairs will be appointed from within the membership of the committee.
The chair will ensure that Chief Officers Group: Public Protection (COG:PP) remains informed of the activities of the committee and act as a conduit to ensure that the committee remains accountable to COG:PP.
The chair shall hold office for a three-year period and shall be eligible for reappointment to the chair for a further term as determined by COG:PP. The roles of vice-chairs will be held by Chief Social Work Officer, Supt - V Division, and Nurse Director.
In the absence of the chair a vice-chair will assume the range of responsibilities normally carried out by the chair.
Quorum
No business shall be transacted at a meeting unless the Chair or Vice Chair and six additional members are present from at least three different partners.
Frequency of meetings
The committee shall meet at such place and time as they may determine and shall normally meet every two months to a pre-planned programme of meetings. Additional meetings may be called at the request of any member and with agreement of the chair and the purpose of the meeting clearly specified in advance.
Accountability
The chair will be independent of the council, and will report to and liaise with as necessary the Chief Officers Group: Public Protection.
Terms of reference
The terms of reference are classified under broad responsibility headings:
- Strategic oversight of public protection
- Learning Review
- Performance, Quality, and Improvement
- Learning and Development
- Communication and Engagement
- Policies and Procedures
Review date – April 2024