National Training Programme
The National Training Programme, which is under development, will have a foundation of a human rights based approach as well as trauma informed practice. For the avoidance of doubt, existing Appropriate Adults will not be expected to complete the new Core training. Refresher training will be available as well as an expectation Appropriate Adults undertake continuous professional learning.
Referring Agencies
The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 increased accessibility to Appropriate Adult services beyond Police Scotland. Referring agencies also now include:
- Border Force
- Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC)
- British Transport Police (BTP)
- Her Majesty's Revenues & Customs (HMRC)
- Civic Nuclear Constabulary (CNC)
- National Crime Agency (NCA)
- Ministry of Defence Police
Links have been developed with Border Force, PIRC, BTP and HMRC to enable them to refer for an Appropriate Adult. Arrangements to do similarly with CNC, Ministry of Defence Police and NCA will follow. Information on each of these agencies has been distributed to services to inform practice and will also feature in the new National Training Programme. If you have any queries, please speak with the Local Appropriate Adult Co-ordinator for your area.
Police Scotland continue to represent over 90% of referrals to Appropriate Adult services.
Short Life Working Groups
A SLWG looking at data improvement is in it's early stages. The overall aim is to improve data accuracy, ensure it can stand up to scrutiny and therefore inform service development and funding reviews.
There will shortly be more opportunities to become involved in short life working groups. Depending on the focus, invites will go out to Appropriate Adults, Local Co-ordinators, people with lived experience, stakeholders and partner agencies.
Focus Groups
You will hopefully have already received information about focus groups for Appropriate Adults being held to explore ‘what we do and how we do it’. The outcomes of these groups will be used to inform good practice guidance and development of training.
If you wish to take part, please email jo@cosla.gov.uk for availability.
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