This group will be responible for producing a fit for purpose code of practice to accompany the Act, and will feed in to the main Implementation group.
Role & Remit of the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 Code of Practice Working Group
1. The Scottish Executive has established the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act Code of Practice Working Group.
2. This Group will operate alongside the ASP Act Implementation Group which will continue to be the main over-arching Group looking across the wide range of issues which will have an impact on the effective implementation of the Act. The Implementation Group will also receive regular updates on progress with the Code of Practice.
3. The Code of Practice Working group will require to have a greater focus on the issues and challenges faced daily by practitioners which the Code of Practice will be seeking to address.
Overall Aim
4. The overall aim of the Group is to assist the Scottish Executive to develop and draft a comprehensive Code of Practice for practitioners to aid the successful implementation of the ASP Act. In doing so, the following points are relevant:
- Scottish Ministers are clear that effective implementation is the key to the benefits contained within the ASP Act being realised, and, in particular, that a well-constructed Code of Practice will be critical.
- The Executive recognises that individual members of the Group may have similar, complementary or differing views from each other on particular issues. The role of the Scottish Executive will be to assess the range of views expressed and arrive at solutions for the way forward.
Objectives
5. The objectives for the Group are to progress development of effective Code of Practice by:
- Providing views on the necessary/desirable content for Code of Practice on the ASP Act;
- Working in partnership to identify and resolve significant issues requiring to be addressed in the Code of Practice;
- Contributing to the development and drafting of key sections of the Code of Practice; and
- Providing views on draft sections of Code of Practice once completed.
Membership
6. The membership of the Group ensures that all key sectors and interests are represented - including both statutory and voluntary sectors. If the member invited is unable to attend a particular meeting then they may send a substitute instead. The Scottish Executive may supplement the membership at a later date.
7. The Scottish Executive will provide the secretariat for the Group, and will ensure that minutes of meetings are produced and circulated prior to the next meeting.
Frequency of Meetings
8. Meetings will take place every 6-8 weeks, or as agreed by members. If issues arise in between meetings that require attention then the Scottish Executive will seek member views by e-mail.
9. Provisional dates for forthcoming meetings are:
- Tuesday 8 May 2007
- Tuesday 26 June 2007
- Tuesday 14 August 2007
- Tuesday 2 October 2007
- Tuesday 20 November 2007
- Tuesday 15 January 2008
- Tuesday 4 March 2008
10. There will be an option to set up sub-groups to take forward work in specific areas if deemed appropriate.
Role of Members
11. Members will be invited to attend meetings in advance. In addition, members will need preparation time to read papers circulated beforehand, and sometimes at short notice. The Scottish Executive may invite members to prepare papers or to lead discussion or make a presentation at meetings.
12. Members are expected to represent the views of their organisation and to report back to their organisations, as appropriate, the outcome of discussions at the meetings.
Location of Meetings
13. Most meetings are likely to take place in Edinburgh, but other locations can be considered.
Timescale of Group
14. This Group will meet from May 2007 until a final date to be determined but it is likely that the Group will continue to meet until a final working draft of the Code of Practice has been completed.