The Scottish Government

NATIONAL SEXUAL HEALTH & HIV ADVISORY COMMITTEE (NSHHAC): REMIT AND OPERATION FRAMEWORK (UPDATED OCTOBER 2008)

Status and remit

1. The National Sexual Health & HIV Advisory Committee (NSHHAC) is a Scottish Government working group chaired by Shona Robison, MSP, Minister for Public Health.

2. The formal remit of the NSHHAC is:-

"To provide expert advice to the Scottish Government on sexual health and HIV, acting as a forum for the development of policy in this respect and monitoring and supporting the implementation of the national sexual health strategy Respect and Responsibility (2005) and the sexual health/HIV components of related national strategies and action plans"

Scope of the NSHHAC's activities

3 . Under this broad remit it is envisaged NSHHAC will:-

· Act as the key strategic driver for Respect and Responsibility and the sexual health and HIV aspects of related strategies, such as the report of the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities Equally Well; alcohol misuse; early years; Curricullum for Excellence; and the youth framework.

· Provide a forum for the critique of evidence, dissemination of best practice and the development of new thinking to support the Respect and Responsibility sexual health outcomes identified for 2008-2011 and the forthcoming HIV Action Plan.

· Focus specifically on the needs and circumstances of all Scottish communities, including those in remote and rural areas and those at greatest risk of poor sexual health outcomes.

· Undertake or commission (via the Secretariat) work on topics of particular concern or relevance in achieving the Respect and Responsibility sexual health outcomes identified for 2008-2011 the forthcoming HIV Action Plan. .

· Advise on information and research needs.

The role of NSHHAC Members

4 Members have been invited to sit on NSHHAC because of their particular expertise or role within an organisation which is relevant to the work of NSHHAC and not directly as representatives of any particular organisation. Consequently, they may not send a substitute to meetings if they are unable to attend in person.

5 Members are expected to uphold the reputation of NSHHAC and to declare any personal and/or business interests which might conflict with their responsibilities as members. They are also expected to adhere to the principle of collective responsibility for its work and to agreed standards of confidentiality.

Expected contribution of NSHHAC Members:-

6. Members are appointed for 3 years and are expected to:-

· pursue, objectively and diligently, the collective aims of the Advisory Committee:

· exercise their individual talents and areas of expertise by briefing and guiding the Advisory Committee, including through participationg in, or leading working groups on particular topics and representing the Advisory Committee at conferences or on sub-committees;

· attend Advisory Committee meetings regularly and to prepare adequately for these meetings by, for example, reading papers in advance; preparing and presenting papers for consideration; participating in discussion; and helping to reach a consensus view; and

· may be called upon to represent NSHHAC on other occasions.

Qualities and skills

7. Members are expected to demonstrate the following: -

expertise and standing in their own field

a strong interest in sexual health and HIV

good interpersonal skills

sound judgement and objectivity

the ability to contribute to committee and working group discussions; and

an appreciation of the wide crosscutting nature of the subject.

Meetings and handling of papers

8. NSHHAC will normally meet 3 or 4 times a year with meetings.

9. The Sexual Health & HIV Policy Team of the Scottish Government Public Health and Health Improvement Directorate will provide the secretarial support for NSHHAC and its sub- committees.

10. NSHHAC business will generally be conducted at full committee or sub-committee meetings. However, there may be occasions when Members' views are sought through correspondence.

11. At the Advisory Committee's request, the Secretariat will prepare or commission papers for the NSHHAC's consideration.

12. The Secretariat will endeavour, wherever possible, to circulate the Agenda and other papers approximately one week prior to the date of each meeting. Members preparing meeting papers will be expected to provide material to the Secretariat in sufficient time to allow them to meet this deadline.

13. Papers circulated for NSHHAC and sub-committee meetings will bear a security marking as follows:-

RESTRICTED - for NSHHAC members only.

CONFIDENTIAL - not for public consumption but may be shared on a strictly limited need to know basis within a member's own organisation or interest group.

UNRESTRICTED - information which can be shared openly.

14. Sub-committee papers will be routinely copied to all NSHHAC members.

15. A full record of each meeting will be prepared by the Secretariat and circulated to members prior to the next meeting at which time they will have the opportunity to formally approve them.

16. Every effort will be made under the wider Governance arrangements for the implementation of Respect and Responsibility to ensure stakeholders are kept in touch with key developments, including through the publication of unrestricted NSHHAC papers and minutes of meetings once approved on the Scottish Government website. In addition, regular updates on progress of the Committee's work will be made available to Parliament and to the Cross Party Group on Sexual Health.

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Secretariat contact details:-

Cheryl Paris

Scottish Government

Sexual Health and HIV Policy Team

Public Health & Wellbeing Directorate

St Andrews House

EDINBURGH

EH1 3DG

Cheryl.paris@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

0131-244- 3457

Membership with effect December 2008

NATIONAL SEXUAL HEALTH AND HIV ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Chair: Shona Robison, MSP, Minister for Public Health

Notes of the meetings are published on the meetings website page.

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