Following the publication of the Implementing Safe & Together in Scotland: Creating Domestic Abuse-Informed Systems, Services and Workforces year two learning report the Improvement service, alongside the Safe & Together Institute, hosted a learning event in Edinburgh on 27 March 2024.
The event was attended by stakeholders across Scotland with a role to play in improving outcomes for children and families experiencing domestic abuse, from both local and national organisations and services. The event was an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the Safe & Together model, explore links to other key priorities being advances locally and nationally, and consider how we can move forward with a more joined up approach to person-centred and domestic-abuse informed systems and services.
Videos of all the speakers and pre-recorded presentations are available:
- Opening statement: Cllr Chalmers, COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokesperson
- Measuring local progress, outcomes and impact of domestic abuse informed systems: Julie Baker, Safe & Together Lead, Perth & Kinross Council
- Adopting a Whole-System Approach to Safe & Together: Dr Emma Plant, Equally Safe Development Coordinator, Moray Council
- Adopting a whole-system approach to improving outcomes – A policy perspective: Nel Whiting, VAWG Team Lead, Equality Unit, Scottish Government
- Local perspectives – An inter-agency approach to Safe & Together in Highland: Mike Mawby, Safe & Together Project Coordinator, Highland Council
- Local Perspectives – Providing opportunities for families to shape services in Ayrshire: Sheila Hagney, Safe & Together Lead Officer, East Ayrshire HSCP
Leadership [is] critical to addressing domestic abuse and local partnerships [are] key to collaborative practice and culture change.
The speakers were really great and the sessions informative. This really aligns with the Promise so I will be looking for ways to connect.
Next steps and key action points from the event
- Need to explore ways to develop a bespoke Safe & Together delivery model for Scotland that takes into account Scottish context, local and national policy around domestic abuse and child protection, and recognising current climate of restricted public resources
- Leadership – locally and nationally – to join up policy agendas and initiatives, and avoid conflicting demands and messages for frontline practitioners
- Long-term sustainable funding arrangements that match the ambition of creating domestic abuse informed systems, service and workforces.
- Include Safe & Together in national training strategy for domestic abuse and child protection – including explore ways of embedding into social work training
- Meaningful engagement and consultation with families to inform ongoing and continued development
- Recognise workforce overwhelm and prioritise workforce wellbeing and support
I don’t need another tool, I need to embed the tools that I already have.