The country’s most senior clinician is encouraging patients to get more involved in their treatment and care options. Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Catherine Calderwood is calling for a move away from the “doctor knows best” culture in her annual Practising Realistic Medicine report, which sets out steps to help patients get more involved in their medical consultations. Continue reading Chief Medical Officer calls for move away from “doctor knows best”
A new service led by Victim Support Scotland (VSS) will provide free, practical and emotional support to victims of crime across the country. The charity has been awarded £13.8 million over three years, part of which will provide for a new homicide service giving families of murder victims access to a dedicated case worker and continuous support. Continue reading Support for bereaved families: funding for new homicide service
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Shona Robison visited Muirhouse yesterday to officially open the new Pennywell All Care Centre. Ms Robison met staff and guests during a tour of the facility before cutting a ribbon to declare the ‘one stop shop’ open. Continue reading Health Secretary formally opens Pennywell All Care Centre
A ground-breaking initiative to combat domestic abuse is to be expanded around the country to help maximise victims’ safety and hold offenders to account for their violence. £2.8 million will be available for local authorities to apply for support to roll out the Caledonian System within their area to enable more perpetrators to address their behaviour.
The Caledonian System is a specialist court-mandated programme working with male perpetrators, which also aims to improve the lives of women and children affected.
The announcement was made by Justice Secretary Michael Matheson while attending training for social workers who work with male offenders and liaise with the women and children’s services for the programme. He said: “Levels of domestic abuse remain at unacceptably high levels in Scotland. We know that the official statistics still do not paint the whole picture, as victims are often too afraid to report abuse. We also know domestic abuse disproportionately affects women, with men as the primary perpetrators.
“Put simply, attitudes need to change. The Caledonian System has been running in parts of Scotland and the evidence indicates that men who completed the programme posed a lower risk to partners, children and others by the end of the programme. Women also reported that they felt safer.
“The funding I am announcing today will further strengthen our push to eradicate this scourge on society. Domestic abuse offenders need to understand the harm they cause and what they can do to change their behaviour.”
Linda Rodgers, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Women’s Aid said: “It is crucial that we have a range of services across Scotland for those affected by domestic abuse and that these services include interventions to support perpetrators to change their behaviour. The Caledonian Programme is a safe and robust perpetrator programme developed in Scotland for the Scottish context.
“I am absolutely delighted that the programme will now be operating and enhancing the safety of women and children across Scotland.”
The Caledonian System is not an alternative to prosecution but is a direct alternative to custody and to other high tariff community disposals given after an accused has been convicted of a domestic abuse related offence.
If at any point the programme is breached by the perpetrator the case is returned to court for consideration of whether a separate sentence should be imposed. It is currently delivered through hubs in Aberdeen City, City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, Dumfries & Galloway and North Ayrshire Councils.
The overall funding to the local authorities that deliver the Men’s Programme currently is approximately £1.3 million per annum, with approximately £1.1 million distributed to local authorities and SACRO to deliver Women’s and Children’s Services.
An evaluation of the Caledonian System was published in November 2016. Based on the most recent figures, more than 450 men are engaged with the Men’s Programme, with over 1200 having participated since 2011. There have been 1230 women offered access to the Women’s Service in that same timescale, with over 720 currently engaging, and 1040 children known to the Children’s Service.
The safety of partners and their children is an absolute priority for the Caledonian System. There was a strong belief among women interviewed for the evaluation that the Women’s Service, and the fact that it works together with the Men’s Programme as a system, had both contributed significantly to making them safer.
Evidence indicates that men who completed the programme posed a lower risk to partners, children and others by the end of the programme. There is also evidence that women engaged with the programme feel safer. More information on the Caledonian System is available on the Scottish Government website.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced £2,262,000 to support trade unions in accessing skills and lifelong learning opportunities for workers across Scotland. Continue reading Scottish Union Learning: £2.2 million for worker skills development
A new publication sets out how digitisation, automation and other innovations will affect the Scottish labour market. Continue reading Advance of the robots: new report asseses impact of technology on Scottish jobs
Betting slips and casino chips to be treated as cash assets
New measures to combat organised crime in force from today will widen what can be classed as cash when seizing assets. Continue reading New measures to tackle organised crime
Holyrood’s Committee Conveners is to quiz the First Minister on her Government’s programme and priorities. In what will now be a bi-annual 90 minute session, the First Minister will face questions on a broad range of issues. The session will take place at 12.30pm on Wednesday (18 April).
Speaking as the session was announced, Chair of the Conveners Group, Christine Grahame MSP, said: “Committees often hear from Government Ministers and officials as they undertake detailed scrutiny of legislation and policy. However this session enables Conveners to question the First Minister directly on the broad spectrum of the Government’s programme.
“There are relatively few opportunities for Conveners to question the First Minister in this way so the addition of an extra session each year is a welcome development.
“This session is not about political theatre. It is an important mechanism through which Parliament can hold the Government to account and I expect Conveners will make full use of the opportunity.”
The session is open to the public, and tickets can be booked via the Parliament’s Visitor Services. The session will also be streamed live on both Facebook and Parliament TV. To watch live, select Committee Room 2 on Parliament TV.
It will take place between 12:30 and 2pm, on Wednesdayl, and will be chaired by Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Grahame MSP.
The last session took place on 25 October 2017.
3D model of Great Polish Map of Scotland unveiled
The newly restored Great Polish Map of Scotland and a 3D model of the monument have been unveiled. The 3D model, which has been created by Historic Environment Scotland (HES), highlights the cultural links between Scotland and Poland and will be presented as a Scottish contribution to the Polish independence centenary celebrations in November this year.
During a visit to the map’s site at the Barony Castle Hotel in Eddleston, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “The Great Polish Map of Scotland is a fine example of Scotland’s ties and friendship with Poland. I congratulate the individuals and volunteers involved in its restoration for their incredible work.
“This restored version of the map and its digital model further strengthen the long-standing cultural connections between our nations and highlight our shared history and heritage.
“As we prepare to celebrate the centenary of Poland regaining its independence, we hope the 3D model will contribute to raising awareness of the strong bonds between Scotland and Poland.”
Ireneusz Truszkowski, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh, said: “We are delighted to be able to officially unveil the restored Great Polish Map of Scotland in the same year in which Poland is celebrating its 100th anniversary of regaining independence. The map has a great potential and I hope it will be used also for educational purposes that will benefit current and future generations of Scots and Poles, increasing the understanding of our common history.”
Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of HES, added: “We are very pleased to have collaborated with partners to digitally document the Great Polish Map of Scotland, particularly as we celebrate the European Year of Cultural Heritage. The 3D model of this unique site showcases our cutting-edge digital documentation work, and how this technology can be used to bring history to life.”
Forget Scotland the Brave … this is Scotland the brand!
A new £6 million campaign will put Scotland in the international spotlight and showcase the country’s world-leading assets to a global audience. Launching simultaneously today in North America, London and China, ‘Scotland is Now’ is designed to put the country firmly at the top of everyone’s list of places to live, work, study, invest and visit. Continue reading Selling Scotland: Scotland is Now
