Forth Valley Public Protection Enhanced

Central Scotland Police and their public protection partners have significantly enhanced the way they work so the most vulnerable members of our communities can be better protected.

Staff from the force's Public Protection Unit, NHS Forth Valley's Child Protection Team and Stirling and Clackmannanshire Social Work and Education Services are now co-located at Larbert police office within the Forth Valley Public Protection Service.

In response to this commitment CSP and partners, as part of FV Public Protection Service (FV PPS) implemented the Multi Agency Assessment Screening Hub (MAASH) with the overarching aim of reducing risk to vulnerable people and achieving early and effective intervention to those in need.

Detective Chief Inspector Catriona Paton said: "The introduction of the MAASH is an important element of the wider GIRFEC programme within Forth Valley which seeks to improve services and outcomes for children and young people. Enhanced early identification, assessment and risk management through the MAASH is intended to reduce unnecessary escalation, result in quicker decisions being made about those who are potentially at risk which are based on a more complete understanding of each individual case.

"FV PPS are committed to addressing issues such as child protection, domestic abuse, young runaways, on-line offending as well as adult support and protection and the management of sex offenders. It is genuine joint working in the sense they are sitting next to each other and sharing information on cases much more effectively and efficiently.

"Being based in the same building and sitting next to each other has significantly enhanced information sharing processes so that public protection matters are dealt with more quickly and effectively. This collaborative approach ensures staff are better placed to make fully informed decisions in respect of concerns raised regarding children and young people and any action, intervention and protection is carried out as early and effectively as possible.

"It also means that all the agencies involved are better informed and equipped to deal with any concerns relating to public protection issues and has resulted in a greatly improved and stronger working relationship with partner agencies, referrals being dealt with more timely, consistently and appropriately, an increase in children being diverted from statutory systems and a significantly enhanced quality of service."

Detective Chief Inspector Paton added: "We have developed this project over the last 18 months and it is an extremely valuable way of working as we are able to share information and working practices with a dedicated team of staff. This can only serve to enhance the protection of the most vulnerable sections of our communities across Forth Valley."

Assistant Chief Constable Allan Moffat, who co-ordinated the FVPPS project with the partners, said: "The vision for the Forth Valley Public Protection Service was to provide the best possible service to the most vulnerable members of our communities and I believe we are delivering that vision. We are absolutely committed to protecting the most vulnerable people in our communities and the co-location of staff and the effective sharing of information ensures we are best placed to make these assessments and respond accordingly."