Domestic Abuse: A National Training Strategy
MINISTERIAL FOREWORD
The National Group to Address Violence Against Women set up a working group to develop a National Training Strategy in August 2002. "Domestic Abuse - A Draft Training Strategy" was issued for consultation in February 2003 with comments requested by the end of May.
I am pleased to say that it was very clear from the 40 responses received that the draft Strategy had been universally welcomed. However, a number of detailed suggestions for improvement were made and the Strategy has been comprehensively revised to take account of them.
It is vitally important that everyone who comes into contact with women and children who have experienced domestic abuse in the course of their work is able to give an appropriate response. This is particularly true of "front line" workers such as health service professionals, teachers, social workers, police officers and solicitors, as well as those in the voluntary sector. There is also a need for training for policy makers, senior practitioners and all levels of managers. I hope therefore that this Training Strategy will encourage all sectors to embrace training on domestic abuse as part of their core business and to develop and implement their own training strategies.
I know that this Strategy is ambitious and that full implementation will take time. The Executive is demonstrating its commitment by making available funding of 700,000 a year for 3 years. This funding is being provided to build the capacity to deliver training locally, by establishing local Training Consortia, providing training for trainers and producing training materials. The National Training Co-ordinators will work with the Consortia and will focus on promoting and facilitating the sharing of best practice and monitoring progress towards implementation of the Strategy. They will be directly accountable to the Scottish Executive and the National Group to Address Violence Against Women.
I commend this Strategy to all stakeholders and I hope that we can continue to work together to eliminate domestic abuse from Scottish society.
Mary Mulligan MSP
Deputy Minister for Communities