Scottish Government

Chapter 3
3 Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic

3.1 Minister (Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment)

Suspicion Phase

There are no specific actions to be carried out by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs & the Environment at the suspicion phase.

Confirmation Phase
The Cabinet Secretary will:

Be briefed by CVO Scotland/ Deputy Director AHWD

Brief Parliament, if necessary.

Confirm zones and further required actions

Management of Disease Control

The Cabinet Secretary's day to day involvement will be dependent on the size and scale of the outbreak. Involvement is likely to be greater in a national scale outbreak with regional spread of disease, or an instance of zoonotic disease with implications for human health. The Cabinet Secretary may be required to:

• Decide if emergency vaccination is to be implemented for disease control in an outbreak of e.g. Foot and Mouth Disease. The decision must be justified to the Scottish Parliament and SCoFCAH and will be based upon epidemiological and scientific advice provided by Scotland's Chief Veterinary Officer and Chief Scientific Advisor.
• Brief Parliament about current risks and disease control measures.
• Brief the Cabinet when necessary.
• Brief the media, when necessary.

The Cabinet Secretary will attend:

• Cabinet Sub-Committee - SGoRR (if convened)
• Civil Contingencies Committee (Ministers)

3.2 Rural Director

The Rural Director provides senior leadership to the disease control response and chairs the DSG. In addition the Rural Director acts as a bridge between the disease control work and the Directorate's interests in consequence managements - agricultural industry and rural communities.

Suspicion Phase

To chair the DSG (if established).

Confirmation

To chair the DSG (if established).

3.3 Scotland's Chief Veterinary Officer ( CVO(S))

The CVO(S) is responsible for:

• providing veterinary advice to Ministers and the DSG
• ensuring that staff of the Animal Health agency investigate any suspected outbreak as soon as practicable
• making recommendations to Ministers regarding the confirmation of disease on any premises
• advising Ministers on the tracing of possible disease spread to other premises
• recommending to Ministers that a Restriction Zone should be declared where disease appears to be spreading
• recommending to Ministers that Temporary Control Zone restrictions can be lifted once disease is no longer suspected

Suspicion Phase

At suspicion phase CVO(S) will:

• ensure that the suspected outbreak is being investigated as soon as practicable
• receive and consider reports from Animal Health agency
• if appropriate, recommend that disease is confirmed
• brief Ministers and the DSG

Confirmation

Upon confirmation phase CVO(S) will:

• brief Ministers and the DSG
• advise Ministers on disease tracing
• make recommendations regarding the declaration of a Restricted Zone

3.4 Deputy Director Animal Health and Welfare

To provide the lead to the Animal Health and Welfare Division's response to a disease outbreak; ensuring appropriate business continuity arrangements are maintained.

Suspicion Phase

To participate in DSG (if established) and ensure that the Disease Strategy Unit have sufficient resources to respond to the disease outbreak.

Confirmation

To participate in DSG (if established) and ensure appropriate support is in place for the Disease Strategy Unit. Continue to manage Animal Health and Welfare Division.

3.5 Head of Animal Health & Welfare Strategy, Planning & Exotic Diseases Branch

To manage the policy response to a disease outbreak ensuring that appropriate legislation is in place; media stakeholders and other communications are managed and to provide appropriate liaison with other UK Governments.

Suspicion Phase

To participate in DSG (if established) To manage any required media or stakeholder action; to ensure preparatory steps have been taken in eventuality of disease being confirmed; putting in place any required Temporary Control Zones.

Confirmation

To participate in DSG (if established). To manage the Disease Strategy Unit ensuring that appropriate legislation is in place; stakeholder and internal briefing arrangements; provide secretarial support to DSG and mage relevant policy issues.

3.6 Animal Health agency Chief Executive ( CE)

Responsibilities

The Animal Health agency CE is responsible for:

• Leading the Animal Health agency delivery operational response nationally.
• Operational arrangements for disease control.

Suspicion Phase

At suspicion phase the CE of the Animal Health agency will:

• Participate in the initial suspicion phase Amber telephone conference.
• Notify members of the Animal Health agency's Corporate Management Team and Animal Health agency's Head of Communications of the disease situation.
• Ensure readiness of the Animal Health agency.

Confirmation Phase

Upon confirmation of disease the CE of Animal Health agency will:

• Have the authority to activate the National Disease Control Centre ( NDCC), in the absence of CVO( UK).
• Lead the delivery of the operational response nationally.

Management of Disease Control

• Throughout the disease control operation the CE of the Animal Health agency will be required to:
• Plan the effective delivery of strategic decisions.
• Retain an overview of the operational aspects of the disease control effort.
• Authorise Animal Health Human Resources to recruit additional staff for the LDCC. The Head of the JCC may do this in the absence of the CE Animal Health.
• Appoint a Head for the NDCC Finance cell and through them account for expenditure on the disease control operation.

Operational

3.7 Regional Operations Director Scotland ( ROD)

A ROD will be appointed whose principal role will be co-ordination of all local agencies and input into the Disease Strategy Group. The ROD will manage all non-veterinary aspects of the LDCC. The ROD will work alongside the local DVM and will report to the DSG.

A ROD will be pre-identified and deployed immediately disease is suspected. The precise deployment will depend on the circumstances at the time.

Role

• To protect the interests of Scottish Ministers in the execution of policy and decisions taken by the DSG.
• To provide the link between the DSG and operations on the ground and to ensure decisions taken by the DSG are implemented on the ground.
• To establish the LDCC and ensure that all non-veterinary assistance required by the DVM is provided.

Responsibilities

• Establish LDCC: ensure suitable accommodation, communication infrastructure, and personnel in place. (In liaison with DVM and local authority).
• Allocation of non-veterinary staff to all necessary functions.
• Administrative support to DVM and oversee the following areas:
• disease control measures (e.g. Infected Area)
• cleansing and disinfection (logistics)
• valuation of stock and other items for which compensation may be paid
• disposal programme (logistics including transport and routes)
• slaughter or vaccination (logistics)
• personnel issues
• financial arrangements
• general procurement of resources
• information technology
• communications.
• Liaison with local stakeholders, local authorities, police and contractors.
• General trouble shooting.
• Media liaison.
• Visits: ensuring that DSG is made aware in advance of visits of dignitaries etc, and managing such visits
• Liaise with core disposal stakeholders to consider issues surrounding disposal options. Includes: SG Environment Group, SG Health Department, SG Lawyers, SEPA, Local Authority, FSA, Vets, Hauliers, Emergency Planning.
• In addition, ensure that SEPA is consulted about environmental impacts of e.g. C&D disposal.
• Ensure systems are in place to capture financial data in relation to culling and disposal.
• Outwith a disease outbreak, the ROD should meet at least once a year with the all DVMs based in Scotland.

The ROD will establish the local LDCC Management Control Team comprising all relevant local regulating bodies that will meet on a daily basis.

The Rod will also establish a local Stakeholders group.

If there is more than one outbreak in Scotland and more than one LDCC is required, each LDCC will have a deputy ROD assigned to it.

Additional ROD Responsibilities

• Establish links with deputy RODs if appointed - set up systems to share information and identify pinch points/share best practice/provide support.
• Provide input into DSG relating to operational policy, feed policy decisions out to deputy RODs (the ROD will represent deputy RODs on the DSG).
• Liaise with NDCC Disposal team as and when required to maximise efficiency of disposal.
• Negotiate in Scotland or liaise with NDCC Procurement Cell to ensure access to Renderers/incinerators/landfill sites/hauliers in line with GB contracts and agree capacities/day and cost.

The ROD has responsibility for ensuring that decisions taken by the DSG are put into effect, working as necessary with Animal Health agency personnel, RPID staff, Local Authorities, regulators, contractors, local Community representatives and other relevant Stakeholders. The ROD will ensure that suitable accommodation and communication infrastructure is in place quickly, which is why it is important for the ROD to be deployed as soon as there is suspicion of a disease outbreak.

The relationship between the DVM and the ROD is critical to the success of the handling of an outbreak. It is for the ROD to ensure that the DVM receives whatever administrative support is required and to establish appropriate disposal routes for slaughtered animals, taking into account DSG policy on disposal options.

Day 1 Tasks

• Travel to Animal Health Divisional Office responsible for managing the outbreak
• Establish LDCC Management Control Team to review critical roles and functions, including Infected Area arrangements.
• Mobilise transport contractor from approved list
• Ensure sufficient slaughter teams and other personnel and equipment to meet slaughter targets
• Investigate disposal routes
• Establish contact with NDCC
• Establish contact with Scottish Government Press Office
• Assess what supporting resources will be required
• Report to DSG outlining Day 2 priorities.

It is likely that the ROD will very quickly require support following his initial deployment. At the very minimum, within a matter of days of taking up the position, it is likely the support of the following will be required:

• 1 Deputy ROD (at C1 level)
• 1 Finance Manager
• Press Desk support
• 1 Personnel Manager (depending on size of LDCC)
• Assorted Administrative support (2 B2, 2 A3, 2 A1)

The provision of suitable accommodation and IT support should already be in hand through Local Contingency Plans. However, it is important for the ROD to ensure that those arrangements are satisfactory. An important aspect of the ROD support structure is the need to capture information that will be needed following the outbreak.

If and when military involvement commences, the ROD will liaise with the army commander to ensure that Army personnel are appropriately used and that there is mutual agreement as to what will be expected of them.

Other Scottish Government Services

The ROD will want to ensure that instant access to relevant specialist skills within the Scottish Government is available. These include Personnel, IT, Finance and accountancy services, statistical support, Estates Services, Purchasing and Contracts, Quantity Surveyors, Waste Management Engineers, Registry expertise, etc. These should be called upon as necessary when dealing with the consequences and problems of eliminating the disease.

Communications

There are wider communications issues that the ROD is required to address. Communication to DSG and NDCC, Ministers, and to the media, the local community and its representatives (Councillors and Community Councillors), members of the public, and others who express interest or concern about the operations.

Visits

The ROD/deputy ROD will be expected to arrange and accommodate visits by national politicians and others.

3.8 Senior Animal Health agency roles in an outbreak in GB

During an outbreak of exotic notifiable animal disease in Scotland, or a serious outbreak in England/Wales, Scottish Government will normally convene the Disease Strategy Group ( DSG). In these situations the Animal Health agency will establish a team comprising the Scottish Senior Operations Manager and the Veterinary Services Manager (Scotland) supported by appropriate staff as required. This team will normally be based alongside the Scottish Government Animal Health and Welfare and Veterinary teams. The Scottish Senior Operations Manager is also a member of the DSG. This team will act as the Scottish facing part of NDCC Operations.

3.9 Senior Operations Manager ( SOM)

The Scottish Senior Operations Manager will report to the Director of Operations in the NDCC. They will represent the Director of Operations in Scotland and will provide the following functions:

• Representing Animal Health/ NDCC Operations at the Disease Strategy Group
• Briefing the DSG and CVO (Scotland) on operational matters (including veterinary matters arising from Disease Control operations) within Scotland
• Responsible for overseeing the production of management information and reports from Regional Operations to the DSG
• Identifying problems and issues with the current operations, from both a regional and national perspective, and also horizon-scanning for potential problems / logistic bottlenecks
• Attend NDCC Birdtables by teleconference
• Horizon Scan for tactical issues within Scotland
• Attending Stakeholder meetings
• Responsible for managing the delivery of disease control activity in LDCCs in Scotland, via the appropriate ROD/Deputy ROD and DVM

3.10 Veterinary Services Manager (Scotland)

The Veterinary Services Manager (Scotland) will support the SOM, representing the NDCC Head of Veterinary Operations in Scotland, and supporting the SOM in the delivery of Scottish Operational performance. He will provide the following functions:

• Act as a central point to collate, refine and present, up to date veterinary briefing on operational matters to the SOM, and thus CVO Scotland/ DSG
• Working with the Veterinary Operations team in the NDCC to ensure consistent instructions are issued to DVMs within Scotland
• Liaise and work with the Scottish Government's veterinary and policy teams to provide operational veterinary advice in the formulation of Scottish Disease control policy
• Support the SOM in the functions above.
• Support Scottish Government in developing policy.

3.11 Divisional Veterinary Manager ( DVM)

Role

To manage the local veterinary response and more generally (in conjunction with the ROD) the entire local disease control operation. He will be a member of the DSG and will provide authoritative veterinary advice, prioritise activities, raise issues requiring attention to the DSG. In combination with the ROD he will provide appropriate local media briefing.

Responsibilities

• Initially call together the LDCC Management Control Team for briefing pending the arrival of the ROD.
• Plan the initial Infected Area action, including biosecurity measures, pending the arrival of the ROD.
• Ensure immediate valuation, slaughter and disposal on the initial infected premises pending the arrival of the ROD.
• Advise the Director (Defra) of Procurement of the need to implement procurement initiatives.
• Liaise directly with SCGs on consequence management.

Suspicion Phase

At suspicion phase the DVM will:

• Participate in the initial amber telephone conference where there is strong suspicion of disease.

Following the conference call the DVM will:

• Inform individual animal keeper as a matter of urgency. Inform emergency planning departments of relevant local authorities, local police force, the SEPA, local NFU Scotland and local veterinary practices.
• Inform local stakeholders and farmers.

Confirmation Phase

On confirmation of disease the DVM will:

• Plan the deployment of veterinary resource.
• Set up the LDCC prior to the arrival of the ROD.

Management of Disease Control

Throughout the disease control operation the Divisional Veterinary Manager will be required to:

" Deploy local veterinary resource.

" Engage private veterinary surgeons in the area as necessary.

" Engage with local Operational Partners and ensure that they are invited to form part of the LDCC.

" Liaise with local stakeholder groups.

" Support the work of the Regional Operations Director ( ROD).

Attendance at committees and meetings

The DVM will attend:

" DSG.

" LDCC Birdtable meetings.

" LDCC Daily Management and Communications Meeting.

" RODs Teleconference.

3.12 Local Scottish Government RPID Staff

Role

The Principal Agricultural Officer ( PAO) and his staff will provide professional agricultural and administrative support to the DVM and ROD.

RPID Staff have an important role in liaising with the local farming community.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support in LDCC as required under direction of ROD/ DVM. For example - personnel for helplines, advising of restrictions locally to farmers and to the local population.
• In liaison with Local Authority, provide administration for granting and enforcing movement and mart licence requirements.
• Mapping of IP's and zones and communication of this to Pentland House.
• Serving of Form EXD 1 notifications on behalf of DVM where required.
• Provide logistical assistance in valuation, culling, disposal and C&D operations as required under direction of ROD or DVM.
• Providing support to DVM in liaising with farmers.
• Assessment of applications for, and issue of, Movement Licences.
• Manning of local Helplines
• Provide general agricultural advice to DVM as required s.
• Providing resources for the finance function.
• Preparation, issue and delivery of Forms as appropriate.
• Technical duties in support of Vets at culls, e.g. organising/accompanying valuers.
• Logistical management of operations in any Zones.

3.13 Consultant in Public Health Medicine ( CPHM)

Role

The appropriate NHS Board Consultant in Public Health Management will be invited to be a member of the LDCC management team to provide any necessary public health input/ advice particularly in the case of exotic animal disease which is communicable to man (zoonotic).

3.14 Scottish Government Press Officer

A Scottish Government Press Officer will be located in the LDCC. To ensure consistency of message, accurate scientific information and to manage public concerns, the Scottish Government will have the lead role on all media communications from all partners. The SG press officer will determine the level of control they require over media communications from partner agencies.

The Communications Directorate should ensure that where required, a media response is available at the locus. However it is anticipated that due to operational pressures no local media briefing will occur until at least 3 days into an outbreak.

Role

• Liaison with the local media and other Communications Press Officers.
• Co-ordination with the ROD, DVM and PAO and Head of Press Team.
• Co-ordination on media issues with other agencies and stakeholders e.g. Local Authority, SEPA, and Police, especially through the SCGs.