The Safer Communities Programme was announced at the National Community Safety Convention in September 2009 and endorsed by the National Community Safety Strategic Group (NCSSG) in November 2009. It is intended to provide a meaningful framework for a series of new national guidance and support which the Scottish Government's Community Safety Unit will publish over the coming months.
The programme has been developed to support:
- Multi-agency strategy level groups dealing with issues relating to community safety. This might be the Executive Board of a Community Safety Partnership or a Safer and Stronger Community Planning Thematic Group.
- Staff from partner organisations who play a key role in providing support to the partnership and delivering partnership activity.
Published Modules
Introduction to Safer Communities Programme was published in November 2009. It explains the various elements of the Safer Communities Programme and how the series of guidance will develop over the coming months.
Evaluation: A Basic Guide to Evaluation was published in February 2010 and is intended to help establish a culture where evaluation is routinely used and valued across the community safety sector.
Strategic Assessment Guidance was published in August 2010. The Strategic Assessment Guidance for Senior Managers sets the scene around 'What a Strategic Assessment is all about' and answers the burning questions 'Why should my partnership produce one?' and 'What are the benefits?'.
Good Governance and Accountability Summary was published in March 2011. This briefing reiterates the importance of good governance within a community safety partnership and summarises the accompanying guidance, aimed at senior managers working in community safety partnerships and wider community planning.
Governance: Structures, Roles and Responsibilities published in March 2011. This document considers the range of existing national guidance available along with the experiences of CSPs and related partnerships. It will take into account the composition of partnership groups, legislative and operational requirements, accountability to elected representatives, stakeholders and the public, and the assessment tools available which provide a 'health-check' on partnership effectiveness.
Engaged and Confident Communities was published in March 2011. This document looks at community engagement, and how this relates to Community Safety, it also looks as communications as a tool to empowering communities, changing perceptions resulting in confident communities.
Practitioners Guidance - A Partnership Strategic Assessment was published December 2011. This guidance is for those tasked with writing a strategic assessment, providing templates and examples of how to complete each section. This guidance can be used at the initial stages of compiling a strategic assessment or referenced to as and when throughout the writing process.
Upcoming Modules
Strategic Assessment Guidance for Practitioners - November 2011
This step-by-step guide is aimed at those tasked with producing a community safety strategic assessment. The document will take the user through each stage of the strategic assessment process allowing the user to use the guide as and when required.
Additional Support
We will be working with the Scottish Community Safety Network (SCSN) to investigate ways of ensuring that Community Safety practitioners are helped to consider how the Safer Communities Programme can best be used to increase effective partnership working and ultimately better outcomes. This practical help could take the form of events/workshops/master classes.
Setting Priorities for Partnerships Training - Regional Courses, October 2011 onwards
Following the success of the original 4-day course at Glasgow Community Safety Services the Setting Priorities for Partnerships training is now being delivered regionally. These courses will be shaped by the customer, who chooses which inputs from the 4-day course they are interested in. In addition, master classes - more in-depth workshops will also be offered on Performance Management, Action Planning, Partnership Working and Leadership and Community Safety and the wider Community Planning world. If your area would like to take part or if you would like more information please contact Cheryl.smith@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or 0131 244 3996.
Supporting Documents
The purpose of the National Community Safety Survey and Visits Programme was to help build a comprehensive picture of Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) in Scotland and to build an evidence base to inform the development of the Safer Communities Programme and support for the community safety sector.
Have your say
During each phase of the programme there will opportunities to take part in research. If you would like to register an interest or comment on the Safer Communities Programme then please contact the Community Safety Unit - communitysafety@scotland.gsi.gov.uk