Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Scotland: national overview report 2021/2022

6. Health

NHS Boards have a dual role under MAPPA and are both a Responsible Authority and a DTC Agency under Section 10 (3) of the Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Act 2005. As a Responsible Authority, Health Boards are the lead agency for the management of restricted patients. This means they are responsible for both clinical care and risk management of restricted patients in accordance with the MAPPA National Guidance. This also extends to providing data for publication in the local annual report about the number of restricted patients in each Health Board area. Health Boards also have a statutory duty to cooperate with other MAPPA Responsible Authorities in relation to all individuals subject to MAPPA (or likely to be subject to MAPPA).

NHS Boards also have a responsibility to contribute to MAPPA strategic planning. Each Board has a nominated senior manager who will represent the Board at the strategic and also Level 3 MAPPA meetings. As a DTC Agency, NHS Boards also have a responsibility to share risk relevant information about individuals subject to MAPPA. Each Board has a MAPPA health liaison officer who has responsibility for this. The MAPPA health liaison officer will also represent the Health Board at MAPPA meetings and in addition to sharing health information that is relevant to risk, will also manage risk relevant information that is provided to them by other MAPPA partners. This ensures information about risk is available and, when appropriate, managed within a healthcare setting.

On 31 March 2022 there were 304 restricted patients recorded on ViSOR as being managed under the MAPPA process in Scotland. Work has begun on the collation of restricted patients' data nationally for annual reporting purposes with a view to ensuring that is collectable, meaningful and robust.

The Scottish Government continues to provide funding to the Forensic Mental Health Services Managed Care Network (the Forensic Network) to support engagement by the NHS with MAPPA. The Forensic Network, through the Lead for Serious and Violent Offenders, supports the NHS MAPPA work in a number of ways. These include: attendance at National Strategic meetings on behalf of Health, for example those related to information sharing processes; chairing regular meetings with MAPPA Health liaison colleagues to share good practice; and undertaking specific MAPPA related pieces of work which has this year included contributing to the revision of the MAPPA guidance.

The Forensic Network Lead continues to advise others on a range of MAPPA related projects, for example the Lady Dorrian Sexual Offences Governance Group and the MAPPS^[2] Project Team.

The Forensic Network also supports the MAPPA Clinical Forum, an annual practitioner forum which has the objectives of "Networking, Education, Operations and Policy". The forum provides a vehicle for services to consider areas within MAPPA practice that might require guidance and a shared approach, as well as providing the opportunity to network and share good practice. Over the last two years, this has been delivered remotely and has themes of risk formulation, managing Terrorist Risk offenders under MAPPA, and for this year, reviews relating to MAPPA management.

The Independent Review into the Delivery of Forensic Mental Health Services

The Independent Review into the Delivery of Forensic Mental Health Services chaired by Derek Barron, published its final report in February 2021. The Review made a number of recommendations, which, if taken forward will have implications for MAPPA partners. One MAPPA specific recommendation is for the Scottish Government to consider the development of a more consistent way of sharing forensic mental health expertise with MAPPA partners and other external individuals or organisations (including other NHS services) across the country, citing the NHS Lothian Serious Offender Liaison Services and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde STAR services as potential models for this.

The Scottish Government are in the process of formulating a programme of work to deliver the commitments made in response to the Review and will publish the details in due course.