Scottish Commission on Social Security: business plan 2021 to 2022

4. Strategic Overview

We contribute to the Scottish Government National Performance Framework (NPF), the foundations on which we as SCoSS align our strategic objectives.

Scottish Government intends that public bodies should align the outcomes of their activity with the Government's National Performance Framework and associated National Outcomes. Our work contributes to the following National Outcomes:

• We respect, protect and fulfil human rights and live free from discrimination

Click on the link for more information on the NPF.

We embed social security principles and a rights based approach in everything we do.

The Scottish social security system is founded on values of dignity, fairness and respect. The system is underpinned by core principles and a rights based approach. These principles will be embedded within SCoSS and help to shape our Strategic Objectives.

Social security principles;

• social security is an investment in the people of Scotland
• social security is itself a human right and essential to the realisation of other human rights
• respect for the dignity of individuals is to be at the heart of the Scottish social security system
• the Scottish Ministers have a role in ensuring that individuals are given what they are eligible to be given under the Scottish social security system
• the Scottish social security system is to be designed with the people of Scotland on the basis of evidence
• opportunities are to be sought to continuously improve the Scottish social security system in ways which put the needs of those who require assistance first
• the Scottish social security system is to be efficient and deliver value for money

Throughout, SCoSS also takes account of how COVID has impacted on national outcomes and our work, and we reflect on this when measuring our progress. Scottish Government published their report on Scotland's Wellbeing: The Impact of COVID-19.