Supporting Women, Reducing Harm Short Life Working Group: terms of reference

These Terms of Reference set out the purpose of the Supporting Women, Reducing Harm Short Life Working Group, its membership and the background context for the work.

Purpose

The purpose of the Short Life Working Group (SLWG) is to improve specific support and interventions for women who use substances and their infants and families during pregnancy and the first postnatal year.

Background

In April 2021, the Scottish Government, in conjunction with the Perinatal Mental Health Network Scotland and Inspiring Scotland, hosted an online stakeholder event to bring together organisations and individuals with expertise in the issues facing women and families with substance use issues during the perinatal period.

The purpose of the event was to look at the issues highlighted by the 'Supporting Women, Reducing Harm: Review of services for substance-using women and their infants in pregnancy and the postnatal period' report (2021), and hear directly from experts what priorities the SLWG should focus on. The report was produced by the Perinatal Mental Health Network Scotland.

​​​​​​​At the stakeholder event, it was announced by the former Minister for Drugs Policy, Angela Constance MSP, and the former Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, Kevin Stewart MSP, that a Short Life Working Group (SLWG) would be established and the feedback gathered would be used to inform the scope of this group. The feedback is summarised in the Supporting Women, Reducing Harm Feedback Report produced by Inspiring Scotland.

​​​​​​​The work of the group will also be informed by the Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce Women’s Report which was published in January 2022, and sets out recommendations for improving access to services and information sources for women affected by substance use.

Remit

​​​​​​​ The primary role of the group will be to:

• produce  a good practice guide for all agencies supporting women who use substances and their infants and families during pregnancy and the first postnatal year; this should be aligned to related national policies to improve outcomes for women and infants
• develop a plan for the dissemination of the good practice guide within members’ networks and sectors, outlining what further steps should be taken to deliver positive change for women and their infants and families
• support the implementation of clear referral pathways and improved joint working to meet the needs of women who use substance and their infants and families, spanning universal and specialist services

Lived and living experience

Listening to and amplifying the voices of those with lived and living experience is central to this work. The SLWG will work alongside a Lived and Living Experience Steering Group, which will include women with recent or current experience of substance use during or after pregnancy.

​​​​​​​This group will provide vital insight into the care that women receive throughout pregnancy and the early years, and will work with the SLWG to co-produce the good practice guide to ensure that their past/present experiences are reflected and the guide meets the needs of both women and their infants. 

​​​​​​​The steering group will meet before each SLWG meeting and members will also have the option to join the SLWG meeting. The group will be chaired by SLWG Co-chair Emma Cashmore-Gordon.

​​​​​​​Support workers from associated services will attend to support  women to  contribute to the work of the group, in a trauma-informed, safe environment, providing support before, during and after the meetings where required.

Chair and membership

​​​​​​​Members are appointed individually, as representatives of their respective bodies/organisations and are expected to engage across their bodies/organisations regarding SWRH activity.  Members can nominate a deputy and should inform the secretariat in advance if they are unable to attend meetings.

​​​​​​​The group is comprised of individuals representing a diverse range of organisations and expertise. It is anticipated that sub-groups of members with specific expertise may be formed to work on the development of various parts of the guide.

​​​​​​​In addition to attending meetings, members may be expected to provide feedback on behalf of their organisations in order to progress the work of the group. Members should expect that some of this work will be carried out in between the monthly SLWG meetings.

​​​​​​​The group will be co-chaired by Iona Duckett, Scottish Government Midwifery Professional Advisor and Senior Midwife in NHS Tayside and Emma Cashmore-Gordon, Head of Perinatal Services at Aberlour Children’s Charity.

​​​​​​​The full membership list is available.

Meeting frequency and lifespan of group

​​​​​​​The Group will meet aprox. every 4 weeks over a period of 6 to 9 months. Dates of meetings will be agreed in advance. Meetings will last between 1 to 2 hours, depending on the agenda.

Secretariat

​​​​​​​Secretariat support for the Group will be provided by the Scottish Government Drugs Policy Division. Members are welcome to raise topics, barriers or issues for discussion at meetings with the secretariat for future agendas. Papers will be provided one week in advance of meetings, and a minute of each meeting will circulated to following each meeting.

​​​​​​​The Secretariat will regularly engage with relevant policy teams across Scottish Government to ensure that the work of the group is informed by wider Government policies.

Governance

​​​​​​​The Group will report to the Minister for Drug and Alcohol Policy and the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport via the Scottish Government secretariat, providing regular updates on their plans and progress.

​​​​​​​The Terms of Reference and minutes of each meeting will be published to the Scottish Government Website. ​​​​​​​