National Bodies Policy Resources

Audit Scotland

Audit Scotland helps the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission to make sure organisations that spend public money in Scotland use it properly, efficiently and effectively. This is done by carrying out financial and performance audits - that is, detailed and systematic investigations - of various aspects of how public bodies work.

CHEX

CHEX provides support for community development approaches to health improvement and challenges health inequalities. It also facilitates a network of community health initiatives and works to support them to develop good practice and to influence health and social policies.

CHEX operates at strategic and operational levels:

Strategically, it supports community health initiatives in engaging with policy makers and participates in a range of national working groups. These include the Community-Led Supporting and Developing Healthy Communities Task Group and Public Health Workforce Group.
Operationally, it supports an infrastructure which links community health initiatives, voluntary organisations and public sector agencies to apply effective community development practice to a wide range of health improvement interventions.

Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland

Promotes and safeguards the rights of children and young people living in Scotland.
Responsible for ensuring that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is upheld.

COSLA

COSLA, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, is the representative voice of Scottish local government. It also acts as the employers' association on behalf of all Scottish councils.

COSLA's main decision making body is the Leaders' Meeting which is held eight times each year. It is attended by the leaders of all member councils. The core work of COSLA is progressed by 7 Executive groups. The COSLA website provides access to the Papers and Minutes for both Executive Groups and Leaders meetings.

Their website also provides access to papers from the COSLA Convention which is the ruling body which has overall control of COSLA's policy and direction. It consists of representatives from all member councils and political groups represented within Scottish Local Government. The Convention meets four times a year in different venues throughout Scotland.

Disclosure Scotland

Provides potential employers and voluntary sector organisations with criminal history information on individuals applying for posts.

Local Government Improvement Service

The Improvement Service was set up to support improvement in the efficiency, quality and accountability of public services in Scotland.

This website is intended to help elected members, officers and practitioners to share their views and experiences. It also provides information and resources on issues that concern and affect Scottish local government and the drive for improvement.

Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS)

Provides advice on accessibility, in relation to transport and works with private and public operators on the planning and regulating of transport facilities to ensure that they are accessible for those with a disability.

Scottish Charity Appeals Panel (SCAP)

Provides a simple means for charities and those involved in their management to appeal decisions made about them by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). As an independent body the Panel is not involved in any earlier decisions about a case.

Scottish Children's Reporter Administration

A national body focused on children most at risk. Responsible for facilitating the work of Children's reporters; deploying and managing staff to carry out that work; and to provide suitable accommodation for Children's Hearings.

Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care

Regulate all adult, child and independent healthcare services in Scotland. Ensures that care service providers meet the Scottish Government's National Care Standards and work to improve the quality of care.

Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC)

The Scottish Community Development Centre is the designated National Development Centre for community development in Scotland.

SCDC currently host and manage three publicly funded national projects:

In addition to offering consultancy and training services to local agencies, local projects and communities SCDC:

work with communities to support community groups to set their own agendas, strengthen local action and build community capacity;
work with agencies and partnerships to achieve effective community engagement and community participation, assess community needs and issues, and plan and evaluate practice;
influence policy by researching issues, disseminating findings and contributing to government working groups and committees

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)

SCVO is the national body representing the voluntary sector. SCVO seeks to advance the values and shared interests of the voluntary sector.

SCVO is a member of the national Third Sector Task Group which has come together to work on a number of issues of particular pertinence to third sector.

The aim is to have an effective partnership approach to the challenges faced by the third sector, and to generate good practice and guidance both in response to the new landscape, and more generally.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Scotland's environmental regulator.
SEPA's main role is to protect the environment and human health. This is done by regulating activities that can cause pollution and by monitoring the quality of Scotland's air, land and water.

Scottish Human Rights Commission

Promotes and protects the human rights of everyone in Scotland.
The Commission is dedicated to helping everyone understand their rights and the shared responsibilities we all have to each other and to our community.

Scottish Information Commissioner

A public official responsible for enforcing and promoting Scotland's freedom of information laws. The Commissioner holds extensive powers to enforce the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

Scottish Social Services Council

Responsible for raising the standards in the Scottish social service workforce. Registers key groups of social service staff; publishes Codes of Practice for social service workers and employers; regulates the training and education of the workforce; promotes education and training; undertakes the function of Skills for Care and Development.

Single Interface Programme

The Scottish Government has developed the Single Interface Programme in order to develop a strong working relationship between the voluntary and community sector with public agencies.

Skills Development Scotland

Works with other learning and skills organisations to enhance Scotland's sustainable economic development. Helps people of all ages to discover their skills and develop their careers. Assists employers to maximise the skills of their employees so that they can sustain their business.

Voluntary Action Scotland

A coalition of Scotland’s local councils for the voluntary sector and volunteer centres. GCVS is a member of this coalition.

Engagement

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