LIFESTYLE SECTION
Meet your Corporate Parents E
ach issue of SpeakOut we’ll introduce you to a different Corporate Parent. This will hopefully keep you updated with what each Corporate Parent is getting up to and will help demonstrate their commitment to our Care Experienced community.
Scottish Police Authority (SPA) If you haven’t heard of the Scottish Police Authority before, it is separate from Police Scotland and has an oversight role in scrutinising
policing in Scotland and holding the Chief Constable to account. It is also there to provide a supportive role in maintaining and improving the police service. The SPA is also responsible for the management and delivery of Forensic Services in Scotland. They have over 500 highly-trained and skilled scientists and staff operating from four main laboratory sites in
Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, and at the Scottish Crime Campus in Gartcosh with Scene Examination based throughout Scotland. The services they offer include: Biology; DNA; Chemistry and Documents; Drugs and Toxicology; Fingerprint Comparison; Finger Mark Enhancement; Firearms; Imaging and Multimedia Services; and Scene Examination.
Meet Sam… Hi, my name is Sam, and I am the Operational Policing Policy Lead with the Scottish Police Authority (SPA). Since joining the Scottish Police Authority almost a year ago and learning more about the challenges that people with care experience face in their day to day lives, it has been an eye-opening and humbling experience. I am very proud to be part of a team at the SPA who are dedicated to representing the needs of people with care experience by truly understanding the challenges, concerns and hopes of all those individuals who have experience of the care system. In November the Scottish Police Authority was pleased to welcome Who Cares? Scotland to run an all-staff session on the role of a Corporate Parent. At the SPA, we are working to increase the voice of individuals with care experience in decision making and to provide opportunities to support career development. We also continue to champion the work of Police Scotland who are equally committed to improving the outcomes for people with care experience. We know of the wonderful collaborative work Who Cares? Scotland and Police Scotland have
been doing together and we at the Scottish Police Authority are passionate about supporting this important work. By working together, I believe we have the potential to make a huge impact in improving the outcomes for our Care Experienced community.
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