To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the policy and financial management review of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland.

The review is now complete and the report is being published today. The key recommendations of the report are as follows:

1.1 Focus on users and carers. The report makes two recommendations to improve the representation of views from users and carers to the commission and one to improve information and guidance from the commission to users and carers.

1.2 Operations, efficiency and review. The report makes two recommendations to support current action to improve processes and one to provide a better focus for on-going review of the organisation by commissioners.

1.3 Staffing, skills and staff appraisal. The report recommends a senior management structure which continues the post of director or chief officer as the chief professional and policy adviser and responsible officer in the commission. To support the chief officer, a new administrative post of business manager is proposed with a standing delegation for all management matters. The report also recommends that the appraisal process for all commissioners is made consistent; that the pay of professional staff remains linked to that of their respective peers; that skills shortages in internal finance and in medical practice are addressed, and that action is taken to further improve the operation of secondments and the motivation and management of seconded administrative staff.

1.4 External environment and partnership working. The report makes three recommendations to support improved partnership working in future.

1.5 Transitional arrangements. The report suggests an amended pattern of committee responsibilities and meetings to involve and use the specialist knowledge of part-time commissioners better, and also suggests some priorities for current planning for change within the commission.

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland have seen the report and in general accept the recommendations. The Scottish Executive will now work with the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland to ensure effective implementation.

A copy of the report has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 25847) and is available on the Scottish Executive and Mental Welfare Commission websites.