National

The Scottish Government consults and seeks opinions on a range of public policies and proposed legislation. Penumbra welcomes the opportunity to contribute to shaping and implementing new policies and legislation. We do this in a number of ways:

• We respond to public consultations in relevant policy areas such as mental health law, social care policy or workforce regulation.
• We provide evidence to committees of the Scottish Parliament who are scrutinising various aspects of public policy. Sometimes we will be invited to submit written responses but more often we are called as expert witnesses.
• When a new piece of legislation is being considered by the Scottish Parliament we can be asked to join a steering or reference group for that piece of legislation. A current example of this is that Penumbra’s Chief Executive is a member of the steering group for the proposed legislation on Self Directed Support.
• When a new policy or legislation has been adopted by the Scottish parliament, the Scottish Government will set up project boards, advisory groups and implementation groups. The members of these groups are drawn from a range of relevant interests across Scotland. Recent examples of Penumbra’s involvement include the co-chairing of the ‘Changing Lives’ service development group by Penumbra’s Chief Executive and membership of the ‘delivering for mental health’ implementation board.

Local

Penumbra staff will often be involved in local reference and steering groups that contribute to local community planning with NHS and Local Authority colleagues.