The Convener, Board, Chief Executive and staff all work together to ensure the functions of the RMA are fulfilled and all its aims, objectives and targets are met. In taking forward our work we all have different responsibilities and duties, some of these are set out below.
Our aim is to ensure the effective assessment and minimisation of the risk posed by serious violent and sexual offenders. To achieve our objective of working to assist relevant agencies and organisations, we will do whatever is possible within our statutory responsibilities to fulfil this aim and to work towards a safer Scotland.
We will manage, as far as possible, the expectations of others to ensure that complacency does not arise, as the risk of re-offending can never be fully eliminated even in the best managed cases.
We continue to take forward work under the key objectives detailed in our Business Plan.
The Convener and Board
The Convener is responsible to Scottish Ministers and his aim is to ensure that the RMA’s policies and actions are compatible with those of the Scottish Ministers and that the RMA’s affairs are conducted with probity. The Convener shares the corporate responsibilities with other Board Members to ensure that the RMA fulfils the aims and objectives set by Scottish Ministers and to promote the efficient and effective use of staff and other resources by the RMA in accordance with the principles of Best Value. The Convener and Board are responsible for establishing the overall strategic direction of the RMA within the policy, planning and resources framework determined by Scottish Ministers. In order to do this, the Board has established five Committees of the Board. The Convener can attend the Accreditation Committee meetings for policy and procedural matters and may attend any Committee meeting for information except where the Convener has an appeal function.
The Accreditation Committee
The remit of the Accreditation Committee is to accredit persons and manners for the purposes of risk assessment. The main responsibilities of the Committee are:
- To decide whether an applicant has met the required competencies and standards to become an RMA risk assessor and to award accredited status if they have.
- To provide appropriate direction to RMA staff on the handling of an application for accreditation at all stages prior to a final decision on whether or not to accredit a person.
- To decide whether a manner has met the required criteria to become an RMA accredited manner and to award accredited status if it has.
The terms of reference for the Accreditiation Committee are available here.
The Appeals Committee
The remit of the Appeals Committee is to consider and decide any appeals lodged with the RMA against a decision by the Accreditation Committee:
- not to award accreditation to a person or to a manner
- to withdraw or suspend an accreditation
Decisions of the Appeals Committee shall be recorded in a document which will:
- contain a statement of reasons for the decision;
- state whether the decision was unanimous or taken by majority;
- be signed by the convenor and be issued within 14 days of the end of an appeal.
The terms of reference for the Appeals Committee are available here.
The Research and Training Committee
The remit of the Research and Training Committee is to ensure that the research endeavours sponsored, funded and directly carried out by the RMA are appropriate to the RMA’s strategic priorities and overall mission. The terms of reference for the Committee are available here. The main responsibilities of the Committee are to ensure that the RMA:
- Has a research and training strategy to promote and build excellence in risk assessment and management
- Carries out or commissions such research as may be necessary to validate, calibrate and source an appropriate range of risk assessment tools for use in Scotland
- Becomes a learning organisation and a national resource centre – gathering and disseminating vital knowledge and promoting the adoption of good practice in risk assessment and risk management.
The Audit Committee
The remit of the Audit Committee is to support the Accountable Officer in her responsibilities for issues of corporate risk, control and governance and associated assurance through a process of constructive challenge. The terms of reference for the Committee are available here. The main responsibilities of the Committee are to advise the Accountable Officer on:
- The strategic process for corporate risk, control and governance
- The process for review of the accounts prior to submission for audit, levels of error identified and management’s letter of representation to the external auditors
- The planned activity of both internal and external auditors
- The adequacy of management response to issues identified by audit activity
The Remuneration Committee
The remit of the Remuneration Committee is to consider and make recommendations to the board and Scottish Ministers on the pay policy and the annual pay award for the Chief Excecutive.
The terms of reference for the Remuneration Commitee are available here.
Risk Management Plan Approval Commitee
Functions of the Committee
The primary function of the Risk Management Plan Approval Committee is to approve Risk Management Plans (RMP) submitted by Lead Authorities. The terms of Reference are available here.
This Commitee also has functions to:
- receive annual reports on the implementation of approved RMPs;
- oversee the RMP process; and to;
- set and amend policy in the area of RMPs.
The Chief Executive
The Chief Executive is personally responsible for the propriety and regularity in the management and operations of the RMA and of the public funds which are allocated to the RMA. The full responsibilities of the Chief Executive are available here. The Chief Executive’s main responsibilities are:
- To set, direct and operationalise effective strategic management of the RMA's objectives
- To advise the Board on the discharge of its responsibilities
- To advise the Board on the RMA’s performance and establish a robust performance management framework which supports the achievement of the RMA’s aims and objectives
- To ensure that financial considerations are taken fully into account by the RMA at all stages in reaching and executing its decisions
- To ensure that a system of corporate risk management is embedded in the RMA to inform decisions on financial and operational planning
- To sign the annual accounts, statement of internal control and all other associated requirements
Job descriptions and responsibilities for all of the Chief Executive’s staff are available here.