MAPPA is a tiered framework, based on three interconnected levels at which risk of harm is assessed and managed. Prior to referral to MAPPA, joint working arrangements will already be in place.
In the community, there is an expectation that the Police and Community Justice (CJSW) will work together to complete a joint risk assessment. If at this time it is suggested that entry to MAPPA is required and a referral would be made to the MAPPA co-ordinator at the point of sentence, if remaining in the community.
Similarly, if in prison, an Integrated case management pre-release case conference will jointly assess the offender and provide advance notification to the MAPPA co-ordinator of the suggested level of entry. Following a decision to release, a referral should be made to the co-ordinator by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).
In respect of Mentally Disordered Restricted Patients, Care Programme Approach meetings are held involving multi-agency representatives. A referral is made to the MAPPA co-ordinator by NHS when there is a change of circumstances and the patient is getting community access
Key stages
For Registered Sex offenders, Restricted Patients and Category 3 offenders, referrals are made to the MAPPA co-ordinator by SPS, CJSW, Police and Health.
On receipt of the referral, the MAPPA co-ordinator will decide if the offender meets the criteria for inclusion in Level 2/ Level 3, multi-agency meetings.
As the co-ordinator is reliant on information contained within the referral to make this initial decision, it is important that the referral form is fully completed with supporting documentation attached where relevant.
In the event of insufficient information being provided, the co-ordinator will make contact with the referring agency, which may delay the co-ordination of a required meeting. A referral to Level 3 must identify those aspects of the Risk Management Plan that cannot be effectively delivered through Level 2 meetings.
The co-ordinator will confirm receipt of the referral to the referring agency.
Level 2/Level 3 (MAPPP) meetings
The co-ordinator will arrange initial Level 2 meetings within 20 days of the receipt of referral. All involved agencies should commit to attending the meetings. If the invitee cannot attend a suitable replacement should be sent, if no-one is to be attending.
A report regarding the agency involvement with the offender should be sent to the co-ordinator in order that it could be shared at the meeting.
Level 3 meetings
Where sufficient grounds exist for referral to Level 3, the co-ordinator will arrange an initial MAPPP to be held within five working days of receipt of referral. Agencies should identify appropriately senior representatives who can commit to regular attendance and have sufficient seniority to commit resources.
Review Meetings
All agencies have a responsibility to report any changes in risk at whatever stage to the MAPPA co-ordinator. In these circumstances, an extra review meeting may be called or the offender may be escalated to a higher level of MAPPA management.
For all Level 2/ Level 3 cases, review meetings will be set primarily to scrutinise the Risk Management Plan and delivery of the plan. Based on information from the review meetings, levels of management may be changed. Level 2 meetings will be reviewed within 12 weeks and Level 3 meetings will be reviewed within six weeks.
All agencies have a responsibility to report any changes in risk at whatever stage to the co-ordinator. In these circumstances, it may be necessary for a review to take place sooner than expected.
Records of meetings
All meetings will be subject to a full minute that is classified as 'official sensitive' under the Government Protective Marking Scheme, with the minutes being produced and circulated within five working days.
The minutes will detail the risk assessment, the critical aspects for risk management and a detailed risk management plan specifying actions, responsibility and timescales.
A date for review meeting will be set at the meeting. Within the minute any information which is NOT to be shared should be identified and recorded along with the reason for this decision.
Requests for disclosure of MAPPA minutes should be treated as Subject Access Requests authorised by the Data Protection Act. Following any such request, the co-ordinator and meeting chair will consult the other attending agencies and consider whether the information can be withheld by virtue of a Data Protection exemption.