4. Engagement and information gathering

Engagement approach

Engagement relevant to the BRIA to date has been limited and has occurred primarily through existing policy forums and ongoing professional interactions inherent to social work policy development and the establishment of the National Social Work Agency. These channels have provided initial insight, although they do not constitute formal or comprehensive engagement activity. Further, more targeted engagement will be undertaken as the policy and implementation planning progresses.

Timelines and actions

Insight to inform early development has been gathered indirectly through ongoing policy work and existing structures such as advisory groups and standing meetings. No structured or targeted engagement programme specific to business impacts has yet taken place. A more formal engagement plan will be developed during the first year of operation to inform the final BRIA.

Stakeholder groups engaged:

• local authorities: primary employers of social workers, responsible for service delivery across Scotland’s regions, as well as the NHS (where they employ social workers)
• third and independent sector providers: organisations, including charities, social enterprises or private businesses, delivering social work and related services under contract with local authorities, including fostering, adoption, secure care, and advocacy services
• higher education institutions (HEIs) and training providers: universities and colleges offering social work qualifications and professional development
• Scottish Government and public bodies: internal Scottish Government teams and agencies such as the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), Care Inspectorate
• social work sector membership bodies: organisations, including the Scottish Association of Social Work, Social Work Scotland and UNISON

Where reference is made to groups above, this reflects stakeholders involved in wider social work policy and agency development rather than engagement undertaken specifically for BRIA‑related evidence gathering.

Internal Scottish Government engagement / engagement with wider public sector

Internal Scottish Government engagement

Officials have engaged early with colleagues across Scottish Government departments to understand interactions with other policy developments and avoid contradictory decisions. This has supported a single, aligned approach to business and ensured resources are available for effective delivery.

Initial feedback from internal colleagues, including procurement teams, has highlighted the need for clear communication of business impacts and alignment with existing procurement frameworks. Further engagement is planned to ensure these perspectives are incorporated into future revisions of the BRIA.

UK / devolved administrations

Officials have considered alignment with UK Government and other devolved administrations, recognising that differences which are appropriate can create challenges for businesses operating across the UK. Engagement here has taken place as part of general policy development discussions and does not constitute specific engagement for BRIA evidence gathering.

Wider public sector

Engagement with local authorities (and COSLA as their representative) has been central, given their roles and responsibilities. In addition, on-going work with SSSC and Care Inspectorate as well as a number of social work sector partners, is on-going. These interactions form part of established policy relationships and should not be interpreted as structured engagement undertaken specifically to support the BRIA. Officials have ensured that compliance and enforcement responsibilities are clearly identified and that existing requirements on regulators are considered.

International

Where relevant, officials have held policy‑level conversations that touched on potential international considerations, for example, the implications of secure care provision and its interaction with cross‑border arrangements. These discussions have focused on understanding whether aspects of the policy may have indirect impacts on businesses operating in or alongside secure care markets.

No formal, targeted international engagement has been undertaken for the purposes of developing BRIA‑specific evidence. Any insight to date has therefore been gained through existing policy relationships and agency development, rather than dedicated consultation activity. Further work will determine whether more structured engagement is required as the final BRIA is developed.

Business engagement

Only limited, indirect insight has been gathered from business stakeholders to date, primarily where they participate in existing engagement and advisory structures. No targeted or structured business engagement specific to BRIA requirements has yet been undertaken. A planned programme of engagement with businesses and sector representatives will be conducted as part of the development of the final BRIA.

Business engagement – current status and next steps

To date, only a small amount of direct engagement has been undertaken with business organisations and industry bodies as part of the BRIA development. Initial discussions have provided some insight into the potential impacts and unintended consequences for businesses, but we recognise that this engagement has been limited in scope.

Feedback from stakeholders so far has highlighted the need for clear communication, proportionate expectations, and targeted support, particularly for small and micro businesses in the third and independent sectors. There is also a strong appetite for ongoing involvement in shaping the NSWA’s approach to workforce planning, education and learning, and service delivery.

As part of the upcoming development of the NSWA’s one-year interim corporate plan, we will actively seek feedback from a wider range of business stakeholders and customers. This will include targeted outreach, workshops, and opportunities for direct input from businesses of all sizes and sectors. The findings from this expanded engagement will inform future revisions of the BRIA and ensure that business perspectives are fully reflected in the agency’s strategic planning and implementation.

The agency-by-agency impact table in appendix 2 summarises the feedback and anticipated impacts identified so far, and will be updated as further engagement takes place.

Public consultation

Public consultation has provided valuable feedback, particularly for significant policy proposals and planned regulations. Officials have ensured that consultations are clear, jargon-free, and focused, recognising that small businesses may struggle to engage with lengthy written consultations. Public consultation activity undertaken to date relates to broader social work policy and not directly to completion of the BRIA.

Other stakeholders

Engagement has also included trade unions, other third sector organisations, academics, and representative bodies. Feedback from these groups has been considered where relevant to the BRIA.