RECOMMENDATION 1: The Scottish Government must implement an accessible, dedicated programme of promotion activity to support the Armed Forces Covenant. To ensure the expanded Covenant Duty is implemented to its full effect, the Scottish Government must apply appropriate resource, guidance and robust evaluation mechanisms to measure impact across all relevant policy areas and public services.
RECOMMENDATION 2: The Scottish Government must provide a clear role description, and robust training, to Armed Forces Champions across statutory services in Scotland. To improve consistency, the Scottish Government must also introduce this role in every department and public body that is subject to the Covenant Duty, where there is currently no established position.
RECOMMENDATION 3: The Scottish Government must revise the Additional Support for Learning code of practice to address the needs of mobile Armed Forces children, including those who move between the different education systems in the UK and overseas.
RECOMMENDATION 4: The Scottish Government must uphold the Armed Forces Covenant by working with other devolved governments and the UK Government to enable harmonisation of policy and procedures to ensure mobile Armed Forces children with additional support needs are not disadvantaged.
RECOMMENDATION 5: The Scottish Government must provide ringfenced funding for Service children with additional support needs to effectively mitigate the challenges associated with Armed Forces life.
RECOMMENDATION 6: The Scottish Government must ensure that local authorities consult with the Armed Forces community to incorporate the childcare requirements of local Armed Forces families when developing Children’s Services Plans, and reflect this obligation in statutory guidance.
RECOMMENDATION 7: The Scottish Government must expand Veterans First Point services to all health boards across Scotland to guarantee consistent access to informed health support for veterans.
RECOMMENDATION 8: The Scottish Government must establish and implement an integrated, trauma-informed mental health pathway to reduce the need for veterans to repeatedly recount distressing experiences.
RECOMMENDATION 9: The Scottish Government must actively promote participation in the GP Armed Forces and Veterans Recognition Scheme to improve uptake and consistency.
RECOMMENDATION 10: The Scottish Government must introduce a national training programme for all frontline NHS and social care staff in Scotland to identify and support patients with Armed Forces backgrounds, including Service families and the bereaved community.
RECOMMENDATION 11: The Scottish Government must build on its commitment to tackle and prevent homelessness for those who have previously served in the Armed Forces, by fully implementing the Veterans’ Homelessness Prevention Pathway.
