New Chair appointed to Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Board
11 October 2022
Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Board is welcoming a new independent Chair, following the appointment of a former Detective Chief Superintendent.
Scott MacKechnie, who served as the Head of Crime with Hampshire Constabulary, brings years of experience working within the child and adult safeguarding arena. He was the strategic lead for domestic abuse, rape, child sexual and criminal exploitation, modern slavery and organised immigration, drug related harm and cyber-crime. He also served as Chair of the Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton strategic child exploitation board from 2018 until April 2022.
Scott said: “I’m passionate about protecting vulnerable people and I’m keen to bring my experience and skills to help safeguard adults in Nottinghamshire.
“My priorities are to work with our partners to ensure we provide the best possible service for local people, but also to hear the voices of people with lived experience. I am also keen to provide the right amount of scrutiny and accountability to deliver the Board’s strategic plan on behalf of vulnerable adults, their families and carers.”
Scott replaces Allan Breeton, who has served as Chair of NSAB since its inception 12 years ago. Allan led the partnership through the implementation of the Care Act and its subsequent impact upon safeguarding adults, ensuring that Nottinghamshire was well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
Melanie Williams, Corporate Director for Adult Social Care and Public Health at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Scott brings with him significant experience of leading partnership approaches to safeguard people and I look forward to his challenge and support to ensure vulnerable people in Nottinghamshire are at the heart of what we do.
“I also want to pay tribute to Allan Breeton for his dedication to safeguarding over the past 12 years. Allan has been a champion for collaborative and partnership working and during his tenure, the Board has grown in strength and influence and continues to extend its engagement across our community.”
Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Board is made up of representatives from organisations including local councils, Nottinghamshire Police, the NHS and voluntary organisations. The Board works in partnership to protect adults at risk from harm and abuse.
Information about Scott MacKechnie
Scott recently retired as a Detective Chief Superintendent with Hampshire Constabulary, where he was the Head of Crime. He is an experienced senior executive who is used to working under pressure in fast moving and dynamic situations, having been a strategic commander of critical and major incidents.
Scott applied for the role of Independent Chair of Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Board because he has a passion for protecting vulnerable people. He spent years working within the Child and Adult safeguarding arena as the former head of Public Protection. He has previously been the lead in the police for domestic abuse, rape, child sexual and criminal exploitation, modern slavery and organised immigration, drug related harm and cyber-crime, where he has worked extensively across partnerships.
He served as Chair of the Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton strategic child exploitation board from 2018 until April 2022.
He has also been the Chair of the multi-stakeholder South-East Region strategic governance boards for Drug Related Harm and Cybercrime, as well as sitting as a representative on national portfolio meetings.
As well as heading a large command portfolio, he has been involved in leading the investigative response to multiple high profile and sensitive investigations. He is experienced in providing leadership, scrutiny, accountability and challenge where he drives organisational performance improvement, engaging in appropriate levels of analysis, quality assurance and problem-solving methodology.
He is a committed, passionate and people-orientated leader who is accomplished in senior stakeholder management, networking and collaboration, building trusted relationships at a strategic level, being well versed in understanding and navigating political and organisational pressures.