Resources

Group of colourful figures being inspected by a giant magnifier

Professional curiosity in public protection

Iriss’s Professional Curiosity project has been seeking to develop a deeper understanding of this topic and its implications for the Public Protection workforce in Scotland. This report brings together both the literature review and findings from the discussion sessions that were core to the…
Published 20 Mar 2026 in Reports

All resources

Professional curiosity in public protection

Gathering the knowledge

Iriss’s Professional Curiosity project has been seeking to develop a deeper understanding of this topic and its implications for the Public Protection workforce in Scotland. This report brings…
Published 20 Mar 2026 in Reports

Using AI wisely: Ethics and effectiveness in social work

An Iriss Skills Session

This skills session is aimed at social work practitioners who have an interest in how AI can and should be used ethically in practice. We will talk you through the ethical issues based on research…
Published 19 Mar 2026 in Videos

Beyond consultation theatre

What genuine co-production looks like in secure forensic mental health care

Co-production has become a central ambition in Scotland’s social care landscape. It appears in legislation, national standards, and reform programmes with a confidence that suggests consensus. Yet…
Published 13 Mar 2026 in Reports

A professional learning ecosystem for social work in Scotland

Social work is an extraordinary job rarely understood by anyone that has not been immersed in it, and the profession is regularly described as at the cusp of transformation. There are multiple…
Published 13 Mar 2026 in Reports

Hoarding Disorder: Towards a unified approach beyond disciplines

Insight 78

This Insight explores how transdisciplinary collaboration across health, social work, social care, housing, environmental health, emergency services, third sector support and other related…
Published 19 Jan 2026 in Insights

Generative AI, critical thinking and social work practice

Insight 77

This Insight provides some introductory information on AI and its use in social work contexts, and explores the limited literature in this area while presenting research on the impact of AI on…
Published 12 Jan 2026 in Insights

Disabilities – pathways and perspectives

Fourteen co-authors, including two couples, shared aspects of their own pathways and developing perspectives on disabilities…
Published 13 Aug 2025 in Reports

No room for racism

Anti-racism survey report

In 2023, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW) established the Social Work Anti-racism Oversight Group to lead the development of a national anti-racism action…
Published 12 Aug 2025 in Reports

Multi-Agency Adult Support and Protection Case Conferences

An Iriss Bitesize video

An Iriss Bitesize video introduction to multi-agency Adult Support and Protection meetings (Case Conferences) in Scotland…
Published 28 Jul 2025 in Videos

The impact of Iriss 2024/25

The difference we've made

After a successful first year focusing on evidence-informed innovation (identifying the right thing to do) to help partners make changes, we decided to continue some of these projects, and invite…
Published 23 Jun 2025 in Reports

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