Improving lives through knowledge, evidence and innovation

Iriss is a charitable company that promotes positive outcomes for the people who use Scotland's social services.

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Insight 39

Child protection: listening to and learning from parents

The value of participation by service users in shaping and improving practice and services is well recognised in much existing guidance and practice, but less so in relation to contact with families of children referred on child protection grounds.
Getting there: Maddiston and Rumford

Getting There: Maddiston and Rumford

Since the end of 2015, Maddiston Community Council, Iriss and a range of other partners have helped carry out a variety of local activities in Maddiston and Rumford. The aim of this work was to explore with local people how they feel about the…

Outcomes and CO

Outcomes & CO

A tool that provides a framework for open, honest conversations about personal outcomes
Father and son at beach

Good practice with fathers in children and family services

How we think about and understand fathering has changed. Active ‘fathering’ is now an accepted role for men at home and fathers are visible outside the school gates, in parks and playgrounds and in the streets and shopping centres. Fathers’…
Gypsy Traveller camp in snow

Gypsy Traveller history in Scotland

Gypsy Travellers are largely absent from history or misrepresented and mythologised in our culture and folklore — often in the crudest and most damaging of ways. Their story is often untold or misunderstood, reinforcing their marginalisation in…

Latest news

Social media

Updated social media guidance

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) has recently updated its social media guidance for the workforce. It's great to see and is welcomed by Iriss given that we've been promoting the use of social media for learning and development purposes.…
Mindreel

Mindreel - films on mental health

The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 2017 kicks off this week until 29 October.  What better time to plug Mindreel, a valuable learning resource that provides access to over 100 films that address a range of mental health issues. The films…
Self Management Week

Self Management Week 2017

As part of Self Management Week 2017 (2-6 October) a cross-sector group of information and library service staff will be coming together to promote the various ways in which people living with long term conditions can access information to support…

Three things: SMHAF 2017

Mindreel

Mindreel - films on mental health

The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 2017 kicks off this week until 29 October.  What better time to plug Mindreel, a valuable learning resource that provides access to over 100 films that…
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival

Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival

Michael McEwan speaks to Richard Warden, the film lead, about the 2017 Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (10-29 October).
Peer support

Peer support roles in mental health services

Key points Peer support is not new and exists in many forms, from informal sharing of experiences, to formalised peer support roles (paid and unpaid) in services Through the development of…

New on Iriss.fm

Iriss.fm

Restorative justice

Iriss.fm, Episode 188
'Restorative Justice is a process of dialogue between two parties; in the context of criminal justice social work this…
Iriss.fm

Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival

Iriss.fm, Episode 187
Michael McEwan speaks to Richard Warden, the film lead, about the 2017 Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (10-29…
Iriss.fm

The Care Collective

Iriss.fm, Episode 186
Michael McEwan speaks to Ruth Gallagher (Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire), Lynn Wardle (Thrive) and Colette Walker (…
Iriss.fm

Hidden disabilities: Joseph Delaney

Iriss.fm, Episode 185
Michael McEwan speaks to Joseph Delaney about growing up with a 'hidden disability'. Joseph is on the autistic…