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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Outcomes and CO

Outcomes & CO

A tool that provides a framework for open, honest conversations about personal outcomes
Father and child on 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 Travellers

Gypsy Travellers: Human rights and social work’s role

Gypsy Travellers have an important place in modern day Scotland with a heritage and culture that should be celebrated and valued. The fact that they are often not, points to deep seated prejudices that should be positively challenged.
Iriss Insight 34

Social workers' communication with children and young people in practice

This insight presents what research tells us about social workers’ communication with children and young people in everyday practice. It also introduces key findings from a UK-wide study of social workers’ communication with children and young…
Enhanced conversations

Using tools to enhance engagement in social services

Tools have the potential to transform how we work. Just like the DIY tools many of us keep in a cupboard at home, tools used in interactions between people have the power to save us time.

Latest news

Iriss.fm

The value of a social services podcast

BBC radio, iPlayer and topic-specific podcasts such as Woman’s Hour allow people access to a variety of interesting audio content, which can be listened to at a time and place that suits them. The increasing use of mobile devices also means that…
SSS Awards

Winners of Social Services Awards 2017

Iriss was delighted to play a part in the Social Services Awards 2017. We want to congratulate all the winners and everyone who was nominated for an award. The breadth of inspiring work taking place across the country was fantastic to witness. The…
Dunoon

Care homes and community

Care Home Week, led by Scottish Care, takes place in Scotland this week (12-18 June). Throughout the week, there will be celebrations of Scotland's care homes, the individuals who live and work in them, their role in local communities and the…

Three things we love

Forming new futures through appreciative inquiry

Forming new futures through appreciative inquiry

Key points Appreciative inquiry is an action research approach that offers a powerful contribution to meeting the appetite for real change that is evident across public services in Scotland. More…
Hospital to home illustration

Hospital to Home evaluation report

Today, an in-depth evaluation of the Hospital to Home project has been published. The project was designed to identify and improve care pathways from hospital to home in the Tayside region of…
The View from Here: Reflection Cards

The View from Here: Reflection Cards

A set of 20 cards which share illustrated diary excerpts from social work and care practitioners about a week in their working lives. Cards which share illustrated diary excerpts from social work…

New on Iriss.fm

Iriss.fm

Hidden disabilities: Ryan Fleming

Iriss.fm, Episode 184
Michael McEwan speaks to Ryan Fleming about growing up with a 'hidden disability'. Ryan is on the autistic spectrum…
Iriss.fm

Secure care in Scotland

Iriss.fm, Episode 183
The second of two episodes to celebrate the Festival of Residential Child Care 2017. Debbie Nolan, Centre for Youth…
Iriss.fm

'Between a rock and a hard place'

Iriss.fm, Episode 182
The first of two episodes to celebrate the Festival of Residential Child Care 2017. In this episode Debbie Nolan and…
Iriss.fm

Hate crime: causes, motivations and effective interventions

Iriss.fm, Episode 181
Reports of hate crime in Scotland have increased and research indicates that the trauma experienced by victims of hate…