Iriss

Beyond consultation theatre

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

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 the settings where co-production is most needed, and most difficult, remain largely absent from the conversation: secure forensic mental health services…
Published in
Reports
on 13 Mar 2026

A professional learning ecosystem for social work in Scotland

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 challenges in supporting social workers to learn, in practice learning arrangements at the pre-qualifying stage and inconsistency in what is offered post-qualifying…
Published in
Reports
on 13 Mar 2026

Hoarding Disorder: Towards a unified approach beyond disciplines

Insight 78

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 professionals can transform practice and reduce low-value interventions for people with hoarding disorder…
Published in
Insights
on 19 Jan 2026

Generative AI, critical thinking and social work practice

Insight 77

Generative AI, critical thinking and social work practice
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 critical thinking and professional curiosity.
Published in
Insights
on 12 Jan 2026

No room for racism

Anti-racism survey report

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 plan…
Published in
Reports
on 12 Aug 2025

The impact of Iriss 2024/25

The difference we've made

The impact of Iriss 2024/25
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 more partners for 2024/25…
Published in
Reports
on 23 Jun 2025

Iriss work plan 2025/26

Our core work for the next year

Iriss work plan 2025/26
Our 2025/26 work plan, devised with feedback and input from voices across the sector. We'd like to thank everyone who contributed as well as our partner organisations that collaborated with us in the past…
Published in
Reports
on 23 Jun 2025

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The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (Iriss) is a charitable company limited by guarantee.
Registered in Scotland: No 313740. Scottish Charity No: SC037882. Registered Office: 5 South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh. EH2 4AN