Insights

Evidence summaries to support social work and social care in Scotland. They are reviewed by people with research, policy and practice expertise to ensure they are robust and meet the needs of social service stakeholders in Scotland.

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 professionals can transform practice and reduce low-value interventions for people with hoarding disorder…

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 critical thinking and professional curiosity.

Born into care in Scotland

Insight 76

This Insight explores the evidence on children ‘born into care’, with a focus on the relevance for social work practice in Scotland. It details the characteristics of babies and their families, considers how many parents experience the removal of more than one child, and draws attention to the very low numbers of infants placed with brothers and sisters.

Social work’s relationship with the PREVENT duty

Insight 74

This Insight examines the underlying assumptions within radicalisation policy, and aims to encourage discussion around the understanding of their influence upon practice, and to help practitioners consider ways to uphold anti-oppressive and anti-racist social work values.

Supported decision making

Insight 73

This Insight provides an overview of the policy and legislative background to supported decision making (SDM). It also provides a brief summary of research looking at how SDM may be approached and details the implications for social work practice…