Innovation

Don’t we learn more from success than failure?

It's a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you're ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There's almost no such thing as ready. There's only now. And you may as well do it now… I'm not a crazed risk taker. But I do think that, generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.

Hugh Laurie

This guide highlights elements that need to be considered when running an experience lab, and how this methodology could be evaluated. Two supporting case studies (working with outcomes and roles and boundaries) are also available which explore the experiences of those involved.

Context

Positive Prisons? Positive Futures (PPPF) is a Scottish charity that uses its collective experience of the criminal justice system, to benefit others still within the system, or shortly after release.

Context

South Lanarkshire is moving from a day care centre service delivery model (where daily activities are provided), to a model that supports and facilitates individuals with learning difficulties to access lifestyle choices that they want and need in the community.

Innovation is not a practice reserved for ‘the creative’ or ‘the experts’. You innovate all the time…

Question your current thinking on evidence and innovation, and reflect upon how you might use both to improve practice.

Darren Levine is Manager of Innovation and Research for the Social Services Department, The Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario, Canada. This role involves supporting the development, implementation, and evaluation of staff-driven innovation and research across the department's divisions - Children's Services, Family Services, Income and Employment Support, Housing Services, Long Term Care and Services for Seniors, and Business Affairs and Financial Management.

Executive summary

This report uses theoretical, empirical and practice literatures and case studies to reflect on the links between evidence and innovation in the context of Scotland's social services. It bridges two of the core work streams at Iriss; evidence-informed practice and innovation and improvement.