Learning

Values into Action Scotland promotes rights and equality for people with learning difficulties and individuals on the autistic spectrum. In this episode Michael McEwan of Able Radio first talks to David Ross about how his work as a Quality Checker helps people bring more choice and control into their lives. Then Catherine Hurrell talks about a project to develop modern apprenticeships for young people on the autistic spectrum.

Iriss.fm visited the Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living which hosts Go4IT. Go4IT is a digital inclusion service for adults with disabilities who are supported by Quarriers. We spoke to Diane Webb, Digital Inclusion Lead at Quarriers about how the Go4IT programme began and the type of courses it provides. Diane received a TalkTalk Digital Hero Award in 2014 for her work with Go4IT.

Finding, using and sharing knowledge on social care. Michael McEwanof Able Radio talks to Dr Ann Wales about translating knowledge into practice.  Anne is Programme Director for Knowledge Management with NHS Education for Scotland (NES).  She explains the relationship between SSKS (Social Services Knowledge Scotland) and the Knowledge Network, going to talk about the Strategy and Action Plan for Embedding Knowledge in Practice in Scotland's Social Services.

NES Chief Executive Malcolm Wright. The social use of knowledge is an important strand of the Knowledge into Action strategy which aims to make finding and using knowledge a routine part of everyday work. By social use of knowledge we mean the tools, techniques and skills that connect people so that they can share experience and find ways of applying knowledge.

The knowledge management strategy for the social services highlights the vital role of social media and urges organisations to encourage and nurture the innovative use of web-based interactive tools for communication, collaboration and learning.

In today’s workplace we learn with and from one another. This is called social learning. Popular social media, such as Twitter and LinkedIn, offer great opportunities for connecting, conversing, collaborating... and learning from one another…

Key Community Supports provides support for people with disabilities across Scotland. During 2013 Iriss worked with Key to explore how mobile technologies might provide context-based information and training for care workers. Specifically we looked at how a mainstream device - the Sony Playstation Portable - could be used to deliver video instructions and support.

Background

KEY Community Supports operates throughout Scotland to provide support for people with disabilities. KEY had approached Iriss for suggestions about how they might deliver training and advice to its support workers at the point where support is delivered.

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.