Social work

Minister for Children and Young People, Angela Constance MSP introduced 2011 Iriss Forum held in Glasgow on 6th December 2011. She has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Livingston Constituency since May 2007, prior to which she worked as a social worker and mental health officer and was a local councillor in Livingston.

This report presents the results of a small qualitative study undertaken between February and March 2011. It considers the role of evidence in decision making around risk in social work and what affects this process.

The research aims to shed light on the relationship between evidence and practice wisdom (as an evidence type or integrating vehicle) or professional judgement, and how this relationship shapes decision making.

A screencast from Fergus McNeill, Professor of Criminology and Social Work University of Glasgow, in which he explains what is meant by desistance.

Professor Fergus McNeill discusses research he has been working on with Beth Weaver about desistance. The bulk of the clip focuses on a chapter they co-authored entitled 'Travelling Hopefully: Desistance Research and Probation Practice' where the metaphor of a journey is used to depict the process of desistance).

In this video clip Sarah MacQueen, from the University of Edinburgh, talks about a report she co-authored with Ben Bradford about Diversion from Prosecution.

Iriss has published two reports commissioned from the Glasgow School of Social Work on evidence-informed performance improvement.

This multimedia learning object provides an introduction to the "task-centred" model of social work intervention. This model was based on the work of Sigmund Freud and the psychoanalysts. Psychoanalytic social work emphasised relationship-focused intervention with the professional adopting the role of the 'expert'.

This case has been designed to familiarise students with the framework, key principles and statutes surrounding social work intervention with vulnerable adults. It consists of a three stage scenario describing the difficulties in the lives of an older couple, and their family, as they become increasingly dependent on community, residential and hospital-based services to protect them from danger and to promote their welfare.