Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services News

Social Services Lab - want to work with IRISS?

Michelle Drumm — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:51:16 +0000

IRISS is seeking two partners to test the process of using Social Service Labs as a prompt for innovation and improvement. A Lab is the name given to an environment where people involved in providing support can come together and try out new ways of working. This opportunity could be used in three different ways but we welcome other ideas. These ways include:

What's next? - IRISS Projects 2013/14

Michelle Drumm — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:52:42 +0000

A new business year of project work is underway for 2013/14 and we would like to share more widely what we have planned.

This year we stick to the same themes: personalisation (self-directed support); prevention; and integration. All of IRISS's work is underpinned by the principle of embedding the use of knowledge, innovation and evidence in social services.

Briefing on 'Building the Connections' self-directed support event

Michelle Drumm — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:08:07 +0000

The ‘Building the Connections - Setting the agenda for joined-up Self-directed Support’ event took place on Wednesday 5th March 2013.

Files:

building_the_connections_event_note.pdf

Capacity building for mobile learning - IRISS / SSSC workshops 2012-13

Michelle Drumm — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:16:30 +0000

During 2012-13 IRISS, in partnership with the SSSC, ran a series of workshops for people involved in designing or delivering training. The series was entitled Capacity building for mobile learning.

The Knowledge Management Strategy for the social services recognises that web-based tools - social bookmarking, Twitter, news feeds, Google search and Facebook - are now widely used for communication, collaboration and learning.

Vacancy: Office Manager and Finance Officer

Michelle Drumm — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:25:58 +0000

Sadly the person who has been at the heart of our organisation, keeping us all in order, for the last three years is moving on. She is returning to her first love, the brewing industry.

We are therefore looking for someone to replace her who can take on the multiple duties of Office Manager and Finance Officer in a small voluntary sector organisation. The person will play a key role in contributing to the effectiveness and efficiency of IRISS by ensuring that appropriate finance and administrative systems are developed and maintained.

Can you help IRISS create visually engaging explanations?

Ian Watson — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:31:26 +0000

We are offering someone with a creative background (possibly in communication design or information design) the opportunity to work with us for three months to work on communicating and explaining concepts, ideas and knowledge in simple and easy to understand ways that inspire, illuminate and educate.

We are good at building web-based multimedia materials but we are looking for someone with original and inventive ideas who can add to and develop our strengths in visual communication.

Mabel Cooper (1944-2013) Obituary - a remarkable women who found the voice for our Forgotten Citizens

Michelle Drumm — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:05:21 +0000

Mabel Cooper, who has died of cancer, aged 68, was a charismatic and inspirational figure in the changing world of learning disability. She had a tremendous ability to draw on personal experience to tell stories that, written or spoken, engaged and inspired her readers andlisteners in many walks of life.

Join the team - Project Manager vacancy

Sarah Cockburn — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:33:41 +0000

IRISS Project Manager, Innovation and Improvement (2 years, fixed term with possible extension - £29,541-£36,928)

IRISS and NES - working together

Sarah Cockburn — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:57:37 +0000

Today, IRISS and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) signed a second Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue our joint commitment to continuous improvement in Scotland’s health and social services. We do this via workforce development, the promotion of organisational learning culture, and evidence-based practice and policy.

Global Service Jam 2013

Sarah Cockburn — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:06:47 +0000

Student internship opportunity at IRISS

Michelle Drumm — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:24:24 +0000

Following the success of the scheme for us in 2012, IRISS is once again one of the host organisations involved in the ESRC student internship opportunity in 2013.

The ESRC student internship scheme provides current ESRC-funded PhD students with the opportunity to spend up to six months in a non-academic organisation within the public, civil society (voluntary) or private sector to work as part of a team involved with policy and practice development.

Benefits for students

Building the connections: Self-directed support

Michelle Drumm — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 09:24:11 +0000

IRISS is a partner in an event organised by the ALLIANCE, Care and Support Providers Scotland, Self-Directed Support Scotland, Lothian Centre for Independent Living, Independent Living in Scotland and the Joint Improvement Team, to explore the future of self-directed support within an integrated health and social care system.

Knowledge into practice: a conversation to plan implementation

Michelle Drumm — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:38:29 +0000

On 26 February 2013 an event will take place to engage participants in facilitated discussion to begin implementing the national Strategy and action plan for embedding knowledge in practice in Scotland's social services.

Files:

aims_and_agenda-_knowledge_into_practice_conversation_to_plan_implementation_26-feb-13.pdf

Improving outcomes through integrating social care and health

Michelle Drumm — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 11:58:24 +0000

On 25 February 2013, Alison Petch, Director at IRISS, will speak at a Social Services Research Group (SSRG) event on the subject of integration in health and social care. At the event, speakers from the Scottish Government will also provide feedback on the recent consultation and discuss the 'direction of travel'.

The event will consider:

Care Accolades 2013

Michelle Drumm — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:24:11 +0000

Be prepared when winter bites: Glasgow Gritting

Michelle Drumm — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:57:04 +0000

When winter bites it's good to be aware of where to go for weather and travel information to help plan journeys. IRISS has produced a website for Glasgow City Council, supported by NESTA, which provides easy to access gritting data for the Glasgow area.

Latest projects update

Michelle Drumm — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 10:19:43 +0000

Two IRISS projects have got underway over the past couple of months and another is in development. Here is an update on the three: 'Evaluation exchange', 'Reflecting on evidence use', and 'Imagining the future'.

Evaluation exchange: Self-evaluation through peer support

Mindreel. Educational engagement seminar

Ian Watson — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 15:21:12 +0000

On 28 November we are running a seminar to explore the educational potential of Mindreel, a database containing more 100 films about mental health. The films are freely available to all, and some may be downloaded for educational use.

IRISS AGM

Sarah Cockburn — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:57:25 +0000

You are invited to attend our AGM on 11 December 2012 at Citizen M in Glasgow. At the event you can talk to the IRISS team, suggest ideas and priorities for next year's business plan and attend a screening of Mindreel films, raising awareness of mental health issues. It is free to attend and you can register by going to our Eventbrite page

Programme

Mindreel – redesigned and relaunched

Ian Watson — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:57:09 +0000

Mindreel, the database of films about mental health, has been completely overhauled and redesigned to firmly establish its place as an important and invaluable educational resource.

It now hosts just over 100 films, and there are a few more in the pipeline. The new features include:

We went, we worked, we conquered!... in Bulgaria

Michelle Drumm — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:47:21 +0000

About a year ago we received an invitation from Varna Business Agency (www.vba.bg) in Bulgaria to collaborate in the development and implementation of a programme to introduce innovative methods for exchange of knowledge, skills and approaches to social inclusion. VBA had found us on the web and been impressed by our range of services.

Vacancy for Project Manager: Evidence‐Informed Practice

Marta Ribeiro — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:17:28 +0000

The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS) is a small Scottish voluntary sector organisation, focused on supporting the social services workforce in Scotland to deliver positive outcomes for people who access care and support. We work through three core teams: Innovation and Improvement, Knowledge Media, and Evidence-informed Practice.

Vacancy for IRISS and SSSC Associate: Contribution Analysis

Marta Ribeiro — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:07:29 +0000

Web access denied?

Ian Watson — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:03:01 +0000

Social Media Week kicks off on Monday 24 September with the theme of Empowering Change through Collaboration.

Workforce of the Future

Michelle Drumm — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:08:07 +0000

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and IRISS are working together to develop new solutions to the challenges facing the sector’s workforce.

Following a kick-off event in June which brought together 60 people from social services organisations to identify some of the issues that face the future workforce, and the subsequent submission of over 107 ideas on an online platform, a two-day event was held at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh on 17 and 18 September. The aim of this event was to whittle 20 of the best ideas submitted and discussed online down to five.