Iriss.fm

In April 2012, a team from Iriss took part in an international workshop on evidence-informed practice in County Cavan, Ireland. Following the workshop, Iriss's Ian Watson was invited to spend a couple of weeks in Toronto working with PART (Practice and Research Together) to develop ideas on the role of social media in linking research to practice. This episode features interviews with Katharine Dill (Executive Director of PART) and Deborah Goodman (Director of the Child Welfare Institute at the Children's Aid Society of Toronto). Music: Something Elated by Broke For Free, licensed under a Creative Commons-BY license United States (CC BY 3.0)

In spring 2012 the Scottish Association of Social Work awarded the title Social Worker of the Year to Sandy Watt, a senior mental health officer and practice teacher with North Lanarkshire Council. In this episode Sandy talks to Iriss's Rikke Iversholt about his 30 years in social work and the changes that the sector has gone through. 'a couple of times over the years out the blue someone will come to you and introduce themselves, and say just a wee story really, but quite keen to talk to you – not in an intrusive way, just a way … it’s almost like saying “well thanks, just to let you know I am still alive and I am doing okay” – people you maybe haven’t seen for years. I think that’s the bits that motivate you'. Music: Something Elated by Broke For Free, licensed under a Creative Commons-BY license United States (CC BY 3.0)

On 22 June 2012, IRISS.FM attended the ninth Care Accolades ceremony, to interview some of those involved in the inspiring projects nominated in the ten categories of award. Nearly 220 people gathered for the ceremony in Perth, attended by Minister for Children and Young People, Aileen Campbell, and hosted by Garry Coutts, Chair of the Care Accolades and Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). The Care Accolades recognise the best of Scotland's social services teams, showcasing the great work that they do. Interviewees included Gary Coutts, Chair of the awards; and Lisa Curtice, Director of Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability (SCLD), a member of the judging panel.

This mock Adoption and Permanence Panel considers the case of nine month old Douglas who is being considered for adoption. All characters are fictional although the facts of the case are drawn from real cases. The recording provides insight into the process and deliberations through which the panel reaches a decision. In this, the second of two episodes, the panel considers the view of the mother and her extended family on the future care of Douglas. His current foster parent is invited to join the meeting and we hear assessment from the medical and legal advisers, to the panel. Finally the panel chair sums and moves to a decision. The members of the the panel are: Panel Chair, Member of the local authority childcare team (Dave), Legal adviser to the panel (Margaret), Deputy Chair (Anne), Social worker to Douglas (Jean) ,Medical advisor (Helen), Foster carer (Yvonne). Music: Something Elated by Broke For Free, licensed under a Creative Commons-BY license United States (CC BY 3.0)

This mock Adoption and Permanence Panel considers the case of nine month old Douglas who is being considered for adoption. All characters are fictional although the facts of the case are drawn from real cases. The recording provides insight into the process and deliberations through which the panel reaches a decision. In this, the first of a two part episode, we learn about the background to the case: the mother’s lifestyle and family background, her attachment to Douglas and her current relationship with her parents. The episode concludes with an assessment of the mother’s future ability to meet the needs of her child. The members of the the panel are: Panel Chair, Member of the local authority childcare team (Dave), Legal adviser to the panel (Margaret), Deputy Chair (Anne), Social worker to Douglas (Jean), Medical advisor (Helen), Foster carer (Yvonne)

During the summer of 2012 North Lanarkshire Council is taking part in a self directed support demonstration project in which 20 families will each receive a budget of £200 to spend on something that will make a difference to their lives. Following an introductory meeting for the families, Morag Dendy and Carron O’Byrne from North Lanarkshire Council's Social Work Services and Gerry Kelly from In Control explain to Ian Watson of Iriss what the project is about and what it is expected to achieve. Music: Something Elated by Broke For Free, licensed under a Creative Commons-BY license United States (CC BY 3.0)

Richard Ingram, a lecturer in Social Work at the University of Dundee, is completing a PhD on “Emotions in Social Work Practice”. He has recently published a paper in the British Journal of Social Work looking at the role of emotional intelligence in social work. IRISS's Ian Watson talked to Richard, via Skype, about his research and its implications for social work practice.

Professor David Howe, one of the UK's leading social work academics, talks about how attachment theory is informed by research and how this translates into practice, and why attachment is a key element in effective and appropriate practice. This episode was recorded at a seminar organised by Resiliency, Risk and Vulnerability Research Network in the School of Education, Social Work and Community Education at the University of Dundee on 10 May 2012. Music: Something Elated by Broke For Free, licensed under a Creative Commons-BY license United States (CC BY 3.0)

Claire Lightowler (Iriss) hosts a discussion at the second of two workshops held in Glasgow on 16 May as part of the desistance knowledge exchange. The knowledge exchange workshops are part of a project funded by the ESRC involving Iriss, Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, Queens University, Belfast and the University of Sheffield.

Mary McKenna interviews Barbara Godden about her experience of contact with the birth family of her adopted children, now in their teens. Mary is an independent social work consultant. Barbara is member of the SAIA committee, works with Adoption UK and is the mother of two children she fostered from birth. She talks candidly about the difficulties the arose in connection with birth family contact, both for her and her husband and for the children. Music: Something Elated by Broke For Free, licensed under a Creative Commons-BY license United States (CC BY 3.0)

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. We know that published evidence does not translate into practice until people start talking about it and sharing practical examples. Social networking tools such as communities of practice, Twitter and Yammer can play a vital role in this socialising process. NES Chief Executive Malcolm Wright introduces an animated guide to personal learning networks.

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. IRISS Director Alison Petch introduces a new animation from NES and IRISS which dispels some of the myths about social media, showing how easy it is try things out and decide what works for for the individual

Members of the Pilotlight co-design team in Moray discuss the pathway to self-directed support for people with mental health problems. It was recorded on 31 October at the IRISS annual Champions event 2013.

Presentation by Lisa Burton on the integration of health and social care at Inverclyde Council. It was recorded on 30 October 2013 at the IRISS annual Champions event.

Julie Gardener, Assistant Director of VOCAL (Voice of carers across Lothian) talks about developing a personal outcomes approach and outcomes for integration of health and social care. The recording was made on the 25 February 2013 at an event organised by the Social Services Research Group (SSRG) entitled, 'Improving outcomes through integrated social care and health'. For further information about the event see: http://ssrg.org.uk/events-2013/ Powerpoint slides are available at: http://ssrg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Julie-Gardner-ppts.pdf