Iriss.fm, Scotland's social services podcast artwork

Iriss.fm, Scotland's social services podcast

180 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago -

Research, projects and events on topics related to social work and social care.

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Episodes

Enable Respect Group: raising awareness of hate crime

February 16, 2023 14:00 - 13 minutes - 6.01 MB

The Enable Respect Group is composed of champions who increase awareness of hate crime in Scotland, and provide training to anyone interested to learn more about it.  In this episode, Michael McEwan speaks to Jason Methven from Fortune Work Enable Scotland, and Sally Elfverson, a member of the Respect Group about the initiative.  Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.  

Moving community social work upstream

December 05, 2022 12:00 - 28 minutes - 13 MB

The community social work conference was held on 8 November 2022 in Dunfermline. It was focused on a new model of community social work, which has been launched in Fife.  We spoke to Colin Turbett, social work author and consultant; and Kathy Henwood, the CSWO of Fife Education and Children’s Services. They provided an introduction to community social work and the set up in Fife. We also heard from Anne Fitzpatrick, the Team Manager at Fife, Leanne Christie, social work assistant; and Ja...

This is Me: valuing the lives of people with learning disabilities

October 31, 2022 08:00 - 12 minutes - 5.55 MB

This is Me is a campaign that aims to increase public awareness of the experiences of people with learning disabilities. It is a partnership of the Scottish Learning Disability Observatory (SLDO), the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD), Down's Syndrome Scotland and Promoting a More Inclusive Society (PAMIS).  Michael McEwan speaks to Dr Deborah Kinnear at SLDO about the campaign.  Follow the hashtag: #ThisisMe22 Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Ma...

ENRICH Scotland: supporting research in care homes

October 18, 2022 08:30 - 23 minutes - 10.9 MB

ENRICH Scotland is a programme of work that supports research in care homes.  We speak to the Co-chairs, Emma Law and Susan Shenkin about the programme, what it’s achieving and it’s ambitions. They explain how research undertaken in care homes improves the lives of people who live in care homes, their families and care home staff.  Resources Care home research: an introduction for care home staff Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Heart Community Teams

September 23, 2022 16:00 - 32 minutes - 14.8 MB

Heart is a wellbeing model of service delivery for children and their families in East Ayrshire. It is an approach in keeping with the principles of a human rights-based, inclusive service design and delivery. Michelle from Iriss speaks to Andrew Bryers about the model, its aims and progress to date. Andrew has been social worker since 2007 and has worked in Scotland, London and Australia. He spent six years as a team manager in East Ayrshire before taking on the role of Programme Lead of ...

New Routes Home

July 05, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutes - 8.25 MB

New Routes Home is a partnership of interested individuals and organisations across Scotland who campaign for the right of all people with disabilities to have their own home and to have meaningful choices around where they live, and who (if anyone) lives with them. This includes having choices around how support is organised and directed. Michael McEwan speaks to Alastair Minty from In Control Scotland about the campaign. Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality...

The role of technology in rural social work

May 23, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MB

Is technology the answer for rural social work?  Jane Pye, Lecturer in Social Work at Lancaster University. explores the potential benefits of using technology, for social workers and people who live rurally and use services. She also considers the dangers of suggesting that the use of technology is the answer to the challenges of working with rural and remote people and diverse communities. This presentation was recorded at an event held on 4 May 2022. Transcript of episode. Musi...

Changing how homecare is commissioned and delivered

May 10, 2022 08:10 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MB

How do we help people live their lives as they want? How can we commission services in a more ethical and person-centred way? The Gwynedd social care team and local health board in Wales have been changing how home care has been commissioned and delivered. They’ve created a model that moves away from ‘time and task’ to one that is more person- and relationship-centred. Meilys Heulfryn-Smith, Programme Lead of Community Transformation at Gwynedd Council and Alison Hughes, Manager at Gofal...

'We all have human rights'

April 19, 2022 12:00 - 18 minutes - 8.44 MB

Scottish Learning Disability Week 2022 takes place from 2 until 8 May, and the theme for this year is ‘We all have human rights’. Michael McEwan speaks to Libby Clement and Oonagh Brown from the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD) about the theme, its importance and what's happening over the week.  Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

ENABLE Works

March 08, 2022 12:00 - 22 minutes - 10.4 MB

ENABLE Works helps people with learning disabilities and other barriers to employment to obtain and sustain rewarding employment. What are some of the barriers and what is the current situation for disabled people seeking employment? Michael McEwan speaks to Lianne Williams, Depute Director at ENABLE Scotland, and Mark Cuff, who speaks about his experiences of seeking and sustaining employment. Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

A new model of support for independent living

February 21, 2022 11:00 - 21 minutes - 9.71 MB

In November 2021, Iriss held event that explored how to shape and support independent, inclusive living for people. Our guest speaker was Kiana Kalantar-Hormozi, an artist, filmmaker and activist. She was nominated one of the 30, most inspirational women in Scotland under the age of 30 in 2017, and was Muscular Dystrophy UK Campaigner of the Year in 2018. Kiana gives her views from her own personal experiences of how we can move forward with independent living support, and how to get it ...

Disability: what's the learning from Covid-19?

February 09, 2022 14:00 - 30 minutes - 14.2 MB

For disabled people, what has been the learning from the Covid-19 pandemic? And what now needs to happen to ensure better lives?  Michael McEwan, a reporter on disability issues, speaks to Health Journalist and Broadcaster, Pennie Taylor about the history of care and support for people with disabilities, the impact of Covid-19 and how support and services can be improved. He also speaks to Tracey Campbell, a parent whose daughter has Angelman syndrome, and Sanjeev Man, a Freelance Journa...

Rural lives: poverty and social exclusion

January 19, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 15 MB

Jayne Glass and Mark Shucksmith present the findings from the Rural Lives report published in March 2021. It investigates why and how people in rural areas experience poverty and social exclusion, with a focus on financial hardship and vulnerability. The research is based on three study areas: Harris, East Perthshire and Northumberland. Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Rural social work: staying connected

December 08, 2021 12:00 - 13 minutes - 6.42 MB

What can rural social workers take from the experiences of the pandemic and how can they stay connected? Digital technologies and our experiences during COVID-19 have highlighted new ways for rural social workers to connect to and support one another, and gain access to new learning opportunities. Iain Ramsay, Professional Social Work Adviser at Scottish Government, shares his experiences as a social worker in a rural area. Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a real...

Climate change and disabled people

November 26, 2021 12:00 - 15 minutes - 7.11 MB

Cop 26, the global United Nations climate change conference took place this month in Glasgow. What is the impact of the climate emergency on disabled people and how do they have their voices heard?  Michael McEwan speaks with Susie Fitton, Policy Officer at Inclusion Scotland about their involvement at Cop 26, the impacts of climate change on disabled people, the challenges, and what needs to happen to make sure disabled people are included as decision makers. Transcript of episode. ...

Doing public service management differently

November 22, 2021 09:18 - 45 minutes - 21.1 MB

The Centre for Public Impact, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and Iriss are together delivering events in November and December 2021 that will explore how a Human Learning Systems approach can support people and organisations to commission health and social care differently. In this episode, Toby Lowe, Visiting Professor of Public Management at the Centre for Public Impact; and Diana Hekerem, Head of Transformational Redesign Support at Healthcare Improvement Scotland tell us about the Hum...

Adapting social work for a changing planet

November 11, 2021 12:00 - 29 minutes - 13.5 MB

Cop 26, the global United Nations climate change conference is underway in Glasgow, Each country will bring their plans for reducing emissions and combatting climate change.   As a people, community and society focused profession, is there a role for social work in the environment and climate change agenda? And if so, what is it?    Dr Heather Lynch, MSc (Social Work) Programme Lead at Glasgow Caledonian University believes so. In this episode, she interviews Sian McKinnon, a social ...

Recovery Conversation Cafés

October 11, 2021 08:00 - 12 minutes - 5.86 MB

The Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, Kevin Stewart MSP, officially launched a recovery conversation cafe toolkit for organisations and services. Developed by the Scottish Recovery Network, the toolkit provides a guide and resources to help people engage in meaningful discussions about what is important to them and their communities. We spoke to Ann Jones, Manager of the Mental Health Network, Greater Glasgow & Clyde about the cafes - what they are, how they work and what t...

Human Rights Town

September 21, 2021 11:00 - 15 minutes - 7.32 MB

The  Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD) has launched an app, Human Rights Town, to help people with learning disabilities understand their human rights.   The development of the app has been led by a group of people with learning disabilities who have been working with SCLD. It invites users to travel around a virtual ‘Human Rights Town’ where they encounter different scenarios at each location, such as using public transport or working at the supermarket.   ...

Lifelong Links

September 08, 2021 12:00 - 31 minutes - 14.4 MB

Lifelong Links is a project led by Family Rights Group and delivered by local authorities. It supports children and young people in care to connect with and develop relationships with family members, and other people who care about the young person, so they can become part of a lasting support network. Anne Begbie, Coordinator of the Lifelong Links programme at Edinburgh City Council, tells us about their Lifelong Links service - the set-up, aims and achievements. We also speak to Megan Ta...

Coronavirus and people with learning disabilities

August 17, 2021 09:00 - 27 minutes - 12.8 MB

The research project – Coronavirus and people with learning disabilities – is a UK wide study which has been exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with learning disabilities. In Scotland, the study is led by the University of Glasgow, with the support of the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD). Michael McEwan speaks to Research Associate, Roseann Maguire at the University of Glasgow and research participant, Sandy Stark, about the findings of ...

Careers in social services: the role of Disclosure Scotland

July 22, 2021 11:22 - 20 minutes - 9.37 MB

In this episode we speak to Andrew Morrall, Customer Engagement Manager at Disclosure Scotland, about the organisation’s safeguarding role and the different levels of disclosure used across social services, including PVG scheme membership. We discuss why many social service workers will need to join the PVG scheme and Andrew provides advice to individuals about this, including for those concerned about previous convictions or other contact with criminal justice services. He speaks of the...

Careers in social services: opportunities and employability

July 15, 2021 11:00 - 26 minutes - 12.2 MB

The social services sector is growing and this means there are opportunities for people looking for a new career, whether that’s people changing jobs or people who are just starting out. So what are these opportunities, and what role can employment support workers have in helping this important workforce to grow sustainably? We speak to Kerry Cannon, Learning and Development Adviser at the Scottish Social Services Council and Susie Ferguson, Partnership Manager at the Department for Work...

Care Opinion

June 29, 2021 08:00 - 18 minutes - 8.52 MB

Care Opinion is a social enterprise which gives citizens a platform to air their views and opinions on health and care services. It aims to make care services better for everyone.  Fraser Gilmore, Head of Scotland at Care Opinion tells us more about its aims and how it works.  Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

The relationship between social work and Gypsy/Traveller communities

June 16, 2021 08:00 - 29 minutes - 13.5 MB

What is the historical understanding of Gypsy/Travellers and what has the relationship been between social work and Gypsy Traveller communities?  In this webinar recording, Annie Bryant, a criminal justice social worker based in Dumfries and Galloway, shares her knowledge gained from personal experiences, being a dual national and the partner of a Traveller. We also hear from Davie Donaldson, a Scottish Traveller, advocate and social justice campaigner. By sharing his lived experience, h...

Care Inspectorate: use of digital devices in care homes

June 07, 2021 08:00 - 17 minutes - 8.2 MB

Near Me in Social Services is a project Iriss has been leading in partnership with the NHS Near Me team and the Scottish Government Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Programme over Autumn/Winter 2020/21. The project is producing new evidence around the priorities, enablers and challenges of using video consulting in social services. Iriss has supported five services to participate in a rapid Quality Improvement cycle to start using Near Me; provided light touch improvement support to organisa...

Near Me in social services: keeping the QI conversation going

May 31, 2021 08:00 - 10 minutes - 4.98 MB

Near Me in Social Services is a project Iriss has been leading in partnership with the NHS Near Me team and the Scottish Government Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Programme. The project is producing new evidence around the priorities, enablers and challenges of using video consulting in social services. Iriss has supported five services to participate in a rapid Quality Improvement cycle to start using Near Me; provided light touch improvement support to organisations that are setting up N...

Adults with learning disabilities: economic outcomes

May 26, 2021 08:00 - 21 minutes - 9.91 MB

The Fraser of Allander Institute is undertaking a year-long research project examining the relationship between people with learning disabilities in Scotland and economic outcomes for them and their families. The Institute sees it as an under-researched area in Scottish economics and one that is overlooked in mainstream economic policy discussions. In this episode, Michael McEwan speaks to Rob Watts, Knowledge Exchange Associate at the Institute about the research and what it hopes to ach...

Stay Up Late

May 06, 2021 08:00 - 12 minutes - 5.89 MB

Going out to see bands, clubbing, or seeing friends is part of everyday life for lots of people. However, if you have a learning disability you may need support to do this.  Stay Up Late is a charity that supports people to make this happen. Keith Etherington and William Rae tell Michael McEwan about the work of Stay Up Late and their plans for this year's Learning Disability Week. Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Recognition Matters: family group conferencing

April 19, 2021 12:00 - 50 minutes - 23 MB

When children are really vulnerable to harm social workers have to work even harder to create partnership with families where risk is present. For infants, babies, and very young children, as well as older children who are nonverbal or require constant care as they grow up, ways need to be found to work with risk that does not necessarily involve family separations. Family Group Conferencing is one way of holding risk with the older children and adults in a family and agreeing how that ris...

Mecoco: Meaningful Contribution in your Community

April 08, 2021 15:45 - 18 minutes - 8.53 MB

Mecoco (Meaningful Contribution in your Community) is a social enterprise based in North Ayrshire that supports people into employment. The founder, Jenny Trott, believes that regardless of their level of ability, people can make a meaningful contribution and have the right to experience the workplace in their own community should they wish to.  ​Mecoco specialises in making candles and soaps and adapts equipment, processes and even products to make the job as accessible as possible. M...

Rural social work: dual relationships

March 18, 2021 12:44 - 35 minutes - 16.8 MB

Monica Nicolin and Gillian Ritch, social workers based in Stornoway and Orkney respectively, speak about dual relationships in rural social work. These presentations were given at a webinar held in January 2020, to provide an opportunity to discuss the unique potential of rural social work, the opportunities it brings, and just why it is worthy of celebration. Transcript of episode. Resources: Rural social work in Scotland (2019) - Iriss Insight 47 Rediscovering and mainstreaming...

Alzheimer Scotland: the place of Near Me in our service

March 15, 2021 10:00 - 10 minutes - 4.74 MB

Near Me in Social Services is a project Iriss has been leading in partnership with the NHS Near Me team and the Scottish Government Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Programme over Autumn/Winter 2020/21. The project is producing new evidence around the priorities, enablers and challenges of using video consulting in social services. Iriss has supported five services to participate in a rapid Quality Improvement cycle to start using Near Me; provided light touch improvement support to organisa...

How care home staff and family carers responded to visiting restrictions

March 10, 2021 11:00 - 31 minutes - 14.5 MB

A study to gauge how lockdown restrictions have affected the families of care home residents, have been published. The research, titled Creative Covid Care, highlights the relationship-based and creative practices used to support communication and connection while visiting restrictions have been in place. This rapid research project, funded by the Chief Scientists Office at Scottish Government, has been led by the University of Edinburgh with partners from University of Strathclyde, The Un...

CrossReach: using Attend Anywhere to provide counselling support

March 04, 2021 13:00 - 16 minutes - 7.71 MB

Near Me in Social Services is a project Iriss has been leading in partnership with the NHS Near Me team and the Scottish Government Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Programme over Autumn/Winter 2020/21. The project is producing new evidence around the priorities, enablers and challenges of using video consulting in social services. Iriss has supported five services to participate in a rapid Quality Improvement cycle to start using Near Me; provided light touch improvement support to organisa...

The role of sport in communities in Scotland

March 02, 2021 14:00 - 25 minutes - 11.7 MB

With a wide network of partners and academic researchers from across Scotland and Europe, the Observatory for Sport in Scotland supports those delivering community sport and activity with independent research, knowledge sharing, and policy and practice guidance, as well as international benchmarking that brings confidence to widening sport participation to all ages and abilities. Michael McEwan speaks to David Ferguson, Executive Director of the Observatory about the work it does to suppor...

Near Me in social services: digital inclusion

February 25, 2021 11:00 - 14 minutes - 6.52 MB

Near Me in Social Services is a project Iriss has been leading in partnership with the NHS Near Me team and the Scottish Government Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Programme over Autumn/Winter 2020/21. The project is producing new evidence around the priorities, enablers and challenges of using video consulting in social services. Iriss has supported five services to participate in a rapid Quality Improvement cycle to start using Near Me; provided light touch improvement support to organisa...

My Support My Choice

February 23, 2021 07:30 - 35 minutes - 16.4 MB

My Support My Choice is a research project led jointly by the Health and Social Care ALLIANCE and Self Directed Support Scotland and funded by Scottish Government, with the aim of understanding people’s experiences of Self-directed Support (SDS) in Scotland. Between November 2018 and February 2020, over 600 people who received self-directed support (SDS) or had been assessed in the previous 12 months – took part in this research. The full report, as well thematic reports have now been pu...

Moral distress in residential child care

February 15, 2021 12:00 - 44 minutes - 20.3 MB

Dan Johnson, Clinical Director at Kibble interviews Neil McMillan, an Executive Director at Kibble on the topic of moral distress in residential child care. The conversation defines the concept, provides examples of it, and suggestions for how to support workers who experience moral distress. More broadly it explores the impact of the system on the practice of residential child care. Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Near Me in social services: tools and techniques for remote communication

February 03, 2021 16:30 - 21 minutes - 10 MB

Near Me in Social Services is a project Iriss has been leading in partnership with the NHS Near Me team and the Scottish Government Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Programme over Autumn/Winter 2020/21. The project is producing new evidence around the priorities, enablers and challenges of using video consulting in social services. Iriss has supported five services to participate in a rapid Quality Improvement cycle to start using Near Me; provided light touch improvement support to organisat...

Near Me in social services: an introduction

February 02, 2021 15:30 - 14 minutes - 6.58 MB

Near Me in Social Services is a project Iriss has been leading in partnership with the NHS Near Me team and the Scottish Government Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Programme over Autumn/Winter 2020/21. The project is producing new evidence around the priorities, enablers and challenges of using video consulting in social services. Iriss has supported five services to participate in a rapid Quality Improvement (QI) cycle to start using Near Me; provided light touch improvement support to orga...

Sight Scotland Veterans

January 26, 2021 12:00 - 14 minutes - 6.87 MB

Sight Scotland Veterans has been around since 1915, and offers support across Scotland to veterans of the Armed Forces who need support to adapt to sight loss. Michael McEwan speaks to Alison Cairns, Practice Lead fo the outreach team, about the work of the organisation. Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Rural social work: what is it and why is it unique?

January 19, 2021 12:00 - 54 minutes - 24.9 MB

Colin Turbett, author of the Iriss Insight, Rural social work in Scotland; and Jane Pye, Senior Teaching Associate of Social Work at the University of Lancaster, outline what rural social work is and what makes it unique. These presentations were given at a webinar held in December 2020, to provide an opportunity to discuss the unique potential of rural social work, the opportunities it brings, and just why it is worthy of celebration. It takes into account issues arising from the pande...

Kinections: what community means for those in care homes

January 12, 2021 12:00 - 27 minutes - 12.8 MB

Kinections was a three-year collaborative research project, working with care homes across East Ayrshire to explore what community means for people who live, work and visit care homes, with a particular focus on the experiences of people living with dementia. We had a conversation with Edel Roddy, the project lead at UWS and Dr Anna Jack-Waugh from the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice. The project was a My Home Life Scotland initiative, led by a team of researchers at t...

How 'essential visitor' status can support families

December 22, 2020 12:00 - 16 minutes - 7.54 MB

The first findings of a study to gauge how lockdown restrictions have affected the families of care home residents, have been published. The research, titled Creative Covid Care, highlights the relationship-based and creative practices used to support communication and connection while visiting restrictions have been in place. This rapid research project, funded by the Chief Scientists Office at Scottish Government, has been led by the University of Edinburgh with partners from University ...

Impact of lockdown on care home relatives

December 18, 2020 10:00 - 28 minutes - 13.1 MB

Presents the first findings of a study to gauge how lockdown restrictions have affected the families of care home residents. The research, titled Creative Covid Care, highlights the relationship-based and creative practices used to support communication and connection while visiting restrictions have been in place. This rapid research project, funded by the Chief Scientists Office at Scottish Government, has been led by the University of Edinburgh with partners from University of Strathc...

Care experience and mental health

November 24, 2020 12:00 - 23 minutes - 10.9 MB

Thomas Bartlett and Casey Armstrong, two care experienced young people, talk openly about the subject of mental health as part of a project titled the ‘Mental health and care experienced children and young people: a partnership for change’. The project seeks to improve understanding and practice in relation to care experienced young people’s mental health. A training workshop has been developed, aimed at students and professionals in residential child care, social care and social work whic...

Neatebox

November 11, 2020 12:00 - 20 minutes - 9.37 MB

Neatebox provides smart solutions based on the challenges disabled people face every day. An example is an award-winning free app which allows people to use their mobile phone to push buttons at doors and pedestrian crossings safely and with more confidence. Michael McEwan speaks to Gavin Neate, the founder of the company about the products they provide.  Transcript of episode Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Challenge Poverty Week 2020

November 02, 2020 12:00 - 35 minutes - 16.2 MB

Challenge Poverty Week was held between 5- 11 October this year. The week aims to raise a unified voice against poverty and calls for a more just and equal Scotland.  We spoke to Suzi Murning, Campaigns Officer at The Poverty Alliance to find out about the history of Challenge Poverty Week, its purpose and the activities and impact of the campaign for this year. Transcript of episode Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Your Options Understood: Danielle Farrel

October 21, 2020 15:00 - 18 minutes - 8.68 MB

Your Options Understood (Y.O.U) is an organisation that offers independent advice to those living with a disability, as well as parents and carers. It was set-up by Dr Danielle Farrel to share her own experiences of life with a disability and to show that having a disability does not necessarily mean that individuals cannot live an independent life.  Michael McEwan has a conversation with Danielle to find out more about the organisation. Transcript of episode Music Credit: Make your d...