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 they achieve. Contact Ann at: ann@mhngg.org.uk Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Iriss.fm, Scotland's social services podcast

Recovery Conversation Cafés

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.   Michael McEwan speaks to Oonagh Brown, Human Rights Adviser at SCLD and Fiona Dawson, a member of the app development team. Download the app on Apple App Store or Google Play.  Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Human Rights Town

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 Tait, a social worker involved in the service. Transcript of episode. Further resources Video introduction to Lifelong Links. What Lifelong Links meant to me: Sandy's story. Impact of Lifelong Links. Stand Up For Siblings - a Scotland wide partnership aimed at improving and changing legislation, policy and practice. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Lifelong Links

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 the study.  Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Coronavirus and people with learning disabilities

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 importance of employers not viewing convictions in isolation, but instead looking at the whole person and their current circumstance This will be interesting to individuals, employment support workers and employers who want to know more about disclosures, including PVG scheme membership. Topics: 1. Different levels of disclosure and eligibility for each, including PVG scheme membership for individuals doing regulated work. 2. What PVG scheme membership costs, how long it takes to get a certificate and what information will appear on this. 3. Why some individuals may be more likely to have had contact with criminal justice services as a result of their life history and personal circumstances, and what they can do if concerned about information appearing on a certificate. 4. Why employers should look at the whole person and their current circumstances, and not just a conviction in isolation. Resources Scotland Works for You is a guide to evaluating the meaning of someone’s criminal record to a job or opportunity they’ve applied for. It’s also for people with convictions to help them make positive applications for employment. Professionals supporting people with convictions in seeking employment or other opportunities may also find it helpful.  A range of information about disclosure and criminal record checks is available on the mygov.scot website. Safer Recruitment Through Better Recruitment is a guide for employers published by the Care Inspectorate and the Scottish Social Services Council. It emphasises values-based recruitment and details the processes which employers use to make sure they do not hire unsuitable people to work in care services with children or protected adults.  Transcript of episode. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Careers in social services: the role of Disclosure Scotland

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 and Pensions about current recruitment opportunities and the important role employability organisations can have in supporting these. This will be interesting to people working in employment support, such as work coaches and key workers; and employers and those with an interest in social services workforce planning. Topics: Information about the life changing work available in social services, including childcare, social care and social work. Information to support workforce planning including types of contract, salary, typical hours, reasons for vacancies and opportunities for flexible pathways. The role that work coaches and employability key workers can have in supporting social service employers with sustainable recruitment. Resources: Career stories and learning pathways. Data about the social service workforce. Learn more about the role of the SSSC and registration.  Follow the stories of employers and social service organisations at #LifeChangingWork

Careers in social services: opportunities and employability

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.  Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Care Opinion

What is the historical understanding of Gypsy/Travellers and what 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, he supports decision makers at local, national and international level to increase inclusivity of policy and practice. Here he provides useful practice guidance for social workers.  Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

The relationship between social work and Gypsy/Traveller communities

 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 organisations that are setting up Near Me independently within their work, and has developed a Learning Network. The Learning Network aims to build on and continue the support to these organisations using Near Me, while increasing the scope of support to others. Each Learning Network meeting includes speakers on related topics. In this episode, Yvonne Leathley, Senior Improvement Adviser at the Care Inspectorate speaks about a project to supply digital devices to care homes to improve connectivity. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Care Inspectorate: use of digital devices in care homes

 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 Near Me independently within their work, and has developed a Learning Network. The Learning Network aims to build on and continue the support to these organisations using Near Me, while increasing the scope of support to others. Each Learning Network meeting includes speakers on related topics. In this episode, Paula Quinn, Learning and Development Adviser at SSSC, speaks about keeping the Quality Improvement conversations going for those involved in using Near Me. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Near Me in social services: keeping the QI conversation going

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. It's 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 achieve.  Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Adults with learning disabilities: economic outcomes

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. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Stay Up Late

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 risk will be addressed. Parents and expectant parents need an opportunity to demonstrate what they can do, with the sustained relationship-based support of professionals. In this episode, Dr Mary Mitchell, Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Edinburgh, and social workers Heather Rush and Nicky Hunter from the City of Edinburgh Council, speak about the practice of Family Group Conferencing and how it can make a difference to families. This forms part of a child protection and welfare project titled Recognition Matters, which bring together knowledge from different pieces of research to strengthen practice and improve the experiences of families. Resources Azaria's story - a film of one woman's experience of family group conferencing.  All Recognition Matters films on YouTube. Critchely A and Mitchell M (2020) Can knowledge exchange forge a collaborative pathway to policymaking? A case study example of the Recognition Matters project. The British Journal of Social Work.  Mitchell M (2020) The value of recognition theory to family group conferencing and child-care and protection. The British Journal of Social Work. Mitchell M and Ali S (2020) Adaptive family group conferencing practice: keeping families at the heart of decision making during COVID-19. Social Work 20-21 magazine.

Recognition Matters: family group conferencing

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. Michael McEwan speaks to Jenny about the origins and work of the social enterprise. Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.  

Mecoco: Meaningful Contribution in your Community

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. Resources: Rural social work in Scotland (2019) - Iriss Insight 47 Rediscovering and mainstreaming community social work practice in Scotland (2020) - Iriss Insight 56 Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.

Rural social work: dual relationships

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

hubhopper

Iriss.fm, Scotland's social services podcast

hubhopper