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 episod…

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 soci…

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 Mc…

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 hom…

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…

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 …

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…

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 …

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.…

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 ex…

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 i…

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 se…

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 …

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 Sc…

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 disabl…

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…

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, MS…

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. W…

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 …

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…

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…

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 indi…

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 Canno…

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 Ho…

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 T…