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Learning Disability Week in Scotland runs from Monday 17th to Sunday 23 June 2013. The theme this year is welfare reform. Michelle Drumm talks to Jan Murdoch from the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability and Michael McEwan of Able Radio about what's happening and how to get involved. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

Following the publication of the draft guidance on self-directed support, a consultation event was held on 6 June 2013 in Dunfermline, to give service providers, users of services and carers, the opportunity to air their views on the various parts of the guidance. These responses would be collated and presented as a report to Scottish Government. The day involved a series of group discussions on nine themes. Iriss.fm attended to capture some attendee views and visions for self-directed support in Scotland. Transcript of episode Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

The Real Lives, Real Difference conference was held at the University of Stirling on 4 June 2013, which focused on the subject of service user and carer involvement in professional education. It involved a presentation from Peter Beresford, who argues that user and carer involvement in professional education is of unprecedented importance and makes possible a transformed approach to occupational roles, education and practice. Attendee viewpoints are also captured, as well as a presentation from Mo McPhail (The Open University in Scotland), who outlines the findings from a research project, which explored the views of service users and social work lecturers about recruitment of service users in social work education across Scotland. Transcript of episode Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

The 2013 Care Accolades was held on Friday 31st May at the Perth Concert Hall. Always an uplifting occasion and a chance to celebrate achievements in social care across Scotland, Iriss.fm spoke to a number of people involved in the many projects nominated for awards, as well as Alan Baird, Chief Social Work Advisor at Scottish Government; and Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of SSSC. Transcript of episode Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

Mental health is a public health priority. Lee Knifton and Neil Quinn of the University of Strathclyde assembled a team of international experts to summarise the evidence base and ask key questions on topics ranging from community development to public mental health in schools to recovery and well-being. The result is stimulating and comprehensive book which was launched at the University of Strathclyde on 2 May 2013. Graham McPheat of the Glasgow School of Social Work, introduced a panel of speakers which included the editors and one of the contributors, who reflected on some of the issues addressed in the book, such as well-being and what we mean by older people. Book: Public mental health: global perspectives Speakers Professor Tony McGrew, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Strathclyde. Lee Knifton, Senior Academic in University of Stathclyde, NHS and Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival. Mima Cattan, Professor in Public Health, University of Northumbria. N

On 8 May 2013, Iriss brought together nine people at the Volunteer Development Scotland offices in Stirling to discuss what motivated them to volunteer, and to share their experiences of volunteering. It was facilitated by Claire Lightowler, Iriss. Transcript of episode Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

Iriss.fm spoke to Mark Hazelwood, Director of the Scottish Partnership of Palliative Care; and Barbara Chalmers, Final Fling Founder about the significance of Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief Awareness Week 13-19 May 2013, and the type of events (including Death cafes!) that are happening throughout the week. The Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief website has further information on events taking place over 13-19 May. Final Fling is a web resource for those wanting to plan ahead and start considering life and death decisions. The Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care is an umbrella and representative organisation which, through a collaboration approach, supports and contributes to the development and strategic direction of palliative care in Scotland. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

Iain Ferguson is professor of Social Work and Social Policy at University of the West of Scotland. He is widely published and a founder member of SWAN - Social Work Action Network. In this lecture at Glasgow School of Social Work on 18 April 2013 he argues that an understanding of social work's political dimension is essential and that the failure to recognise this has been harmful both to the social work profession and to service users. Drawing on historical and international examples he makes the case for a new radicalism. SWAN - Social Work Action Network In his lecture Prof. Ferguson refers to a previous lecture Personalisation - Duncan MacKay in the Glasgow School of Social Work Research Seminar Series. Prof. Ferguson is co-editor of a new journal - Critical and radical social work: an introduction - which was launched in April 2013. Transcript of episode Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

An introduction to Carr Gomm's conversation-based outcome measurement tool. A system designed to capture and track the personal outcomes of the people they support, and link these to the wider local and national outcomes. Features Carr Gomm Business Development Manager, Andrew Thomson. Video introduction to the Carr Gomm outcomes measuring system Carr Gomm – short version The Outcomes Toolbox collection on the Learning Exchange Understanding and measuring outcomes, a report from Emma Miller and Ellen Daly for Iriss Measuring personal outcomes: Challenges and strategies, Iriss Insights, no.12 Transcript of episode Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

Iain Ferguson, Professor of Social Work and Social Policy at University of the West of Scotland, gives his inaugural lecture on the impact of welfare reform on people's lives, and argues that a different kind of social work is required to respond to the crisis. It was recorded on 27 March 2013. Crisis, austerity and the future(s) of social work in the UK. Transcript of episode Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

On 18 March 2013, Iriss.fm attended the 5th Scottish Recovery Network National Gathering, on the theme of Recovery 2020: A vision achieved? It featured a number of short presentations (in Pecha Kucha format) by representatives of various mental health disciplines, which was followed by a keynote presentation from Dr Rachel Perkins, who offered a lot of inspiring food for thought around recovery in mental health. The main themes that emerged included the importance of relationships and working with, and empowering individuals and communities to make recovery a reality by 2020. As well as speakers and workshops, the day included singing, dance, art, crafts and holistic therapies. Iriss.fm spoke to Simon Bradstreet, Director of SRN and Chair of the event; Dr Rachel Perkins, keynote speaker; John McCormack, SRN Manager for Learning and Development; Louise Christie, SRN Manager for Policy and Development; Jenny Graydon, CEO of the Glasgow Association of Mental Health; Elinor Dowson, a member of SRN Strategy Group

On 5 March 2013 Highland Council ran an event to share stories about the positive impact of local community initiatives and services. Moira Paton of NHS Highland opened the event by setting the context before keynote speaker, Angela Catley of Community Catalysts, recounted inspirational stories of what can happen when communities work together to enable people to realise their potential. Following Angela's talk we heard about the impact of a number of projects from around the Highlands. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

Foetal alcohol syndrome and looked after children. Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder affects many of our looked after, accommodated and adopted children. This complex and emotive topic was explored at a Scottish Attachment in Action seminar held in Edinburgh on 22 February 2013. We asked Paul Gilroy, Chair of SAIA, about the connection between attachment and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Eileen Calder, Director of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Scotland, then talked to me about the condition, its effects and what interventions can help improve the outcomes for people with FASD. Finally a foster and adoptive parent of children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder talked candidly about the practicalities of living with this condition: education, healthcare, social interaction and safety, as well as the prognosis for the future of these young people. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

New technologies and child protection. On 1st March 2013, Iriss.fm attended the 'New technologies and child protection' conference which was held at the Scottish Police College in Tulliallan. It was hosted by WithScotland in partnership with the Criminal Justice Social Work Development Centre and Youth Justice National Development Team. The event explored the challenges of, and solutions to, protecting children, given the emergence of social media and other technologies. WithScotland is a national resource for everyone involved in protecting children. Transcript of episode Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

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 25th February 2013 at an event organised by the Social Services Research Group (SSRG) entitled, 'Improving outcomes through integrated social care and health'.

Self directed support in Scotland. The 10-year national plan for self-directed support aims to bring SDS into the mainstream of social care and increase the number of people directing their own support. In 2009, the Scottish Government selected three local authorities - Glasgow, Dumfries and Galloway and Highland - to act as test sites. An initial evaluation was completed in March 2011 just as the test sites were building momentum, and a follow-up evaluation was published at the end 2012, examining progress and developments between April 2011 and March 2012. Julie Ridley of the University of Central Lancashire School of Social Work was project manager of the follow-up evaluation. Iriss's Ian Watson talked to Julie via Skype about the results of the evaluation and the implications for the workforce. Follow-up Evaluation of SDS Test Sites in Scotland 2012 Report on the evaluation of the development, implementation and impact of the self-directed support interventions implemented within three local authority tes

Young people who are looked after at home or are under a Home Supervision Requirement make up the largest proportion of young people who are looked after (around 5,400 out of a population of just over 16,000). They have the poorest educational outcomes compared to other groups, yet have been largely neglected by research. John Paul Fitzpatrick from CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Looked after Children in Scotland, has made this group the subject of his PhD research. At a Glasgow School of Social Work seminar on 7 February 2013, he described his research methodology (narrative analysis) and his findings so far. Andressa Gadda and John Paul Fitzpatrick. Home supervision requirements: messages from research (CELCIS Briefing RB-2012-03) December 2012 Why do young people looked after at home (under a Home Supervision Requirement) not flourish at school? Transcript of episode Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

Taking the First Steps, a project that ran during the summer of 2012, was designed to introduce people to the processes involved in self directed support in a way that felt safe and not risky. A number of children and families in Highland, West Dunbartonshire and North Lanarkshire were offered a budget of £200 to manage in a way that would deliver the most benefit to them and their families. Keith Etherington of In Control Scotland reflects on the project and we hear from the families about what they thought about the project and the impact it made. Keith was involved in developing the Taking The First Steps Programme from funding made available from the Scottish government, to support the implementation of the National Strategy for Self Directed Support and new Self Directed Support legislation. Transcript of episode Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

On 25th January 2013 the Centre for Learning Enhancement and Academic development at Glasgow Caledonian University and CELCIS (the Centre for Excellence for Looked after Children in Scotland) joined forces to review progress in relation to supporting students from a looked after background. This episode includes presentations from Neil Maclennan (Scottish Government) (00:38) Jonathan Gray (Scottish Funding Council) (07:18) Susan Mueller (Buttle UK) (23:06) Graham Connolly (CELCIS / Who Cares? Trust) (43:45)Post 16 Education Bill By degrees. From care to University Propel - higher education website for care leavers. Transcript of episode Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free

Using computers and the internet with looked after young people. Aspire Scotland provides high quality residential care and education for children and young people aged between eight and seventeen. Aspire Education is based in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, in a converted cinema which is also home to a number of community facilities - including a cafe, gym and games hall as well as a range of NHS facilities - to which the the school has access. These facilities play an important part in the education programme, helping the young people integrate with the local community and learn about trust and respect. They make extensive and innovative use of computers and the internet and the school has embraced the iPad and other devices as valuable educational resources. Iriss's Ian Watson talked to Head of Education, Francis Scott and Paul Neilson, ICT Manager about the school and its use of computers. Transcript of episode Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free