Evidence-Informed Practice

Curated by Iriss, this collection features: Iriss Insights which summarise evidence on key topics, evidence sources and other related resources.

Short break support is failing family carers: reviewing progress 10 years on from Mencap’s first Breaking Point report

In 2006 Mencap produced a comprehensive review of short break provision. Now, 10 years on, they are revisiting the support available for family carers to see whether recent policy initiatives and investment have delivered the much-needed change. A total of 264 family carers responded to their survey on short breaks provision and experiences of caring. They also sent Freedom of Information requests to all 152 local authorities in England that provide social care services.

Sharing practice to improve outcomes for care leavers. Evaluation report on an inter-authority learning exchange

Evaluation report for the inter-authority learning exchange between Shetland Islands, Falkirk and Glasgow Councils throughcare and aftercare teams.
In February 2014 a member of the Throughcare and Aftercare team from Shetland, spent two weeks in each host authority as a means of developing and sharing practice, experience and learning.
The report describes the planning process, in-situ experience, and post-exchange learning of participants, it also report highlights the positive learning outcomes and benefits achieved for all participating local authorities.

Leading change in supervison: messages from practice

This report describes the rationale, process and learning from a project led by IRISS which explored the topic of supervision with a group of six partners from across the social services sector. The purpose of this report is to share the learning gathered through the project to provide some evidence, inspiration, and pointers for those interested in improving supervision. Key points from the report can be used to prompt reflection and discussion with teams, to review current supervision practice and to help plan improvements.

Meaningful and measurable

Meaningful and Measurable was a Collaborative Action Research project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The project brought together three academic organisations, eight practice partners and four national stakeholder organisations with a shared interest: adopting a focus on personal outcomes in health, social care and other human services.

The project aims included:

Personal Outcomes Network

The Personal Outcomes Network is made up of several organisations working towards the development and implementation of a personal outcomes approach. This site has been developed to bring together a range of resources to support the development and implementation of a personal outcomes approach in health and social care, as well as other human services.

Perspectives on knowledge into action in education and public service reform: a review of relevant literature and an outline framework for change

A literature review from What Works Scotland. It draws on research from the field of health and social care on evidence informed practice and the processes through which knowledge is translated in to action. Talks about role knowledge champions and knowledge brokers and difference between research contributions and research impact

Using and Doing Research

Using and Doing Research is a module developed by IRISS. It consists of three sessions used to explore this topic:
Session 1: Demystifying research and formulating research questions
Session 2: Finding Out
Session 3: Reflecting and Implementing research findings