briefing paper

Recovery, public mental health and wellbeing

Paper that outlines how public mental health and the growing ‘wellbeing’ movement can contribute to one of the key challenges for recovery: increasing opportunities for building a life beyond illness (Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, 2009a), keeping in mind the principles of respect for people’s self determination, choice, control and potential, as well as for support that does not undermine citizenship.

SCIE research briefing 43: effective supervision in social work and social care

This research briefing provides an overview of the evidence concerning the value of supervision in supporting the practice of social care and social work. It is relevant to both children’s and adult social care services and includes a consideration of supervision in integrated, multi-professional teams. While the focus is on social work and social care, some of the research reviewed includes participants from other professions such as nursing and psychology.

At a glance 61: co-production and participation: older people with high support needs

This At a glance briefing gives a summary of a review of literature and a small-scale survey of good practice on the participation and co-production of older people with high support needs. The report brings together the most recent and relevant research findings and development initiatives and identifies barriers to the participation of older people with high support needs and some solutions. It also identifies effective practice initiatives for increasing the participation of older people with high support needs, as well as new approaches to involve older people with high support needs.

A Strategy and Action Plan for Embedding Knowledge in Practice in Scotland's Social Services

The strategy describes how a collaboration between Scottish Government, the NHS Education for Scotland, the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services, the Imporovement Service for Local Government, the Scottish Social Services Council and the Association of Directors of Social Work will improve outcomes through putting new knowledge into practice.

The challenges of developing and managing mixed tenure housing

Short piece of research into the practical challenges of developing and then managing mixed tenure developments in Scotland. A survey was sent out to local authorities and housing associations across Scotland in an attempt to gather information on some of the barriers or challenges associated with mixed tenure developments and how organisations have sought to overcome these. A developer perspective was also sought.

Picking up the pieces: supporting carers with emergency planning

This report presents the findings of research carried out by ENABLE Scotland between April 2011 and April 2012 with the aim of improving knowledge and understanding of emergency planning for carers in Scotland, particularly within the wider context of Carer’s Assessments.

The report has two main objectives:

1. To establish the provision of support to carers with emergency planning across all local authority areas, highlighting examples of good practice and producing recommendations based on the findings.

2. To explore the role of sibling carers.

A review of the literature on respite care provision

This literature review focuses on the current provision of respite care / disabled Holidays in the UK. It particularly focuses on the views of the Government and disabled advocacy groups regarding the provision and funding of respite, and the effects of the recent government spending review upon these services. Literature was also studied relating to the views of respite care held by disabled people and their carers.

Dementia: autonomy and decision-making. Putting principles into practice. Research summary and recommendations for policy and practice

This project drew on the experiences of over 100 carers (family members, partners, friends, volunteers) who have taken on the role of proxy decision-maker for someone with dementia. I wish to thank them all for their invaluable contributions to informing both the practical guide to making decisions and this report.

Play in staffed provision: the Scottish experience

Research briefing which is based on an online survey of 20 questions. The survey was administered in November and December 2011. Initially, childcare providers in Glasgow, East Ayrshire, West Lothian and the Shetland Isles were invited to participate, using a contact list provided by the Care Commission. Youth Scotland and the Scouts promoted awareness of the research through their ezines. Similarly, the Smartplay Network brought the research to the attention of toy library contacts.