{"id":882,"date":"2015-09-22T16:41:16","date_gmt":"2015-09-22T15:41:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.researchunbound.org.uk\/iriss\/?page_id=882"},"modified":"2019-04-10T15:57:40","modified_gmt":"2019-04-10T14:57:40","slug":"introduction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.researchunbound.org.uk\/iriss\/introduction\/","title":{"rendered":"Introduction"},"content":{"rendered":"
The work of IRISS<\/a> (Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services),<\/a> a third sector organisation supporting the social services workforce in Scotland to deliver positive outcomes for individuals, is guided by a number of key principles. These include:<\/p>\n This approach to harnessing existing resources in a nimble and flexible manner, underpinned by technical support, is facilitated by our multidisciplinary staff group which offers a unique blend of skills focused on policy, practice, research and evaluation, service design and digital media. This team generates an environment in which ideas cross-fertilise and a culture that is open to, and confident with, change and experimentation.<\/p>\n The principles outlined above shape IRISS\u2019s approach to cost effective and innovative evidence informed practice. Much of our evidence-informed practice activity is characterised by the development and trial of innovative methods and approaches, building on what is already known but moving into the unknown, trying things out where there are no guarantees of success.\u00a0 Our stance is that whether innovation is radical or incremental, it implies a real change in how things are done (IRISS, 2011<\/a>). While acknowledging the complexity of the implementation process, IRISS\u2019s approach is pragmatic, seeking to accommodate the practical realities of achieving evidence-informed practice in a cost effective manner.<\/p>\n Our work is characterised by four pillars of activity, depicted below.<\/p>\n\n