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Mastering Rapport: Overcoming Challenges in Digital and In-Person Communication

Rapport is something we all seek, even if we don’t think about it every day. It’s that sense of connection, of feeling understood, and of moving smoothly with others in sync. Whether in our professional lives or at home, rapport matters—and it matters a lot more than we might realize. In today’s fast-paced, digital world, ... Read more

The post Mastering Rapport: Overcoming Challenges in Digital and In-Person Communication appeared first on LifeHack.




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Youth & Criminal Justice in Scotland: The Young Person’s Journey

Youth & Criminal Justice in Scotland: The Young Person’s Journey is a new, interactive online resource that aims to simplify how the youth and criminal justice system works for under 18s in Scotland. The resource was officially launched by Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, on 26 January 2016.

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Keeping it Personal: Improving person-centred care

The People Powered Health and Wellbeing Programme (PPHW), delivered by the Health and Social Care ALLIANCE Scotland is contributing towards the Scottish Government’s ambition to create a safe, effective and person-centred health and social care system.

Each of the PPHW programme partners explored different facets of the PPHW aim. The Iriss project – Keeping It Personal (KiP) – explored the use of person-centred approaches when designing improvements to the delivery of health and social care services. 

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We're seeking a talented Service Designer

Iriss is seeking a Service Designer for its Pilotlight programme to support the continued development and delivery of self-directed support (SDS) in Scotland. 

Pilotlight works with co-design teams of people to design pathways to self-directed support.  Now in its fourth year, the Pilotlight programme uses a design approach to demonstrate how to design support for seldom heard groups, provide more personalised and appropriate services and increase the marketplace of support providers.

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The Vision and Strategy for Social Services: progress report

Social Services in Scotland: a shared vision and strategy for 2015-2020 was launched on World Social Work Day in March 2015 by the Social Work Services Strategic Forum.

A progress report summarising the range of work which is underway to implement the strategy has now been published. While this is a five year strategy, it is clear that even at this early stage real progress is being made collectively by all parts of the sector.  

Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People, who chairs the Strategic Forum, said:

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Pilotlight Evaluation - Invite to Tender

Iriss is seeking to commission an independent Evaluator for its Pilotlight programme to support the continued development and delivery of self-directed support (SDS) in Scotland. 

Pilotlight works with co-design teams of people to design pathways to self-directed support.  Now in its fourth year, the Pilotlight programme uses a design approach to demonstrate how to design support for seldom heard groups, provide more personalised and appropriate services and increase the marketplace of support providers.

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Peer support roles in mental health services

We've published Insight 31 - Peer support roles in mental health services - which was written by Louise Christie, Network Manager (Policy and Development) at Scottish Recovery Network. 

The print version has been newly designed to reflect our new brand and colours. I think you'll agree that it looks rather lovely. Print copies are available on request

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Ministerial visit to Iriss

On 20th July, Mark McDonald, the Minister for Childcare and Early Years paid us a visit at our offices in Glasgow.

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iamsocialwork SUPER:vision Tour Glasgow

iamsocialwork, is a concept that was created by Zoë Betts in 2012, as a newly qualified social worker. It started out as a small, local event in London and has grown into a series of UK-wide events, which offer opportunities for student, recently qualified and qualified social workers to come together to strengthen professional links, peer networks and practice.

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I Tried the Viral DIY Pool Noodle Decor Hack, and It Couldn't Be Easier

I’m definitely going to do this again! READ MORE...








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I Asked Designers What They Really Think About Subway Tile, and They Said the Same Thing

Change is definitely on the horizon. READ MORE...




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If You Spot This $5 Italian Find at Trader Joe's, Grab 2 (It's "So Delicious!")

You can add this cheese to pasta, pizza, or charcuterie boards. READ MORE...





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The Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday Mattress Deals to Shop Right Now

There’s no better time to upgrade your sleep setup than Black Friday and Cyber Monday — two of the biggest sale events of the year. As usual, there are tons of great deals on top-rated mattresses, from trusted names like Tempur-Pedic and Mattress Firm to direct-to-consumer favorites like Purple and Naturepedic. We recommend taking advantage of all these sleep brands impressive sales, especially since a majority of them have already started. Yup, weeks ahead of schedule! READ MORE...








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Old age doesn’t come alone a case study on the impact of the ageing population on a Scottish local authority’s care at home service.

This research was undertaken by Stuart Fordyce as part of an MSc in Integrated Service Improvement (Health and Social Care) at the University of Edinburgh. It considers the impact of a rapidly ageing population on a Scottish local authority and its attempt to shift the focus to a more contemporary service provision. The aim is to explore what factors are inhibiting the effectiveness of enablement. Using a case study approach the research explored whether: (i) enablement is wholly effective in addressing the increase in current service demands; (ii) the approach adopted by the local authority is undermined as services are now over extended and are attempting to address competing objectives, and; (iii) the paradigmatic change across the sector in the future will materialise if organisations cannot create the capacity and infrastructure to enable change to occur




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Older people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds Accessing health and social care services in south GLasgow

The Advocacy Project works with older people and other groups across Glasgow and Lanarkshire to ensure their voice is heard, their needs met and their legal rights safeguarded. The organisation identified a low take up of their own service by older people from BME communities, which was generally held to reflect the wider picture in Glasgow in relation to health and social work services. This report was commissioned by them to examine barriers to access to services specifically for older people from BME communities in Glasgow South, where there is a high concentration of people from BME communities.




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Exploring family carer involvement in forensic mental health services

While there is a growing body of research about carers’ experiences generally, the needs and experience of those who support individuals in forensic (secure) mental health services (forensic carers) have been neglected Support in Mind Scotland (SiMS) and the Forensic Network commissioned this study from the University of Central Lancashire to examine what they identified as ‘significant gaps and inconsistencies’, focusing in particular on the views and experiences of forensic carers.




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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.




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Evaluation of sixteen women's community justice services in Scotland

In 2013-15, the Scottish Government funded 16 projects proposed by criminal justice partners across Scotland to develop community services for women who offend. Developments were based on existing service provision and to ensure changes could be sustained locally at the end of the funding. Funding varied in amount and timeframes. Most of the projects were undertaken by local authority criminal justice social work1 (CJSW) departments with partner providers, including public and third sector agencies. The national evaluation examined how the 16 women’s community justice services (WCJSs) were implemented and to what extent they contributed towards positive outcomes for women. A further aim was to build local capacity for self-evaluation in WCJSs. Findings were drawn from two phases of interviews with practitioners and women, secondary documents, and quantitative data for 1,778 women who were in the WCJSs between April and December 2014. This included outcomes data for 406 women.




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What helps women who have learning disabilities get checked for cervical cancer?

This is a paper produced as part of the PROP2 (Practitioner Research: Outcomes and Partnership) programme, a partnership between the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships (CRFR) at the University of Edinburgh and IRISS that was about health and social care in Scotland. This paper was written by Elaine Monteith from ENABLE Scotland who participated in the PROP2 programme. What this research paper explores: All women are asked to go to the doctor every few years to get a check for cancer but women who have a learning disability don’t go for these checks as often as other women. The paper explore what barriers there are for women attending for checks and also looks at what could be done to encourage women them to attend.




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People affected by dementia programme. Individual awards pilot projects: Argyll & Bute and Edinburgh. Evaluation report

This evaluation report is based on feedback from people living with dementia and carers who received an Individual Award from the Life Changes Trust. The Individual Awards Pilot Scheme was run in Argyll & Bute and Edinburgh in 2014-15 and aimed to provide a small amount of additional financial empowerment to a number of individuals whose lives have been affected by dementia, to help improve their well-being and quality of life. A secondary aim of the pilot scheme was to find out what people would spend the Award on when given relatively broad choice, and what benefit that might bring in the short and medium terms.




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Impact of antiretroviral therapy on liver disease progression and mortality in patients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C: systematic review and meta-analysis

Systematic review produced by the EPPI-Centre in 2015.This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effect of HAART and ARV monotherapy on liver disease progression and liver-related mortality in individuals co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C, including in patients with haemophilia.




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Self-neglect policy and practice: building an evidence base for adult social care

Report 69 published by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) in November 2014. This research, commissioned by the Department of Health (DH), set out to identify what could be learned about current policy and practice in self-neglect, experienced as a highly challenging aspect of contemporary adult social care.




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Mental Capacity Act (MCA) resource

This report shows commissioners and providers of care how to embed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) into care and support planning across the board.




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Can yoga create calm in people with dementia?

This is a paper produced as part of the PROP2 (Practitioner Research: Outcomes and Partnership) programme, a partnership between the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships (CRFR) at the University of Edinburgh and Iriss that was about health and social care in Scotland. This paper was written by Sarah Duff from Alzheimer Scotland who participated in the PROP2 programme and is a research study exploring the experience of group yoga classes and music with those affected by dementia




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Technology changing lives: how technology can support the goals of the Care Act

Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) Report 73 from SCIE roundtable discussion held on 26 March 2015. This report considers the potential of technology to transform how health and social care services are delivered.




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Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS)

CCPS is the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland. Their mission is to identify, represent, promote and safeguard the interests of third sector and not-for-profit social care and support providers in Scotland, so that they can maximise the impact they have on meeting social need.




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British Association of Social Workers (BASW)

BASW is the largest professional association for social work in the UK, with offices in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. BASW promote the best possible social work services for all people who may need them, while also securing the well being of social workers.




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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. The report identifies ideas for future applications of such a learning and practice exchange model to improve practice for looked after young people and care leavers.




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Respite care Scotland 2015 - An offical ststistics publication for Scotland

This publication presents information on support to carers and in particular respite care services provided or purchased by local authorities in Scotland over the financial years 2007 / 2008 to 2014 / 2015.




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ISBA 2016: The 10th international short break conference report

The 10th international short break conference took place in Edinburgh from 13 to 15 September 2016. This conference report explores the barriers experienced in accessing short breaks and how these have been overcome.




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The Outdoors - A Natural Place for Young People with Autism, End of Project Report

This End of Project Report describes an innovative Transition to Work Programme for young people with autistic spectrum diagnoses and is the result of a pilot programme developed by Lothian Autistic Society (LAS) and Scottish Outdoor Education Centres (SOEC) and made possible through funding from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). The pilot had the twin aims of developing employability skills and exploring the therapeutic value of the outdoors. 




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F&S zijn normaal heel streng (NRC, wo, 14-08-24)




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F&S zien alleen nog maar fatbikes (NRC, do, 22-08-24)




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Tim Tales: Deminho and Igor Lucios

Twofold the enjoyment with twice as many Brazilians on Tim Tales! Bottom hottie Igor Lucios is ecstatic over Deminho‘s enormously thick dick; he simply enjoys worshiping that large cock. It’s perfectly curved and really thick. And it feels like nirvana within his avaricious culo. Don’t Brazilians just know when they should crank up the temperature?... View Article

The post Tim Tales: Deminho and Igor Lucios appeared first on QueerClick.




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Say Uncle | Latin Leche: Rodrigo El Santo and Alexander Rajesh

New on Latin Leche, a Say Uncle site: You are horny all day at your job and you just can’t wait to get home and fuck your main squeeze… and fuck they just want to argue, talk about blue balls! So, you head to the gym and after an intense session you enter the sauna….... View Article

The post Say Uncle | Latin Leche: Rodrigo El Santo and Alexander Rajesh appeared first on QueerClick.




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BelAmi Online: Callum Dean Fucks Tommy Clapton

Back at the BelAmi “Frisky Summer” ranch, the heat is on. It’s early in the morning and Tommy Clapton is already up and around, so as horny Callum Dean wakes up and decides he needs a bit of morning sex, he has to find his bunk mate and ask if he can lend a hand.... View Article

The post BelAmi Online: Callum Dean Fucks Tommy Clapton appeared first on QueerClick.




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FAFO: Nikki Haley Edition (With A Pompeo Assist)

In today's edition of FAFO (F*ck Around and Find Out) we have Nikki Haley (with an assist by Mike Pompeo) who is learning the hard way that MAGA loyalty only goes one way. They want your vote and your support, but won't do anything to make your life better. Once you kiss the ring and show your soft underbelly of weakness, you are no longer useful.

Nikki Haley threw her support behind Donald Trump, after running a fairly solid anti-Trump Republican campaign against him. But even after she gave up, he never forgave her. And on Saturday he put the knife in and twisted it even harder, publicly FIRING her (and Mike Pompeo) before he even takes office.

Her response was pathetic.


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It's Going To Be A Very Special Jesse Watters Thanksgiving

Jesse Watters' mother, Anne Purvis, was a child psychologist. His dad, Stephen Hapgood Watters, was a teacher. Both parents came from a long line of achievers, and sent him to Penn Charter, a very liberal private Quaker school here in Philadelphia.

Despite his accomplished parents and his education, look how he turned out.

Every time he shows up on Twitter, I comment, "Your mother only talks to you so she can see her grandchildren."

Sounds like I was right, because Jesse's mother has disinvited him from the family Thanksgiving this year. Something about "scheduling." But she told him he could come the next day for leftovers.

He said no thanks, he would be at Best Buy.

Understand, this isn't just a difference of opinion. Jesse Watters is a horrible person who lies and distorts in ways that harm our country.

Time for karma, Jesse, you nasty piece of work. Guess you thought you got away with it, huh? After all, you're rich and famous!

Well, your own family doesn't want to be around you on the holiday that's all about family.

And your mom's bitten her tongue long enough.

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Bluesky Social Media App Picks Up 700K New Users Since Election

Bluesky, the social media platform whose interface most resembles Twitter, has picked up more than 700,000 new users since the election, as users seek to escape misinformation and offensive posts on X. Via The Guardian:

The influx, largely from North America and the UK, has helped Bluesky reach 14.5 million users worldwide, up from 9 million in September, the company said.

Social media researcher Axel Bruns said the platform offered an alternative to X, formerly Twitter, including a more effective system for blocking or suspending problematic accounts and policing harmful behaviour.

“It’s become a refuge for people who want to have the kind of social media experience that Twitter used to provide, but without all the far-right activism, the misinformation, the hate speech, the bots and everything else,” he said.

It's not a natural fit for bloggers, because you can far too easily get kicked off for saying mean or controversial things and hurting people's feelings. So I'll straddle both.


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Alex Jones: Infowars Tagged For Death

One of the oldest conspiracy and 'black helicopter' frauds is now facing the hand of the law. Alex Jones is reaping what he sowed.

During a portion of his Info Wars program, Alex Jones lamented over how his show is being stripped and sold off after a just verdict against him for his lies about Sandy Hook victims and their families.

A verdict he described as a "Nazi show trial."

Sucks to be you, Alex. And it couldn't happen to a more deserving guy.

JONES: InfoWars, the equipment, InfoWars.com, InfoWarsStore.com, and a whole bunch of other stuff is at a federal bankruptcy auction from the fake judgments and the rigged trials where I was found guilty beforehand and they had literal show trials out of the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany.

Robin, I walked in here during the break after getting a glass of water, saw the auctioneers inside the building, going around surveying from the last time they were here to make sure all the stuff's here. Everything tagged, everything marked, this death.

Good riddance, you motherfrakker.

Rudy Giuliani is trying to avoid the same fate.

We need more of these creeps to face the same punishment.

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