In December 2007 SIESWE changed its name to the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS).

The Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education (SIESWE, known widely in the social services sector as "the Institute") had been established in 2003 as a collaboration of the nine Scottish universities involved in teaching social work, with the aim of transforming the education and training of Scotland’s future social workers. This collaboration has proved to be extremely successful and has established the Institute as a leading player in developing the social services sector in Scotland.

With wider challenges emerging, particularly from the Scottish Executive report Changing Lives: Report of the 21st Century Social Work Review, the Institute consulted members and partners about how it could build on its track record and engage more effectively with the social services sector as a whole.

As a result, in early 2007 the Institute became a charitable company limited by guarantee with the Scottish universities teaching social work education as founding members. The Institute has new aims and objectives and a new Strategic Board comprising representatives from universities, colleges, employers, voluntary sector and service users and carers. The Strategic Board will drive strategic change, promote continuously improving practice and ensure high quality governance enabling the Institute to meet its widening role in the implementation of the visionary Changing Lives agenda.