Social care spotlight on resources

Access anytime, anywhere with your OpenAthens username and password. We have a range of collections available including

Emerald social care journals

This collection includes 32 journal titles who publish articles across topics such as:

• Adult protection and safeguarding
• Autism
• Children’s services
• Integrated care
• Learning and intellectual disabilities
• Management of health and care services
• Mental health
• Migration
• Substance abuse and misuse

ProQuest sociology collection

This collection provides access to databases from this supplier:

• Applied social sciences index and abstracts (ASSIA)
• Sociological abstracts
• Sociology database

These are some of the best available, most comprehensive databases including full-text journal and non-journal content needed by sociology and social work researchers. You will find international literature in sociology, social services and related fields.

Find all of this content and more when you search The Knowledge Network Library Search

We have added over 120 new eBooks to our collections in 2025.

Within that are many titles relevant to social care across topics such as:

• Health inequalities
• Research
• Mental health
• Palliative care
• Alcohol and drug misuse
• Leadership

Take a look at this selection on The Knowledge Network Library Search.

Social care staff in Scotland get free access to British and International standards via Barbour on The Knowledge Network.

This is a trusted and comprehensive provider of regulatory information, guidance, standards and resources to support you with your organisation’s EHS (Environmental, Health and Safety) compliance. They break down complex legislation and provide flexible tools to help simplify and manage our responsibilities.

Over 1000 standards are available on Barbour via The Knowledge Network, completely free for all health and social care staff in Scotland. Examples include:

• Quality management systems requirements (BS EN ISO 9001)
• Fire risk management systems — Requirements with guidance for use (BS 9997:2019)
• Safeguarding for organizations – Guide (BS 25800:2024)
• Provision of lone worker services — Code of practice (BS 8484:2022)
• Organizational responses to modern slavery — Guidance (BS 25700:2022)

Find out how to sign in to Barbour on The Knowledge Network help pages.

Watch this short videos to see how to search for standards relevant to you: Barbour EHS help: How to search for BSI (The British Standards Institution) documents (youtube.com)

Social care staff can find a huge range of expertly designed management and leadership tools and resources that are effective and evidence-based. MindTools supports you to build confidence and skills both personally and professionally across:

• Leadership and management
• Business skills
• Personal development
• Key management skills

With a personal account you can track your progress, save, and share resources, and access more relevant training: Set up a Mind Tools account

Keep yourself informed and up to date with our current awareness bulletins, expertly curated by NHS Scotland Librarians.

These bulletins provide you with the latest insights across a wide range of important health and social care topics. Our librarians meticulously review recent literature, ensuring that each bulletin is packed with high-quality, relevant evidence. Bulletins of interest to social care may include:

• Alcohol harm prevention
• Childhood healthy weight
• Domestic violence

Browse the full range and subscribe: Current awareness

Not sure where to start?

Our help pages tell you how to set up your OpenAthens and start using our services: Getting started

Tap into training from NES Knowledge Services via Training opportunities

Still not sure? Contact us via the details below, we are here to help you get the best from your digital library.