Embed
The Embed pathway is for anyone who is responsible for managing or supporting others (e.g. supervisors, team leaders, first level managers), or anyone aspiring to develop their knowledge beyond the Explore pathway. This pathway looks at the practical implementation of AI solutions, and the risks and challenges that can come with this.
If you aren't sure you understand any of the content, jump back to the Explore pathway and use the resources there to develop your knowledge before carrying on.
The Embed Pathway
Step 1 - AI in Scotland
| Read |
The Scottish AI Alliance have developed this introductory guide to highlight the opportunities and benefits of AI, as well as the risks and ethical considerations that must be factored in. The guide also looks at the current use of AI across Scotland – pay particular attention to the ‘healthcare’ section. |
| Task |
| Your organisation may also have it’s own guidance on how to use AI safely with consideration of risks and ethical factors. Find out what support is available locally and ensure your colleagues are also aware of this. |
Step 2 - AI in Practice
| Read |
The Scottish AI Register provides information on the AI systems in use or in development within the Scottish public sector. For each AI system on the register, there is a helpful breakdown of the data sets used, how the system works and how human oversight is factored in. Browse the register to find relevant examples to help you understand AI in practice. Link: The Scottish AI Register |
| Question |
| Having explored the examples on the register, where do you think there might be opportunities to utilise AI across your work or the services you provide? |
Step 3 - Checking AI Outputs
| Reflection |
AI tools can produce useful outputs, but they can also be inaccurate, biased, misleading or inappropriate. As AI is becoming more widely used across health and social care, so all staff not just technical specialists have a responsibility to check and challenge outputs before relying on them. What would the impact of poor-quality AI outputs be on your service, team or organisation? |
| Read |
Read the article “How to validate AI output: methods, checklists and tools” from VerifyWise which explains why AI outputs need to be checked and outlines approaches such as human review, consistency checks, safety filters and fact-checking against trusted sources. Link: How to validate AI output: methods, checklists and tools | AI Governance Lexicon | VerifyWise |
| Question |
| What steps could you take to make sure AI outputs are accurate, appropriate and safe within your role, team or service? |
Step 4 - Embedding AI into Everyday Practise
| Reflection |
Introducing AI into a team is not just about choosing the right tool. Staff need to understand how it works, feel confident using it and know how it fits into existing ways of working. Good implementation also means thinking about the people who use services, building trust and making sure new technology supports rather than disrupts good practice. |
| Explore |
Read “Dumfries and Galloway Social Work Services - Introducing Magic Notes to Transform Practice.” The case study explores how social work practitioners introduced Magic Notes, an AI-supported tool that helps create records and assessments from visits, meetings and conversations. Alongside the technology itself, the team had to consider staff engagement, connectivity, technical support and how to explain the tool clearly to people using services. The project ultimately helped reduce administrative workload and gave practitioners more time to focus on people and professional practice. |
| Task |
Consider:
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Step 5 - Testing AI in Real Healthcare Settings (New)
| Reflection |
Introducing AI into health and social care requires more than recognising its potential. Testing new approaches in real-world settings helps organisations understand whether they deliver meaningful benefits, are practical to implement and meet the needs of the people who use them. Involving the workforce and people accessing services from the outset helps ensure AI is shaped by real-world needs, identifies potential issues early and supports safe, person-centred care. Early engagement can also build trust, strengthen adoption and increase the likelihood that new technologies deliver meaningful improvements in practice. |
| Explore |
Read Robot Helps Transform Cardiovascular Health Checks in Scottish NHS GP Surgery, an article from Heriot-Watt University. The article explores how the HEART-POD project tested an AI enabled robot in an NHS Tayside GP practice to support routine cardiovascular health checks. It highlights how feedback from patients and healthcare professionals helped identify potential benefits and practical challenges, including accuracy, privacy and usability, before considering wider implementation. |
| Task |
As you read the article, consider:
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What Next?
You have now completed the Embed pathway.
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Further Resources
Find further resources on artificial intelligence on the Digital and Data Resource Hub.
Feedback
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