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ALISS FAQs

Welcome to the ALISS FAQs where you can find answers to your questions about the ALISS Programme. 

What is the ALISS Programme?

The ALISS programme is a national programme designed to connect people to local community services and supports that can improve their health and wellbeing. It aims to make it easier to find and share, services, activities, groups, clubs and resources across Scotland.

ALISS is funded by the Scottish Government and is part of the wider Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) portfolio.

The ALISS Programme led to the creation of the ALISS (A Local Infomation System for Scotland) website. ALISS connects people with local and national services that support their physical, mental, and emotional, health and wellbeing. Through ALISS, people can find services that help them feel better, live fuller lives, and manage challenges they may face.

 The ALISS Programme has two areas of work:

1. Service Design

We use a person-centred design approach to continuously improve ALISS based on feedback from our users. By gathering insights through methods like interviews, surveys, and workshops, we create and test new features to better meet user needs. This ongoing process helps ensure that ALISS evolves in response to the people who use it.

To learn more about our approach, visit our Person Centred Design page on the ALLIANCE website

2. Community, Engagement and Partnerships

Our engagement team works with organisations and communities across Scotland to explore how ALISS can meet their needs, they can also provide tailored support and training for individuals and teams. 

To learn more, visit the Community Engagement and Partnerships page on the ALLIANCE website.

Watch our video which tells you a bit more about ALISS!

Include transcript

Learn more about the ALISS programme on the About ALISS page

What is the difference between an organisation and a service on ALISS?

We use the broad terms "organisations" and "services" to cover a wide range of information on ALISS. An organisation could be a charity, a business, or a small group and a service is the specific support or activity they offer. But sometimes, these terms overlap and we recognise that the terms organisation and service can sometimes mean the same thing.

The examples below highlight the different ways organisations and their services can be listed on ALISS. This demonstrates how ALISS accommodates a wide range of organisations, from national charities to small local groups:

  • A national charity such as Action for M.E. lists multiple services including:
  • A resource such as {link to a resource}. 

What can I find when searching the ALISS website?

When searching the ALISS website, you can find a wide range of services in your community and online that can improve your health and wellbeing. These include services related to physical health, mental health, support for carers, community activities, and much more. 

Click on the images below to view the diverse services you can find on ALISS!

 

   

fork and knife centered in a circular white area, with a light blue background shaped like a location pin, and the text "Food bank" displayed below in bold white letters.
Browse Foodbanks on ALISS

      test      t      m       n

            Foodbanks         Housing and Homelessness       Money Advice               Walking Groups                Community Cafes

  How can I use ALISS?

  • Search

Anyone can search ALISS, you don't need an account, click on the home page and search.

You can search for services by location and search term or browse categories using the quick access category buttons under the search box.

Click on the image of the ALISS home page to try out the different search options!

The ALISS homepage: At the top are links like "About ALISS" and "Add to ALISS." A main heading says, "Connecting you to your community." Below is a search box with "Where" and "What" buttons. Colorful icons below show categories like Activities and Community Resources.

 

  • Create an account: An ALISS account lets you add to ALISS and create collections where you can save your favourite services and share them with others.

You can create multiple collections ...........

[Add images of adding to a collection and button on service]

[Create a video showing the process, eventually]

test

{Create an account link}

  • Add to ALISS: You can add organisations, services, groups, activities and resources. We split these into organisations and services to make adding simple. 

You can add:

    • A large organisation that provides services in locations all over Scotland such as???????????.
    • A small community group running a single activity at a location, such as a knitting group at the local community centre.
    • An online service, available within a region or throughout Scotland.
    • An outreach service, such as a podiatrist, who offers home visits.

Our video makes it easy to learn how to add to ALISS! 

Include Transcript

We also have a guidance page where you can follow the step-by-step instructions. [Link to guidance page]

  • Become an ALISS Editor:

 

How can I get help using ALISS?

If you need help adding or searching for services on ALISS, we are here to support you!

You can visit our help centre for guidance on using and adding to the website,

What’s Available?

  • Video Tutorials: Learn how to get started, add services, and manage information.
  • Downloadable Guides: Step-by-step instructions on adding services, writing effective descriptions, and more.

Explore the help videos and resources and give ALISS a try! 

Test

 If you prefer to speak to someone, the ALISS team are here to help, you can contact us by:

 

Is ALISS only for people in Scotland?

Yes, ALISS can connect the people of Scotland to health and wellbeing resources in their community. Anyone can look at the ALISS platform and explore the information, but the services listed are mainly for Scottish people and communities.

Explore health and wellbeing services throughout Scotland!

Test

  

What does the claimed badge mean?

Some organisations and service listings have a blue claimed badge next to their name: 

Small blue rounded rectangle with a white rosette icon and "Claimed in white bold text.

Important things to know when you see the badge:

  • A verified ALISS account is responsible for maintaining the information. They represent the organisation and/or service and have the authority and knowledge to keep the information accurate and up to date on ALISS.
  • Each listing can have one lead "claimed account holder" and multiple "managers" helping to maintain the information.
  • The ALISS team approves every lead claim request.
  • The ALISS team does not check or approve the information on every claimed page.
  • A claimed badge can help people searching ALISS trust the information they find.

Add a link: Link to a page explaining the claimed badge process and its benefits.

 

Is there a cost to use ALISS?


No, ALISS is free to use. You can search the website and add your organisation and service details for free as long as the information complies with the ALISS terms and conditions.

What do I do if ALISS pages aren’t loading correctly?

 

If website pages aren't loading properly, try clearing your browser cache. The cache is temporary data stored on your device.

Click the links below for instructions on how to clear your cache in different browsers.

FAQs for Organisations

 

How do I display ALISS information on my website?

Use the ALISS Application Programming Interface (API) for flexible integration or the JavaScript Plugin and customisable map for a pre-built solution.

  • API: Gives total flexibility in how you present the ALISS information on your website. However, implementing this requires a web developer with expertise to adapt your website to handle and present the data received from the API.
  • JavaScript plugin: The plug-in is a piece of code that can be added to your existing website to embed an ALISS search box. it is less flexible than the API but easier for a developer to implement. 
  • Customisable Map:

[Link to Swagger]

[Link to JavaScript Plugin]

[Link to Customisable map]

 

What is an API, and how can I use it with ALISS?


An API allows developers to access ALISS data directly and customise its display. It can filter data by location, category, and more.

 

Add a link: Direct to developer resources.
Add an example: Link to websites using the ALISS API.

 

Can I use the JavaScript Plugin with a WordPress site?

Yes, follow the instructions on the ALISS GitHub page.

Add a link: Direct to GitHub.

I do not have the funds for a developer, what can I do? 

You may be able to find a volunteer developer who can assist. The Scottish Tech Army is a volunteer-run initiative that may be able to help you locate a developer. 

Can I bulk upload data to ALISS?

Not at this time.

 

 

Suggestions for anything missing:

  • Privacy and Security: Add a section linking to the privacy policy
  • ALISS News Add a section linking to ALISS news
  • Feedback Option: Add an email address for people to contact if their questions are missing
  • Map: Add a link and blurb about customisable map and show it on a website
  • Governance: Infomation regarding the service review process
  • Age: Is there an age limit to sign up for an ALISS account

 

Contact information

You can get in touch with us using the following details:

Find ALISS on social media

Copyright 2024 Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE). Licensed under a Creative Commons Licence (Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).