Ross has worked on numerous evaluations related to criminal justice, health and social care. Prior to joining Cordis Bright, Ross completed the Unlocked Graduates Leadership Development Programme, working on the frontline as a Prison Officer, while completing his MSc and working on policy. He has experience working with young offenders, gang members, sexual offenders, and extremist prisoners. During this time, Ross was a Becoming Trauma Informed Instructor, running a training package to increase staff awareness of trauma and integrate a more informed approach into their practice. He has also collaboratively developed ways to improve outcomes for minorities in custody as an Equality Representative and continues to be a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group for Unlocked Graduates.

Ross completed his research dissertation conducting a qualitative analysis into staff-prisoner relationships and prisoner involvement using a Critical Realist methodology. He has also designed and written a Policy Paper to improve the use of prisoner time, which explored the meaning of ‘purposeful activity’ within prison legislation and inspectorate criteria.

Ross’ skills and experience include:

• Conducting in-depth interviews and focus groups with a wide variety of stakeholders and service users.
• Thematic analysis of qualitative data.
• Conducting robust and rigorous analysis of large datasets from a range of sources including surveys, national statistics and monitoring data.
• Undertaking extensive literature and document reviews on a range of topics.
• Designing research tools including surveys, interview topic guides and evaluation frameworks.
• Producing high quality, accessible reports and summaries that synthesise findings and provide actionable recommendations for clients.

Ross’ recent and current projects include:

• Evaluation of a programme which provides support and funding for locally-designed interventions in neighbourhoods affected by high and sustained levels of violence. The evaluation involves fieldwork, analysing data and writing reports to find out the key strengths and challenges, as well as the lessons learned from the programme.
• Evaluation of a regional programme in Wales aiming to divert women and young adults away from the criminal justice system and into support.
• Evaluation of the national Living Well programme. Living Well is a multi-site initiative led by Innovation Unit, which aims to introduce a new model for mental health and wellbeing services. The model takes a holistic, solutions-focused, whole person approach to mental health and wellbeing. The evaluation involves qualitative and quantitative consultation with stakeholders in the four Living Well sites across the UK to evaluate the implementation and impact of the programme.
  
• Review of social prescribing in and around the South Downs National Park to understand more about the different forms of social prescribing activity currently taking place and people’s views about the current capacity within the sector and limitations on it. As well as to help the South Downs National Park Authority to understand how it can best support health and wellbeing providers to develop their offer so that more people can benefit from access to the green space of the National Park.
• Evaluation of the Stockport Together Programme which aims to improve the health of the local population, develop programmes of integrated care, and secure cost saving efficiencies.
• Evaluation of the Greater Manchester VCSE Health and Social Care Project. A qualitative evaluation of the value and impact of the VCSE project, including in-depth interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders and senior leaders across four examples of best practice – Mental Health Leaders, Homelessness Action Network, Commissioning Framework and Big Alcohol Conversation.