Research Projects

Making the Connections Project: Barriers to Public Engagement
The main objective of this study on the Barriers to Public Engagement undertaken for the Welsh Assembly Government was to understand the institutional, economic and social barriers to engagement across the Public Sector in Wales. ORS undertook 100 in-depth telephone interviews with Council officers, community representatives and the voluntary sector, including interviews across all equalities streams. Read more...

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Customer Satisfaction Survey
ORS was commissioned by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to undertake a survey of their customers, including those making initial enquiries, those who had their complaint investigated by the Ombudsman and those who requested a review when the PHSO had declined to pursue their complaint. The research was based on a rolling programme of detailed telephone interviews.

Understanding the Needs and Aspirations of Asylum Seekers
Working in partnership with the University of Wales Swansea, ORS was commissioned by the Home Office to undertake a study to investigate the needs and aspirations of asylum seekers who were coming to the UK. The study involved a programme of detailed interviews with a full cross-section of asylum seekers at centres in London, Dover and South Wales.

Strategy and Policy Development

Development of a Rural Health Strategy for Wales
National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare (NLIAH) commissioned ORS to undertake an innovative programme of consultation to contribute to a rural health strategy for Wales. The project involved consultation with clinicians, diverse focus groups with the general public and special interest groups across Wales, discussion forums at agricultural shows and detailed analysis of feedback forms. Read more...

Towards Diversity II: Development of a National Equalities and Diversity Action Plan
DETR commissioned ORS to develop a national equalities and diversity action plan for the UK Fire and Rescue Service. This project involved engagement with a wide range of stakeholders to work towards an acceptable but challenging action plan to stimulate UK Fire and Rescue Services to pursue equality and diversity initiatives, forming the foundations for wider cultural change.

Research Support

Supporting the Inequalities in Health Fund Research Projects
Provision of evaluation support and training to 62 Inequalities in Health Fund Research Projects – involving support to middle and senior clinicians and managers on wide range of health promotion projects across the whole of Wales. In particular, the work covered medical ethics, research design, surveys and sampling, qualitative research, report writing and evaluation. Read more...

National Cultural Audit survey for UK Fire and Rescue Services
ORS was commissioned by the Scottish Executive and Chief Fire Officers’ Association to develop and implement a UK-wide National Cultural Audit survey for Fire and Rescue Service personnel, including systematic benchmarking comparisons. The project has been successfully implemented for the eight Scottish fire services and is now being used by fire services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Read more...

Evaluative Reviews

Review of DCELLS Channels for Procuring Research and Evaluation Studies
ORS was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) to undertake an evaluative review of channels for the procurement of research and evaluation studies through a desk-top analysis of the operation of Framework Contracts and extended consultation with educationalists and other stakeholders within and outside Wales.

Review of English Partnerships' National Framework Contract Panels
Analysis and evaluative review of local authorities’ use of English Partnerships' National Framework Contract Panels (a number of high-value consultant panels used by English Partnerships’ partner organisations to procure consultant services). The study reviewed how the Panels are used in terms of work commissioned, use of mini-tenders, range of consultants appointed, value for money, and overall effectiveness.

Evaluation of the European Election Training Programme
Working in partnership with SOLACE on behalf of the Home Office, ORS reviewed the training programme provided to election staff in advance of the European Elections. The study involved the analysis of in excess of 120,000 feedback forms from staff alongside a national programme of staff focus groups and 17,000 exit interviews which were conducted with voters on polling day about the service that they had received.

Review of NHS Wales Staff Communications
ORS was commissioned to undertake an evaluative review of NHS Wales Staff Communications on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government Department of Health and Social Care. The project was based on a year-long study of the DHSC’s communications with health employees across the whole of the NHS in Wales involving both quantitative and qualitative research techniques.