RRR Consultancy was founded by Dr Kate Rust-Ryan and Dr Alan Rust-Ryan. Our primary aim is to ensure that public, voluntary and private organisations have sound evidence on which to base policy decisions.
Our social research team includes associates who are experts in undertaking both quantitative and qualitative research. They are highly experienced in undertaking social research as well as strategy and policy development. The team are skilled and adept at ensuring that the most relevant findings from existing research are succinctly summarised.
As well as undertaking large-scale research, RRR Consultancy has extensive experience of undertaking smaller-scale research projects. We understand the importance of closely liaising with clients to ensure that research projects are completed swiftly and effectively.
RRR Consultancy also offers ‘best practice’ training courses to help ensure that public, voluntary and private organisations understand and successfully implement policies and procedures.
directors
Dr Kate Rust-Ryan has over 15 years experience of research culminating in an extensive professional portfolio. Her specialist areas, in relation to both research and training, include safeguarding children, young people and adults; domestic violence; inter- and intra- and multi agency working; policy and practice; the provision of services and service user involvement; hard to reach people and groups; implications of tragedies and Every Child Matters policy.
Prior to establishing RRR Consultancy, Kate worked as a lecturer and researcher at the University of Lincoln, where she completed her PhD on Domestic Abuse and Inter Agency Working. Her lecturing duties involved training pre- and post- Qualified Social Workers.
Dr Alan Rust-Ryan has over 20 years experience of undertaking social research and extensive experience of writing strategies on behalf of public bodies. For 10 years he worked in academia where he undertook many research projects on issues such as: young people and crime, community control, homelessness, housing needs, older people, people with support needs, ethnic minorities, migrant workers and students.
Whilst working as a Senior Researcher at Fordham Research, Alan gained extensive experience of working on housing and planning research projects which involved policy and strategy development. He has extensive experience of undertaking public policy evaluations and cost-benefit analysis. For example, in 2009 he undertook a cost-benefit analysis of housing policy on behalf of West Lancashire Borough Council. More recently, he has evaluated Family Intervention Projects (FIPs) and Work Focused Services (WFS) as well as researching children's perceptions of financial hardship. He is currently developing a multi-agency tool which determines the needs of families and appropriate multi-agency responses.
associates
Gary Craig is Professor of Community Development and Social Justice at the University of Durham and Emeritus Professor of Social Justice at the University of Hull. He is also Associate Fellow at the Wilberforce Institute for the study of Slavery and Emancipation where he has led the team working on issues of modern slavery. He has about 300 publications to his name and his most recent publications include the jointly edited book Social Justice and Public Policy (Policy Press, 2008), Community capacity building (with others: OECD 2009), and Mapping rapidly changing ethnic minority populations (with others: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2010). He is immediate Past President of the International Association of Community Development, an academician of the AcSS and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. His main research interests are in 'race' and ethnicity, modern slavery, poverty, local governance and community development.
Professor Michael Preston-Shoot is Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at the University of Bedfordshire (see www.beds.ac.uk). He holds a social work qualification and a postgraduate qualification in psychotherapy. He is Chair of a Local Safeguarding Children Board and Chair of a Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Board. Michael’s nationally and internationally recognised research work falls principally into four main areas: mapping the needs of different client groups involved with health and social services; the interface between law and professional practice; the effectiveness of social services and other agencies; and the outcomes of social work education.
Professor Jeff Hearn is Research Professor, University of Huddersfield, UK and Professor, Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki, Finland, and Linköping University, Sweden. He has published very extensively on sociology, organisations and management, social policy, men, gender relations, sexuality, violence, and cultural studies. He was Principal Contractor of the EU Framework 5 10-nation Research Network "The Social Problem of Men", a Partner in the EU Framework 6 Coordinated Action on Human Rights Violations, and a Lead Partner in EU Framework 7 genSET on Gender Equality and Research Excellence in European Science. He was also part of the European expert group for Directorate-General for Research, Science and Society, European Commission on Gendering Excellence in Science, 2004. His current research focuses on men, gender relations and transnational organising.
Steve Pisano has many years experience of working within the education including the primary, secondary, FE and HE sectors. Between 1990-1994 he was acting Headteacher of a special primary education school in Wandsworth, London, whilst between 1994-2000 he was Headteacher of Stockwell junior school in Wandsworth.
Steve was seconded to Lambeth LEA between 2000-2002 advising on study support, educational business links, headteacher mentoring and extended schools. Since 2002 Steve has worked as an educational advisor and consultant. He has worked with many clients including 26 London Boroughs as well as Coram, Continyou, TDA, Education Extra, London Leadership Centre, CEDC, YFA and various primary, secondary and special schools in London.
Phil Lee has worked as a youth worker, community worker, psychiatric social worker and lecturer in social work and social policy. He was Head of the Centre for Studies in the Social Science at Edge Hill University for over ten years. He then became Director of the School of Applied Social Sciences at Liverpool John Moores University. Phil has published widley, and has presented papers at many international conferences. He specialises in the relationship between social policies, particularly social work, politics and welfare delivery. He has a particular interest in masculinity and how masculinity is defined in social policies, especially how men are processed by social service departments.
After completing his social work training Clive Baldwin worked in the voluntary sector in a variety of developmental roles and community work. He completed his PhD in 2000 on Munchasuen Syndrome by Proxy and his postdoctoral studies on dementia, family carers and ethics. Since 2003 he has worked at the University of Bradford, initially as Senior Lecturer in Dementia Studies and currently as Programme Director of Approved Mental Health Professional Training and MA in Mental Health Practice.
Jamie Keddie has expertise in a range of approaches to community and service user involvement, co-production and capacity building. He has skills in qualitative and quantitative social research methods applied in the fields of health, housing and social care with a particular emphasis on reducing inequalities. He has worked in the public, private and third sectors Jamie has an MSc in Social Research and BA (Hons) Sociology from the University of Edinburgh , and is currently studying part time for a PhD from the London School of Economics focussing on the impact of gentrification of long-term residents within a South London neighbourhood.
Ed Bickle has worked within the education sector for the past ten years. He has particular experience in conducting research with young people and their relevant stakeholders and has worked extensively within the school environment. He has a number of years experience in conducting evaluative research of Widening Participation and outreach activities for young people from under-represented groups. Between 2004-11 he worked as a researcher on the nationally funded 'Aimhigher' Scheme
(see www.bidresearch.com).
Anne Johnson has almost 30 years experience of working in the field of substance use. She is a fully qualified Registered Mental Nurse, and is highly skilled and qualified in relation to child protection, psychology, psychiatry, addiction, substance use, mental health and domestic abuse. Anne has worked as a member of a Community Drugs Team, has been Team Manager of a Drugs and Alcohol Team, and has designed and developed numerous substance misuse services. She currently works with offenders with dual diagnosis needs (mental health and substance use) and victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse (including MARACS).
Daniel Ryan has over thirty years experience in education and local politics. He began his career working on community projects in different parts of the world, including Africa and the US. His specialist areas include children and families, education, and local and national politics. Daniel has worked as a head teacher of an inner London school for children with behavioural difficulties. He has taken an active and key role in local and regional community development projects and spent some years as a local councillor.
Kathryn Borg started working with Gypsies and travellers for the Gypsy Project, based at Bosworth college in Leicestershire. She ran adult literacy, cookery and video production classes, until forming Wildcall with Amanda Stroud. As well as running driving theory and literacy classes on the traveller sites, she also works for Atmospheres Ltd, as a script writer and production assistant, working on many school and college based productions. She has undertaken research with Gypsies and Travellers including undertaking interviews for Gypsy and Travellers Gypsy Accommodation Assessments (GTAAs). She finds that her friendly approach to their work makes her well-received and trusted within the traveller and Gypsy community.
Amanda Stroud has worked for Crash Arts providing art and craft classes for Gypsies and Travellers, and photography classes for mainstream students as well as for the travelling community. She has also worked with old people and those with learning disabilities. She is a freelancer for Atmospheres Ltd, a video production company, working on productions for schools. In 1997 she formed Wildcall with Kathryn Borg, to provide summer play schemes, nursery classes and adult literacy classes for Gypsies and Travellers. They received funding from the local councils, Children in Need and Comic Relief, amongst other charities. With Kathryn, she has undertaken research with Gypsies and Travellers including undertaking interviews. At weekends she plays the double bass in two bands
Ian Holmes works for a community development trust based in West Hull (see www.pandaltd.co.uk). He has over 20 years experience of carrying out research for a number of local authorities, community organisations and businesses. This includes some of the largest consultation exercises carried out as part of successful regeneration bids. Ian has also played a key role in the development of Sure Start programmes across Hull, including the Rainbow Children’s Centre which has been described by the Sure Start programme's national architect as the “best designed in the country”.
Irna Qureshi is a qualitative researcher who specialises in working with South Asian and Muslim audiences. Her extensive research experience has been honed through work with academic institutions, museums, broadcasters, arts agencies, central government departments, as well as a number of market research agencies. Irna has a background in anthropology, oral history, curatorial work and media which allows her to draw on an extensive range of methodologies and research techniques. She regularly conducts focus groups in a number of South Asian languages throughout the country, and has carried out extensive fieldwork in India and Pakistan.
Brigitte Peach is Managing Director of Languages for Life (see www.languagesforlifeltd.com). Through Brigitte, we offer translation and interpreting services. Brigitte’s company specialises in translation, interpreting and language tuition services covering most languages. She offers a high quality service in a friendly, reliable and approachable manner. All of her language tutors, translators and interpreters are highly qualified and experienced.
Gill Phillips has over 30 years of experience in local government, particularly social care. She is a strong believer in the personalisation of services and adopting an outcomes-focused approach in order to offer people more choice and control and a better quality of life. Wishing to pursue innovative ways of engaging people, Gill established Nutshell Communications Ltd (see www.nutshellcomms.co.uk) and developed Whose Shoes? - Putting People First - a thought-provoking, interactive board game. This award-winning learning and development tool helps people to work together across organisational and hierarchical boundaries to understand the opportunities and challenges of personalisation and develop imaginative solutions.