Rish McDonald.People. Belief. The Institutions we Build.
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CONSULTANCY / POLICY, CULTURE & EVIDENCE

Good evidence.
Better decisions.

I work with organisations that need to understand what is happening beneath a policy, process, or stated value — and decide what to do about it.

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SAMPLE COMMISSIONS

Four ways to work together.

Start with a familiar problem. We agree the question, methods, and outputs around your organisation.

01EXAMPLE BRIEF

Policy review

SCOPED PROJECT · REVIEW + DECISION SESSION

THE SITUATION

A policy looks sound on paper, but staff or service users describe a very different experience of it.

WHAT WE COULD DO

Review the policy and its implementation; speak to the people using it; examine gaps between intention, incentives, and practice.

WHAT YOU TAKE AWAY

An evidence-led review with options, practical recommendations, and a discussion of what can change now.

For public bodies, charities, and services preparing a revision or making a difficult policy choice.

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02EXAMPLE BRIEF

Culture & inclusion review

QUALITATIVE STUDY · FINDINGS + ACTION PLAN

THE SITUATION

The organisation wants to understand why its stated values and people’s everyday experience are drifting apart.

WHAT WE COULD DO

Qualitative interviews or focus groups, relevant document review, and careful analysis of the patterns people describe.

WHAT YOU TAKE AWAY

An anonymised account of themes and tensions, with priorities for leadership, HR, and cultural change.

For leaders who want to hear what a survey cannot explain.

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03EXAMPLE BRIEF

Literature & evidence review

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS · REPORT + EVIDENCE MAP

THE SITUATION

You are designing work on a contested issue and need to know what the research can actually tell you.

WHAT WE COULD DO

Define the question, map and appraise relevant evidence, and separate well-supported findings from gaps or assumptions.

WHAT YOU TAKE AWAY

A readable synthesis, an evidence map, and implications for policy or further research.

For commissioners, funders, and teams starting a new programme. I have undertaken a review on religion for the Barrow Cadbury Trust.

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04EXAMPLE BRIEF

Governance review

FOCUSED REVIEW · ASSESSMENT + RECOMMENDATIONS

THE SITUATION

A board or committee wants to test whether its scrutiny, papers, risk discussions, and decisions are doing the work intended.

WHAT WE COULD DO

Review terms of reference and sample papers, speak with members and staff, and examine how challenge turns into action.

WHAT YOU TAKE AWAY

A concise assessment and a prioritised plan to improve assurance, accountability, and the quality of discussion.

For charities, oversight bodies, and committees; informed by my trusteeships and independent policing audit work.

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HOW A COMMISSION STARTS

A brief worth getting right.

An expert who does the research.
I can move from the board paper to the interview, from the evidence to an implementable decision.

01

Tell me the decision

Send the question, the people affected, the timetable, and what evidence you already have.

02

We scope the work

We agree the methods, access, outputs, and boundaries before research begins.

03

You get usable findings

A clear account of what the evidence supports, what remains uncertain, and the choices available.

LET’S TALK

Have a question
in mind?

Tell me the context and what you hope to achieve. We can discuss a sensible scope, timetable, and fee before anything is agreed.

Enquire about consultancy

Or write to richardpaulmcdonald@icloud.com