Our reports

We were commissioned by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) to identify and understand the medium-term priorities for social care in Wales.

We surveyed and ran a series of focus groups with senior council members and officers as well as other organisations that deliver, or support, social care in Wales.

Workforce issues, funding, and complex needs associated with an ageing population were key concerns raised by participants.

The report was published by the WLGA.

On behalf of the 22 local authorities in Wales, we were commissioned by Welsh Government to run a survey of all candidates standing at the local government elections in May 2022.

The survey was aimed at both County and Town and Community Councillors and candidates. They were asked a prescribed set of questions about their socio-demographics characteristics.

The survey will be repeated during each ordinary election to track changes in Councillors’ and candidates’ characteristics over time.

The summary and full report was published by Welsh Government.

The aim of this research was to understand what social media data was available, useable and beneficial to decision makers in local government in Wales.

We reviewed four options for accessing Twitter data and found each to have their own merits. Ultimately, we found that a tool developed by Cardiff University (COSMOS) was the most straight-forward and cost-effective way to gather Twitter data, as well as to access basic analytical capability.

In this  report, we demonstrate that useful social media data can be accessed quickly, easily, ethically, and cheaply.

We hope that that this pilot will stimulate further, and more innovative, uses of social media data across local government in Wales.

We were commissioned by the four Regional Skills Partnerships (RSPs) in Wales to review available data around the transition to a green economy, and the impact this would have on local labour and skills markets.

The transition to a green economy is one of the greatest challenges of our time. To meet environmental commitments, the labour market must change. Our report provides RSPs with an understanding of the challenges ahead. Specifically, it brings together data, research, and intelligence on current and projected trends in local labour markets.

In this  report, we outline the major publicly available data sources, and assess the green jobs and skills challenges within key sectors of the Welsh economy, and within the Regions covered by the RSPs.

The report was published by the North Wales Regional Skills Partnership.

Personal Assistants (PAs) provide direct and person-centered care to individuals where they live, with the aim of improving well-being. Personal assistants are part of the social care landscape but are generally employed by the person requiring support rather than a local authority or care agency.

Welsh Government commissioned the Welsh Institute of Health and Social Care (WIHSC) to run a study to gather information on who PAs are, where they work, when, and under which conditions.

We were commissioned by the WIHSC to design, run, and analyse surveys of Personal Assistants in Wales. The information we gathered from across Wales was critical to understanding both local and national challenges.

The  report was published by Welsh Government.

We were commissioned by the Wales School for Social Prescribing Research (WSSPR) to produce and run a baseline survey to understand the landscape of social prescribing activity across Wales, and where possible, to quantify and describe its functions.

The  report was published by WSSPR.

We were commissioned by the National Commissioning Board to identify and review available data around the stability of care markets in Wales. We worked closely with the National Commissioning Board and the Children’s Commissioning Consortium Cymru to access and analyse the data they held or had access to.

The  report was published by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA).

We were commissioned by the Welsh Institute of Health and Social Care (WIHSC) to develop and manage a survey of employers of social care staff who provide direct care to adults and children. The survey investigated pay and conditions across the workforce.

We developed five questionnaires, aimed at local authorities, independent sector employers, third sector employers, and NHS health boards / trusts in Wales.

We examined the data within and across these sectors and care settings, specifically analysing pay, contract types, contract options and enhancements, as well as recruitment and retention.

The  report was published by Welsh Government