Coventry Health Determinants Research Collaboration - Independent Steering Committee
In October 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) awarded Coventry City Council £5 million to create a pioneering Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) in the city. This is part of a wider £50 million investment from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) for a series of local government partnerships across the country, boosting local authorities’ capacity and capability to conduct high-quality research to tackle health inequalities. The HDRC Independent Steering Committee’s key aim is to provide independent advice to the HDRC, the NIHR, the host institution, and the contractor on appropriate aspects of the project.
Health Foundation - External Reference Group member
The Health Foundation recognises the critical contribution local government makes to improving health and tackling inequalities and is keen to expand and build on existing work in this area to support the health in all policies agenda. They have a number of programmes supporting local and regional government to take action to improve health. The External Reference Group helps to ensure this work is timely, relevant, and useful to the sector, and that the money spent in supporting local government (including funding programmes of work and undertaking and commissioning research and analysis) is spent in a way that maximises benefits to health while reducing health inequalities.
Head of Policy and Programmes, West Midlands Combined Authority
2015 - 2019
Most recently Jason has worked with the Economy and Strategy directorate, supporting the development of strategy and policy across the region, delivering early stage programmes such as the Creative Industries "Scale Up" programme and a new regional Screen Industry Body, and leading on policy research around housing, homelessness and youth employment. He helped the West Midlands Combined Authority to develop its strategic approach - including work on devolution and spending reviews.
Jason led on research including the concept, funding bid and development of the Office for Data Analytics
Earlier he worked on secondment from BCC, developing the WMCA from its earliest days and supporting early work on Public Service Reform. This led to a series of major programmes around mental health, employment and skills, criminal justice and inclusive growth.
Assistant Director (Strategy), Birmingham City Council
2004 - 2015
Responsible for helping the council agree its priorities, and then making sure we deliver them.
His role included strategy, performance, leadership support, research, consultation and customer insight, European and international issues, communications and public affairs. Jason led on major transformational programmes such as Public Health transfer and Troubled Families. He developed and led service review programmes which saved £461m.
Achievements include:
- Ensured clear strategic direction through annual Leader's Policy Statement
- Led public engagement on Council's direction (8,000 responses and 250k reach on social media)
- Developed and led whole council service review programme
- Led transfer of public health from NHS (until appointment of new DPH)
- Led development of "troubled families" programme locally and with national team
- Introduced innovative communications approaches such as on-line newsroom and social media
- Led use of customer insight to drive behavioural change and reduce service demand
- Transformed comms delivery including on-line consultation and engagement, and live streaming
- Led innovative finance and service models (eg social impact bonds, community budgets)
- Negotiated Local Area Agreement with national government and across local partners
- Developed national exemplar work on evaluation and the use of evidence
Board Member - Programme Advisory Board for Public Health Research, National Institute for Health Research
April 2013 - 2019
The Advisory Board helps the NIHR to identify what areas of public health research are of particular relevance to local areas. As a Board member he develops and analyse proposals, and works with the Board to agree decisions on which proposals to support for further development.
National Value for Money lead and Head of Community Safety, Audit Commission
2000 - 2004
Led national value for money work on community safety, with local councils, police and probation services.
Developed innovative service and financial improvement approaches and deployed these through national network of advisers and inspectors.
Co-authored national Audit Commission study on GP Prescribing, leading to significant cost savings to the NHS. Included training GPs and colleagues in addressing the issues identified.
Regional Value For Money Lead (cross-sector), Audit Commission
1994 - 2000
Delivered value for money reviews and improvements across the region.
Covered all local public services (NHS commissioners, provider trusts, GPs, police, ambulance, fire, local councils)
Led regional team of around 40 vfm specialists including relationship management with clients and other strands of the Audit Commission, locally and nationally.
Credit & Risk Management and Operational Research, HSBC
1992 - 1994
Led the development of new products and analyses to manage risk and enable responsible lending.
Pioneered new approaches to forecasting future default on the bank's personal loan portfolios (using Markov chain theory) and on credit risk assessment (around inferring behaviour for rejected applicants).
Higher Scientific Officer, Metropolitan Police
1988 - 1990
Part of internal management consultancy team. Led projects including revising police officers' shift patterns to better match demand profiles, and improve staff well being.
Involved in TOPSY and CRIS major IT programmes to help management and analysis of crime and staffing intelligence.