The relationship between public services and those whom they serve has huge capacity to affect the way in which social change occurs, the efficacy of policy interventions, and equity in public service outcomes. In my thesis I explore this broad area by focusing in on one narrow area of policy—that of fire prevention.I use a detailed quantitative exploration of fire service data to highlight significant inequalities in the way in which fire is distributed through society. Conceptualising this inequality as an inequality in the delivery of fire prevention work, I then focus in on one socially disadvantaged area with high rates of fire. Here I use an intensive, interpretivist approach to explore perceptions of, and attitudes towards, public services, and whether these hamper the ability to deliver effective fire prevention initiatives. Identifying a number of important barriers to engagement I propose a framework for understanding the prerequisites of effective engagement. I argue that for effective engagement to take place citizens must feel that there is a space available for dialogue that is safe, comfortable and rewarding. In an area characterised by multiple, heterogeneous communities, many different spaces will be needed to ensure dialogue with the widest range of people. This in turn requires public services to act in a way that is flexible and responsive to the needs, expectations and cultures of different communities, supported by public sector workers who are both innovative and empowered. The work contributes to understanding of the way in which access to public services can be restricted by the taken-for-granted assumptions of service providers.

This part time role, undertaken whilst I was a PhD student at Coventry University, gave me the opportunity to expand my research experience by assisting other researchers. Main activities including assisting with data entry and encoding (using NVivo) on a project looking at the experiences of migrants crossing the Mediterranean, copy editing a book introduction and several chapters, and a variety of literature searches.

Managing a team focused on open space development and green infrastructure planning

Strategic management of the District's urban forest. Landscape and arboricultural advice to Development Services

All aspects of management of the City's tree stock. Technical advice to Planning and other services.