In the second of our series of articles highlighting graduates making an impact in policy, we spoke to Finn Turner-Berry, a policy researcher who specialises in health and social care policy.

Finn recently joined the National Care Forum, where he works on a range of initiatives as a Policy, Research and Projects Officer, including amongst other things, innovative approaches to recruitment in the adult social care sector.

Prior to this, Finn was employed at the renowned think tank, the Health Foundation, where he co-authored the influential report “NHS Long-Term Plan and COVID-19”(Sep 2021) assessing progress against key commitments to health inequalities and the impact of COVID-19 on their delivery.

Here, he outlines his career journey to date and how the School for Policy studies helped him develop important skills.

Can you tell us a little bit about your pathway at Bristol?

I started my BSc in Social Policy and Politics (Joint Honours) degree. After graduating, I decided to continue my study within the policy school at Bristol and completed an MSc in Policy Research in 2020 – graduating with a distinction.

What attracted you to Bristol for your undergraduate degree?

The city, the university and, most of all, the course. The units on offer looked fantastic and covered a range of topics. Throughout the BSc, I took units on health policy, migration, the welfare state, research methods, parliamentary processes, comparative social policy, and much more. Each unit was taught with nuance by brilliant lecturers who were experts in their respective academic fields.

The units equipped me with a deep understanding of social policy and the practical tools to conduct thorough primary research. This was exemplified in my dissertation which was a qualitative exploration of policy makers’ perceptions of commissioning changes in the NHS.

The structure of the course meant that by the time I got to writing my dissertation I was well prepared with the research, critical thinking, and analytical skills required to complete the work to the best of my abilities.

Is there a particular area of research that interested you? 

Over the course of the degree, I started to pay particular attention to health and social care policy. It encapsulated all that I loved about social policy. As we have seen over the course of COVID-19, tied up in the health of a population is a world of factors – socio-economic status, gender, ethnicity, education, sexuality, and so much more. Tied up in a system’s ability to meet health and care needs is also a world of structural factors – economic, social, political, and historical. I loved trying to unpick all of these interdependent, complex and constantly changing factors.

Did you gain any extra-curricular experience during this time or undertake a work placement?

Whilst an undergraduate I gained a range of extracurricular experience, which I believe benefitted my personal and professional development greatly. I undertook a Q-Step internship working on a research project in partnership with the University of Bristol, Bristol City Council and the Creative Youth Network. The placement was organised and facilitated by the Professional Liaison Network, and explored “resilience in young people”. Working on the project equipped me with a critical understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Vitally, the project showed how research works in a real-world setting – this has been vital for my career in policy research.

How did your undergraduate degree inform your decision to continue your education with MSc in Policy Research at Bristol?

My undergraduate degree informed my decision to continue my education with the University of Bristol in a number of ways. Firstly, it informed the topic I chose to do. My undergraduate dissertation and the unit I took on research methods helped me discover a passion for policy research. I realised I wanted to continue my studies and gain practical skills that would be valuable for my career in the long term. For this reason, I decided to do an MSc in Policy Research.

Having completed my BSc in the Policy School at Bristol, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else to complete an MSc. On application I knew how great the teaching at Bristol was, I had seen just how influential the Policy School’s research output is and had first-hand experience of quality pastoral and academic support throughout my time there. 

How did your postgraduate degree help you secure your current role?

Through my MSc in Policy Research, I gained a critical understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods and their practical application in real world settings. I also gained insight into the value of research in improving evidence and services. Since graduating, I have applied the skills and knowledge I developed during the MSc in a professional context.

The MSc in Policy Research was vital in securing my current role. A significant portion of my day-to-day job is doing research on social care – I design surveys and questionnaires, design and conduct qualitative interviews, perform data analysis and write large reports on complex issues. Because of my MSc in Policy Research, I have a deep understanding of policy, and a toolbox of research methods that I can reliably draw from on a daily basis.