Martin works with strategic leaders to explore and apply understandings about outcome focused strategic commissioning with the aim of enhancing local governance for individuals and communities.

• Evidence based outcome strategy and evaluation
• Empowering service users, communities and citizens in planning, delivery and evaluation
• Strategic commissioning for people and places
• Leading and managing multi agency partnerships and networks
• Commissioning and contracting for outcomes

Current and recent projects

• Strategic commissioning research for National Youth Agency
• Evidence based outcome local evaluation research for Gloucestershire Linkage Plus and Sandwell Children’s Fund
• Partnership action learning sets for senior managers from LAs, Health, Education and other stakeholders
• Director of Postgraduate Programme for SCIE’s Social Care Leadership Development Programme
• Customer call centre research for Walsall MBC

Previous experience

Martin’s researches the strategic choices exercised by leaders and managers in local authority, voluntary and community based organisations. He is currently researching a two year project aimed at empowering people living in rural communities and the strategic policies of local authorities and partner organisations in commissioning positive activities for young people. His research uses innovative methodologies involving children and young people, older people and other community representatives.

Martin has extensive experience of facilitating action learning in the development of effective partnerships. For example he has worked with local authority, health, education, police and connexions staff who are creating partnerships in Telford and Wrekin and Barnsley and on whole systems partnership working in Norfolk and Shropshire.

Martin is Programme Director for the postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Social Care Leadership commissioned by SCIE as part of the national Social Care Leadership Development Programme. He co-convenes postgraduate modules in Strategic Commissioning, Project Management and Outcomes Performance and Resources. Martin chairs the annual National Commissioning & Contracting Conferences.

Prior to joining the University of Birmingham, Martin worked as a lecturer, manager and social worker. He has also been a Local Authority Councillor with particular responsibility for economic development in the West Midlands. He was a founding Director of the West Midlands Enterprise Board.

Selected publications

Willis M, Bokhari S (2008) “Health Yourself”: Round’s Green Children’s Involvement Project Evaluation, INLOGOV / Sandwell Children’s Fund

Willis M (2007) 'What is leadership and why is it so important?' Public Servant, December 2007 p27

Willis M, Crow A (2007) Village Agents: Linkage Plus Project, Gloucestershire County Council / GRCC

Willis M, Bokhari S (2007) Children and Young People’s Involvement: Toolkit Research, SCF / INLOGOV

Willis M (2006) 'Partnership Action Learning' in Rigg C (ed) Action Learning in Public Services, Routledge

Willis M (2006) 'Creaking Joints', Community Care, 28 September 2006, pp 38-39

Willis M (2005) 'Defining Vision', Community Care 1580, 7-13 July 2005, pp 32-33

Willis M (2004) Call Centres, One-Stop Shops or Community Based Information Centres? School of Public Policy, University of Birmingham

Willis M, Wilson L (2004) Evaluation of MSA

Willis M (2004) 'Choice in Social Care: Direct Payments' in Enabling Choice, LGA Research 1 / 04, pp 36-44