In a Nutshell
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a government agency responsible for England-wide public health protection and infectious disease capability. In this project, I worked to establish a co-design capability aimed at fostering inclusivity in services, products, and policies across various government levels. By collaborating with government user researchers and champions, I cultivated a community of practice for co-design and executed pilot projects to address the needs of vulnerable communities during the COVID crisis.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a government agency responsible for England-wide public health protection and infectious disease capability. In this project, I worked to establish a co-design capability aimed at fostering inclusivity in services, products, and policies across various government levels. By collaborating with government user researchers and champions, I cultivated a community of practice for co-design and executed pilot projects to address the needs of vulnerable communities during the COVID crisis.
The Challenge
Our mission was to build a co-design capability within UKHSA, so that they could design more inclusive services, products and policies together.
Our mission was to build a co-design capability within UKHSA, so that they could design more inclusive services, products and policies together.
In Oct 2021, as the Covid crisis started to decline, the agency needed to reassess how it was delivering its services driving:
> Better collaboration with Local Government and Local Partners.
> Greater equity in the access to health services, particularly for disproportionately impacted and under-represented groups.
Co-design is an approach to designing with - and not for the people the services are meant for.
It empowers people to take an equal part in decision-making and be involved in creating the products and services they'll use.
It empowers people to take an equal part in decision-making and be involved in creating the products and services they'll use.
My Approach
After testing different approaches, we identified we needed to build the right conditions for co-design across the organisation. The work spanned two phases:
After testing different approaches, we identified we needed to build the right conditions for co-design across the organisation. The work spanned two phases:
1. Building the conditions for co-design:
> Foundational Awareness: Co-creating the co-design principles and educating the organization at all levels about the benefits of co-design.
> Foundational Awareness: Co-creating the co-design principles and educating the organization at all levels about the benefits of co-design.
> Community of Practice: Creating a platform for knowledge exchange and learning, regardless of individuals' co-design expertise or profession.
2. Piloting co-design
> Hands-On Support: Demonstrating the long-term value of co-design through evidence-based projects.
> Developing Practical Tools: Creating a co-design toolkit to foster a sustainable co-design capability.
The work was critical for designing and delivering Covid-19 testing services that met the needs of vulnerable groups. Co-design became the underpinning principle for the design work, enabling more sustainable thinking and better relationships between central and local government.