Experience

Senior Service Designer, Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC)

Working within multidisciplinary delivery teams on the development of user centred research and design to support policy design and delivery within this government department.

Associate Director Data and Digital Labs, Social Finance

Leading multidisciplinary teams in the delivery of complex social change projects.

Clients: DfE, DLUHC, Leeds City Council, Social Care Wales

Medical technology procurement: This discovery looked into the procurement of medical technology within trusts and ICBs, looking at the challenges of buying, comparing and evaluating products.

Adult Social Care information and advice: This discovery is looking into the challenges for those seeking care for themselves or for someone else face when seeking to get care or support. With a particular focus on online content this work seeks to understand more about if there is ‘universal content’ which may be provided by a central organisation which would support users in their understanding and navigation of the system.

Organisational change in social care: I worked with Social Care Wales to define and deliver a Community of Practice for social care workforce interested in using evidence in practice.

Capability building, skills in data and innovation for social care: I delivered a discovery into the skills and development needs of Data Analysts working in the Social Care Sector, and a discovery project into the research, innovation and improvement ecosystem and needs of social care workers in Wales. I also led a team in the development of an Apprenticeship for those working as Adult Social Care Data Analysts, which launched in March 2024.

Systems change for people experiencing multiple disadvantages: I led the Data strand of the Changing Futures Programme. Social Finance acted as Learning partner to DLUHC for this work, which helped Local Changing Futures areas to join up local services to improve the experience of those facing multiple disadvantages.

Improving case recording for social workers: I led the delivery of this design research project with Leeds Council as part of the DfEs Data and Digital Solutions Fund to understand the impacts of case recording on the social work workforce. This work has involved interviews with Children’s services leadership, social workers, care experienced young people as well as managing stakeholder relationships with Leeds and with DfE.

Building capability: I developed training modules in Agile Delivery and multidisciplinary teams for funded project teams as part of the Health Foundation Tech for Better Care Programme. Within the organisation I delivered training in agile methods, facilitation and more.

Collaboration Lead. Local Digital Collaboration Unit, Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)

A varied and demanding role in an award-winning multidisciplinary policy and digital team.

Design and delivery of the Local Digital Fund: The fund delivered £8m to Local Government organisations over 3 years I was in the team. This aims to accelerate the development of open and shared tools for those working in Local Government, improving the overall quality and delivery of services while reducing reliance on large technical suppliers.

Supported delivery of multiple services and products: I partnered with more than 10 projects at various phases of delivery, of which, five progressed to their next phase and received further funding. The total value of Children’s Social Care projects I helped to deliver was £1.5m

Projects I partnered with delivered efficiencies for Children’s Services Data Analysts, made more data available to Local Government Social Workers, and delivered a publicly-available resource on Digital Inclusion.

A national learning offer for Local Government: Using a design research approach I was able to deliver a cost-effective end-to-end implementation that supported local government colleagues to find and access training.

Service Owner, Head of Digital. National Leadership Centre, Cabinet Office.

Responsible for service delivery for ‘Connect’, website and underlying data platform.

The (now disbanded) NLC’s role was to bring together leaders across every sector and region to collaborate and improve public services. The unit delivered a programme for senior leaders, events and opportunities to network across boundaries, and published research about public sector leadership. The delivery of this work hinged on a key dataset of public sector leaders in the UK.

Responsible for the back end database of public sector leaders, NLC website, and “Connect” a Service for Public Sector leaders. This service enabled senior leaders from around the country to find and connect with one another.

Standards Assurance, Government Digital Service.

Responsible for assurance of government services in line with the Government Service Standard.

Reviewed business cases, working with colleagues at all levels to understand delivery strategy, programme and policy implications and to offer advice and clarification.

Wrote Ministerial and board submissions.

Lead Assessor for Government Service Standard Assessments which meant leading a multidisciplinary panel to assess services against the standard, offering peer-review and advice and writing up findings as a report, published on GOV.UK. I delivered a presentation on this subject at Service Design in Government conference

Service delivery front door (Product Owner). Digital and Technology Team, Cabinet Office.

Supporting policy colleagues in the definition, methods and approach to delivering digital services.

I carved out a role for myself with a focus on product and digital delivery, acting in a “Front Door” capacity, to work with policy teams to explain adherence to the service standard, triaging work and working with delivery teams to design and schedule discovery phases.

Representative at the Disability Action Group (a subcommittee of Cabinet Office Executive Committee) with a focus on making improvements to accessibility within the department
Representative for the Cabinet Office at the Civil Service Shadow Board a sought-after opportunity to contribute to board papers and attend board meetings with the most senior civil servants in the UK.