Councils invited to apply to Design in Public Sector

Forward thinking councils are being encouraged to apply to Design in Public Sector, developed by Design Council in partnership with the Local Government Association (LGA).

Design in the Public Sector, set up in 2015, focuses on applying design process and methods to tackle public sector challenges. Councils and their partners will come together to look at key service challenges using Design Council’s Framework for Innovation and globally recognised Double Diamond.

The programme supports teams to further explore the needs and wants of their residents and place them at the heart of the process and the public services they design. Meanwhile, participants will develop key skills and capabilities to embed new ways of working across the sector in a sustainable and long-lasting way. More than 60 councils have adopted the design tools and methods they learned on the programme in their day-to-day work.

Councils that are successfully selected for the scheme embark on a programme that helps them to think about and address key service challenges in new ways. Councils have previously used the programme to assist them with challenges in various different services including public health, housing, adult social care and children’s services.

Sarah Weir, chief executive of the Design Council, said: “We are honoured and delighted to be delivering this programme in partnership with the LGA and look forward to meeting the successful councils, their partners and those from their local communities over the next few months. Increasingly councils up and down the country are facing public service challenges that affect the health and wellbeing of their residents. Whatever the challenge, design has an answer. Design in the Public Sector supports councils to transform their services by bringing together public sector leaders, their partners and the local community to collectively identify opportunities to create healthier, happier and safer communities for everyone.”

Peter Fleming, chairman of the LGA Improvement and Innovation Board, said: “Councils are best-placed to deliver and lead on services. Design in the Public Sector equips councils with design skills and techniques to apply to their toughest service challenges. Working with Design Council, participants refocus their challenge around the resident and as a result are more likely to develop more user appropriate systems and services. Despite losing 60p from every £1 in government funding since 2010, councils continue to demonstrate initiative and efficiency to deliver excellent and essential services to their residents.”