Partnering with Coventry Council to develop user-led service design approaches that support transformation

Being a Brummie, I’m not shy about my pride for the midlands. I’ve long sought to contribute more to the region, even more so in these times of great uncertainty but also huge opportunities (the coming of the Commonwealth Games to name just one).

We’ve been eagerly watching Coventry’s journey, having launched their One Coventry approach in 2019, setting out a commitment to work collaboratively with partners and residents to make the best improvements possible to the services they deliver and support everyone to get the very best the city can offer. I’ve spent a good deal of time in Coventry previously, helping set up the new national HQ for Homes England during my time as their Chief Digital Officer. Coventry’s an outstanding place and the passion for renewing the city alongside the Council’s ambitions for the future means that now, we have the opportunity to build on the work of Coventry itself and partner with the council to bring the best of our work with others around the country to support their transformation journey.

We’re proud to share that to support their continuing journey, FutureGov is joining Coventry City Council as their User-led Service Design Consultancy Partner.

Over the next six months, our teams will work together to deliver a wide range of improvements across two service areas as part of Coventry’s Digital First Programme. Our work together will focus on bringing a user-led service design approach to reviewing services and delivering the best experiences and outcomes for residents.

Starting with Coventry’s “A Place Called Home” — supporting residents to access safe, affordable accommodation where they can not only live but thrive — we’ll build on lessons learned from FutureGov’s work with Hackney Council’s Benefits and Housing Needs service and with Rochdale Council, designing a connected approach to housing allocations and homelessness, to understand the current provision and local context of Coventry’s housing needs service, exploring how multidisciplinary ways of working can support efficient delivery and where digital tools can benefit both residents and staff to ultimately, enable functioning homes, prevent homelessness, and find suitable permanent accommodation where appropriate.

We’re all looking forward to getting started with this work and already this month we’ve come together in a blended team, combining our joint knowledge and experience to define problem areas and identify opportunities.