Role: Project Manager, Service Designer Duration: 18 months

Overview

In 2017, Dorset County Council recognised the need to reform its early childhood services to improve outcomes for children and families. The council managed 26 Children’s Centres under the SureStart model but faced challenges with significantly reduced budgets and insufficient support for the most vulnerable families.

I was tasked with leading a comprehensive review of existing 0-5 services and designing a new, evidence-based offer focusing on the critical first 1001 days of a child’s life. The goal was to integrate services within existing community assets to enhance reach and achieve financial savings. The new offer needed to align with the locality model and public health commissioned services, such as health visiting.

Achievements

• Comprehensive Review: Conducted an extensive review of existing services and community needs, analysing the lived experiences of expectant families and those with children under five. This included assessing geographical location, deprivation status, protected characteristics, and interactions with other services.
• Data Analysis: Performed detailed analysis of performance metrics, financial data, and population-level statistics to inform the new service design.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engaged system-wide stakeholders, including health commissioners and providers, public health, early years settings, schools, and voluntary and faith sector partners.
• Public Consultation: Led formal consultations with families, supported by a county-wide promotional campaign.
• Innovative System Model: Designed a groundbreaking service model influenced by Harlem’s Children’s Zones, leveraging community partnerships and digital resources. The model included:
  • Community asset transfers of council-owned buildings.
  • Investment to increase the voluntary sector’s capacity and empower existing organisations.
  • Integration of multidisciplinary teams (e.g., health visitors and family workers) in shared spaces build a cohesive support system around the family.
  • A comprehensive digital offer enabling families to access help and support independently.
• Business Intelligence Tools: Developed tools to help partner organisations identify families needing additional support.
• Business Case Development: Created a comprehensive 5-case business case for cabinet approval.

Impact

Project implementation was put on hold during Local Government Reorganisation. Many elements of the design underpinned Dorset Council’s innovative Family Hub programme (see case study).

Skills Demonstrated

Commissioning (analyse, plan):

• Community asset mapping.
• Data analysis and trend identification.
• Development of user journeys and personas.
• Co-production and engagement with families through formal consultations, interviews, and focus groups, with parent representation on the strategic board.