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A digital toolkit for the National Workforce Skills Development Unit

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The National Workforce Skills Development Unit (NWSDU), part of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, appointed Curio to build a ‘toolkit’ of resources aimed at those responsible for workforce planning of the mental health support workforce. This toolkit formed part of a wider project to deepen understanding of the career pathways and barriers to progression and development facing those in the mental health support workforce.

The project’s aim was to help the healthcare system better build on the mental health support workforce to meet service requirements, and in the process create a more representative and culturally competent workforce by encouraging attainable career options.

What we did:

  • Map and prioritise content based on user needs 
  • Scope technical requirements
  • Iterative design process following NHS brand guidelines
  • Rapidly build html5 page templates

Starting with a workshop to understand toolkit user needs and content requirements, Curio worked closely with the NWSDU to iteratively develop the content and design of the toolkit, fleshing out a series of storyboards for each section with increasingly detailed content and technical requirements over the course of a month. Adherence to NHS brand and accessibility guidelines was a key part of this process. The platform needed to be flexible, so we built the toolkit as a set of HTML5 page templates that could be presented wherever in a digital estate in the future.

The toolkit provides curated guidance, research and policy for direct managers and those responsible for workforce planning, with an easily navigable design that enables users to quickly access the information most relevant to their needs. The range of resources help build an understanding of the demographics of this workforce and provide practical guidance on induction, retention, training and development to support managers to advocate for this staff group. Resources also support managers to increase access to learning and development and progression opportunities available to the workforce.

Designed as ‘grab and go’ resources, in an easily digestible format, the practical resources encourage conversations around workforce planning and support services, whilst also highlighting the opportunities that exist for the support workforce.

Curio successfully designed and built the toolkit within a month, and it is now with the executive non-departmental public body who funded this project as they prepare to launch it as part of a wider communications campaign to raise the profile of the mental health support workforce.

about the writer

Alex Li

Full Stack Developer

Alex is a Full Stack Developer specialising in implementing course/platform templates, delivering custom interactive tools and develop digital products. With the multiple skills in various areas, she is versed in interpreting people’s ideas and deliver quality materials at a high speed. Alex is experienced in working with learning designers and UI/UX to produce engaging course/platform template which enhance the online student experience. Alex is enthusiastic to apply the latest technology and media development trends in the design of engaging learning experiences. Alex has worked for numerous clients and extensively in Canvas as developer. With a background in multimedia development, Alex understands the nuances of good design and brings this expertise to canvas and web development.Learn more about Alex
Talk to Alex about:
  • Application development
  • Digital media production
  • Learning technologies
  • User experience design
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about the writer

Chloë Threadgold

Senior Consultant & Curio Course Hub Product Manager

Chloë works across a range of digital projects including user research, content and marketing strategy. She has led and worked on an array of projects across marketing and content strategy, user testing and prototyping, qualitative and quantitative research for international charities, the NHS, corporations, membership associations and education institutions. Chloë joined Curio from a digital agency specialising in the higher education, not-for-profit and membership sectors, where she provided strategic advice on content, brand, UX, analytics, technology and digital marketing. Prior to this, she worked as a qualitative researcher for an agency specialised in connecting brands with women. Clients value her ability to thoroughly interrogate organisational and user needs to come up with creative, evidence-based solutions to their challenges.  Learn more about Chloë
Talk to Chloë about:
  • Application development
  • Data, analytics and learning
  • Learning technologies
  • Marketing and sales
  • Online teaching and learning
  • People and capability
  • Service design
  • Strategy
  • User experience design
Contact Chloë on:

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