Connect Case Study: Combining our Children’s and Learning Disability services digitally

Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust recently launched a Children’s and Learning Disability website, enhancing the digital experience for service users. The concept of Connect was to bring together the wide-ranging elements of our Children’s and Learning Disabilities services into one user-friendly website. The following case study explores how the idea has changed the way we support our service users digitally.

The Trust encourage digital innovation internally to support ideas on how we can better meet the needs of our service users digitally.

How was Connect created?

The concept of a bespoke website was taken to the Trust’s Digital Data Group meeting. The aim was to co-produce a new website specifically with and for users of our children’s and learning disabilities services. In doing this, we could link all 28 divisional services together with a purpose-build website and providing a single point of access for important information. By working with the communities we serve, the name of the website became ‘Connect’.

Following a thorough period of development, the website launched in October 2024 and was the result of extensive consultation with both service users, staff, and stakeholders, along with input from leading web and creative experts. It serves as more than just a platform name; it is a brand that encourages users to engage with our services. The brand emphasises connection, for example: Connect and grow, connect, and thrive, connect, and feel better – and reflects the emotional support we provide.

Co-production and engagement were key aspects of the project, this was achieved through various stakeholder events, surveys, focus groups and meetings with different groups at various stages in development. Two young people were paid as experts by experience throughout the website, including the interviewing of web-designers through to the co-design of the animations.

What was learned?

Approximately 17 adults with learning disabilities and 70 young people participated in its co-production; of which 19 had direct involvement in the creation of the building tours and bespoke service animations. Their valuable contributions helped us to understand the importance of creating an informative website that is easy to access, navigate and understand. One area we focused on was to integrate our website with the real world, specifically our Trust buildings. This has been achieved through video tours of Trust locations, photographs and integrated AccessAble information. Within these

buildings we created life-sized animated characters from the service animations that will stay in the buildings and promote the website via a QR code.

Key benefits

Stakeholders, service users and staff now only need to access one website for helpful information on all the support available and pooling resources from across the division has enabled enhanced features to be added to the website, making it a more comprehensive resource for our community. There is now only one website for the division to maintained, rather than various sites that have been built on different platforms.

The website is designed to improve health literacy – by providing the right resource at right time through the dedicated Resource and Help Hub. And through co-production, we have ensured it has user centred functionality and easy to read information throughout, as well as resonance with its audience.

The Estates pages include accessibility information and tours promote effectively support those visiting our sites. The design includes easy read features and enhancements that ensure it is fully inclusive and accessible to all.

Lee Rickles - CIO, Director & Deputy SIRO said:

“I am completely blown away by the Connect website. The original proposal was ambitious and what has been developed exceeds the original vision. I think it is brilliant how our staff and patient are part of the story and provide the improved help and support which is developed from their experiences.”

Looking ahead

The team are now over 6-months post launch and have received positive feedback from both service users and staff. Our insights report that over 30,000 people have already visited the site, generating over 106,000 page views.

They are currently in the process of refreshing the engagement process to evaluate its success and impact, as well as gaining feedback regarding future improvements.