1. What inspired me this week? A post by Zoe, one of our graduate trainees: 6 things I learned in 6 months as a user researcher. The NHSx launch, and in particular the news that Hadley is joining the new organisation as acting CTO. Reading recommendations from practice leads on requests from people across the … Continue reading Weeknote: 1 to 5 July 2019 →

1. What leadership teamwork did I see? Loads! I worked with Helen, Karen and Jayne to put together a strategy day on Tuesday for our exec director Wendy and her product directors. (Thanks to Futuregov for hosting us, and to Dominic Campbell for an inspiring talk to kick the day off.) I reached into my … Continue reading Weeknote: 24 to 28 June 2019 →

1. What inspired me this week? On Monday evening I went to a brilliant Digital Leaders Week event hosted by Victoria Betton at Co>Space North, to learn more about issues of diversity and inclusion in technology. (I hope this partly atoned for having dropped out of a staff network event on the same topic earlier … Continue reading Weeknote: 17 to 21 June 2019 →

1. What do I need to take care of? Late on Friday, I finally got access to some data I need so I can work on our organisation change proposal. I need to give that as much time and attention as I possibly can next week. Partly because of that, I had to make a … Continue reading Weeknote: 10 to 14 June 2019 →

Back to weeknotes after a 2-week pause to reflect on my past 6 months at NHS Digital. I've tweaked the questions I ask myself so they focus on some things that are important to me as part of my NHS Leadership Academy Nye Bevan Programme. 1. What inspired me this week? NHS.UK show and tell, … Continue reading Weeknote: 3 to 7 June 2019 →

1. What inspired me this week? The GDS Sprint Leeds event: So many of my favourite people were there! There were service jammers, GDS people, DWP people, Leeds City Council people, NHS people. I've known many of them for years, but in separate bubbles. Seeing Eve Roodhouse and Lisa Jeffery co-hosting the event at the … Continue reading Weeknote: 13 to 17 May 2019 →

1. What inspired me this week? Sarah, one of our brilliant Digital Services Delivery graduates has completed her two years on the scheme and is joining the NHS website team as a delivery manager. Seeing pictures of our NHS design principles in the wild - on the wall at Surrey & Borders Partnership and on … Continue reading Weeknote: 7 to 10 May 2019 →

1. What goals were met? Confirmed the start date for our new lead user researcher for NHS.UK. Looking forward to having them on the team. Job adverts went live for internal applications for 1 senior user researcher and 2 user researchers - all of them vital roles on NHS.UK. 2. What goals were set? Likely … Continue reading Weeknote: 29 April to 3 May 2019 →

Some different questions than usual this week, because 3 out of 4 days were on the residential for the Bevan Programme. There was loads to take in and many productive conversations with my fellow cohort members, which made it worth the decision to stay in the residential hotel even though it was only a few … Continue reading Weeknote: 23 to 26 April 2019 →

A four-day week. Phew! 1. What goals were met? This morning (Bank Holiday Friday) I submitted the final version of my first piece of written work for the NHS Leadership Academy Bevan Programme. I'm grateful for the detailed feedback of my learning set peers, who now have to decide whether it makes the grade. In … Continue reading Weeknote: 15 to 19 April 2019 →

Another short week because I took Thursday and Friday off. 1. What inspired me this week? The openness of the conversations in our product development directorate all hands events. Our exec director, Wendy, and her directors are responsible for more than 600 people between them, so I'm sure their decision to run these events multiple … Continue reading Weeknote: 8 to 10 April 2019 →

  A 3.5 day week at work because I took Thursday afternoon and Friday off and went to a play with my family. 1. What goals were met? the NHSX website launch! Testament to the power of making things open and investing in teams. 2. What inspired me this week? The first Leeds Accessibility meet-up. … Continue reading Weeknote: 1 to 4 April 2019 →

1. What inspired me this week? Seeing Caroline working with Zoe, a graduate who has just moved into the NHS website redesign team. When we put skills transfer into our contractors' outcomes, we really mean it. FutureGov kicking off their work with our Urgent and Emergency Care team in London, while simultaneously in Leeds Tero, Rochelle … Continue reading Weeknote: 18 to 22 March 2019 →

I’m trying a different format for weeknotes to see if I can be more consistent in keeping up with them if I limit myself to a few simple questions. Thanks to Sam Villis for the definitive survey of weeknote styles which I’ve used to choose this format. If I'm doing it right, the questions will … Continue reading Weeknote: 11 to 15 March 2019 →