Tom Scott 
Digital performance analyst 
Government Digital Service 
@drtommac
Digital by Default self-certification 
training 
Welcome 
1st September 2014 
Tom Scott GDS
Agenda 
10:00am - settle, welcome and introduction from Richard 
Sargeant - Director of Product and Delivery Unit at GDS 
10:15am - The Digital by Default Service Standard 
11:00am - Q and A with GDS assessor panel 
11:30am - Assess the assessor 
11:45am - break 
12:00pm - Self certification 
12:15pm - mini self-certification 
12:45pm - wrap up 
Tom Scott GDS
Thanks for coming 
Tom Scott GDS
Introductions 
Tom Scott GDS
Expectations 
Tom Scott GDS
Richard Sargeant 
Director of Product and Delivery Unit 
Tom Scott GDS
Digital by Default 
Service Standard 
Tom Scott GDS
Tom Scott GDS
Tom Scott GDS
Tom Scott GDS
Where did the 
Digital by 
Default Service 
Standard come 
from? 
Tom Scott GDS
Action 6 of the 
Government 
Digital Strategy 
Tom Scott GDS
Based on the 
learnings from 
building 
GOV.UK 
Tom Scott GDS
Tom Scott GDS
Themes of the criteria 
• User needs 
• The Team 
• Security, Privacy, Tools and Standards 
• Improving the Service 
• Design 
• Assisted Digital and Channel Shift 
• Analysis and Benchmarking 
• Testing with the Minister 
Tom Scott GDS
Why have assessments? 
• Ensures all services have the same high 
standard 
• Protect the integrity of GOV.UK 
• A checkpoint to meeting the standard 
• shares knowledge 
• unblocks problems 
Tom Scott GDS
So far 
• Since April 2014 28 assessments 
• It’s been really interesting, we’ve learnt about 
• fishing in lakes 
• different types of HGVs 
• how elections really work 
• and so much more 
• They work best as a conversation 
• Everyone want’s the same outcome! 
Tom Scott GDS
We need 
your help 
Tom Scott GDS
Why can’t GDS do the assessments? 
• there are around 700 services linked to from GOV.UK 
• that could be over 2100 assessments 
• which would take us over 9 years 
• not very agile 
• not all services are the same 
Tom Scott GDS
What services does GDS assess? 
• all exemplars from departments GDS is helping to 
transform 
• all high volume services 
• those over 100k transactions a year 
• could be 300 or more assessments 
• any high risk services identified by the Office of CTO 
Tom Scott GDS
When are high volume 
services assessed? 
service development 
alpha review beta assessment live assessment 
Tom Scott GDS
What happens in an assessment? 
• round the table discussion 
• Service Manager leads with an description of the 
service and demonstration 
• the assessment panel ask questions based on the 
standard 
• 3 days later the result and report are sent to the Digital 
Leader and the Service Manager 
Tom Scott GDS
What about the other 
500 plus services? 
Tom Scott GDS
Self-certification 
Tom Scott GDS
Self-certification must be 
• straightforward 
• to manage 
• to run 
• to report outcomes 
• accountable 
• Digital Leaders sign off 
• collaborative 
• more of a review 
Tom Scott GDS
Q and A 
ask the assessors 
Tom Scott GDS
Assess the assessor 
What result would you have given? 
Tom Scott GDS
Break 
Costa just in the lobby 
Bathrooms are next to the lifts 
Tom Scott GDS
Self-certification 
process 
Tom Scott GDS
The assessment 
Try to keep to this structure 
•welcome the team 
•ask the Service Manager to explain the reason the service has been developed 
•ask for a demonstration of the service 
•follow the assessors prompts sheet and ask lots of questions 
It can take some time... 
• anywhere between 1 and 3 hours 
Get the right people in the room 
• service manager, tech arc, analyst etc. for both assessors and the team 
Tom Scott GDS
What should you ask? 
Use the assessor prompts sheet 
• example questions 
• clear evidence needed to pass a stage 
Try to get to know the service manual 
• has great guidance and advice 
Is the service similar to another you already use? 
Are there points the service has not met yet? 
• saves time and embarrassment 
Tom Scott GDS
What to do next? 
Don’t make a decision there and then 
Take some time and review the service with fresh eyes 
• is it simple enough to use first time 
• has it got the look, feel and tone of GOV.UK 
• have users been considered throughout the development 
• can the service change in the future 
Concerns 
• check with the Service Manager 
• speak to us at GDS 
Tom Scott GDS
After an assessment 
Complete the assessor prompts sheet 
• try to put in as much detail as you can, be collaborative 
• remember the standard is a minimum 
Write a short summary of the service and the review 
• this is needed for the certificate 
• share this with your Digital Leader 
• decide which criteria have passed, not passed or are not applicable 
Try to meet the Digital Leader 
• it’s in the Service Manager interest, get them to help 
• complete the online certificate, use the details sheet to help 
• ask your Digital Leader to ‘Sign’ the form 
Tom Scott GDS
Resources to help 
The Service Manual 
• each criteria points has links to explain 
• it’s changing and improving, please feedback 
Digital Leaders office 
• they are experts in digital and responsible for the self-certs 
Service Assessments team and GDS 
• we asked for your help, we’re here to help 
• Google group community 
• service managers community 
Tom Scott GDS
Self-assessment exercise 
Practise as an assessor 
Tom Scott GDS
Practise as an assessor 
Read through the 
scenario, choose 
either user needs, 
security and 
privacy or iterative 
design and 
personalise 
Use the assessor 
prompts, focus on 
partners chosen 
scenario, gather 
evidence 
Make a summary: 
decide which 
points the service 
has passed, not 
passed or are not 
applicable 
Feedback to the 
service manager 
5 minutes 7 minutes 2 minutes 1 minutes 
Repeat 
Tom Scott GDS
Self-assessment exercise 
How did it go? 
Tom Scott GDS
Our expectations 
No pass or fail for self-certification 
Digital Leaders are signing off the certification 
Assessments at each development stage 
• Alpha 
• Beta 
• Live 
• (we expect there will be just one assessment) 
Tom Scott GDS
Next steps 
•Feedback survey 
Prompts and evidence forms 
Updates to the service manual 
More self-certification training sessions 
Share your departments plans 
Tom Scott GDS
Wrap up 
Tom Scott GDS
Thank you 
Tom Scott GDS
Tom Scott 
Digital performance analyst 
Government Digital Service 
@drtommac

Self certification training for departmental assessors

  • 1.
    Tom Scott Digitalperformance analyst Government Digital Service @drtommac
  • 2.
    Digital by Defaultself-certification training Welcome 1st September 2014 Tom Scott GDS
  • 3.
    Agenda 10:00am -settle, welcome and introduction from Richard Sargeant - Director of Product and Delivery Unit at GDS 10:15am - The Digital by Default Service Standard 11:00am - Q and A with GDS assessor panel 11:30am - Assess the assessor 11:45am - break 12:00pm - Self certification 12:15pm - mini self-certification 12:45pm - wrap up Tom Scott GDS
  • 4.
    Thanks for coming Tom Scott GDS
  • 5.
  • 6.
  • 7.
    Richard Sargeant Directorof Product and Delivery Unit Tom Scott GDS
  • 8.
    Digital by Default Service Standard Tom Scott GDS
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 11.
  • 12.
    Where did the Digital by Default Service Standard come from? Tom Scott GDS
  • 13.
    Action 6 ofthe Government Digital Strategy Tom Scott GDS
  • 14.
    Based on the learnings from building GOV.UK Tom Scott GDS
  • 15.
  • 16.
    Themes of thecriteria • User needs • The Team • Security, Privacy, Tools and Standards • Improving the Service • Design • Assisted Digital and Channel Shift • Analysis and Benchmarking • Testing with the Minister Tom Scott GDS
  • 17.
    Why have assessments? • Ensures all services have the same high standard • Protect the integrity of GOV.UK • A checkpoint to meeting the standard • shares knowledge • unblocks problems Tom Scott GDS
  • 18.
    So far •Since April 2014 28 assessments • It’s been really interesting, we’ve learnt about • fishing in lakes • different types of HGVs • how elections really work • and so much more • They work best as a conversation • Everyone want’s the same outcome! Tom Scott GDS
  • 19.
    We need yourhelp Tom Scott GDS
  • 20.
    Why can’t GDSdo the assessments? • there are around 700 services linked to from GOV.UK • that could be over 2100 assessments • which would take us over 9 years • not very agile • not all services are the same Tom Scott GDS
  • 21.
    What services doesGDS assess? • all exemplars from departments GDS is helping to transform • all high volume services • those over 100k transactions a year • could be 300 or more assessments • any high risk services identified by the Office of CTO Tom Scott GDS
  • 22.
    When are highvolume services assessed? service development alpha review beta assessment live assessment Tom Scott GDS
  • 23.
    What happens inan assessment? • round the table discussion • Service Manager leads with an description of the service and demonstration • the assessment panel ask questions based on the standard • 3 days later the result and report are sent to the Digital Leader and the Service Manager Tom Scott GDS
  • 24.
    What about theother 500 plus services? Tom Scott GDS
  • 25.
  • 26.
    Self-certification must be • straightforward • to manage • to run • to report outcomes • accountable • Digital Leaders sign off • collaborative • more of a review Tom Scott GDS
  • 27.
    Q and A ask the assessors Tom Scott GDS
  • 28.
    Assess the assessor What result would you have given? Tom Scott GDS
  • 29.
    Break Costa justin the lobby Bathrooms are next to the lifts Tom Scott GDS
  • 30.
  • 31.
    The assessment Tryto keep to this structure •welcome the team •ask the Service Manager to explain the reason the service has been developed •ask for a demonstration of the service •follow the assessors prompts sheet and ask lots of questions It can take some time... • anywhere between 1 and 3 hours Get the right people in the room • service manager, tech arc, analyst etc. for both assessors and the team Tom Scott GDS
  • 32.
    What should youask? Use the assessor prompts sheet • example questions • clear evidence needed to pass a stage Try to get to know the service manual • has great guidance and advice Is the service similar to another you already use? Are there points the service has not met yet? • saves time and embarrassment Tom Scott GDS
  • 33.
    What to donext? Don’t make a decision there and then Take some time and review the service with fresh eyes • is it simple enough to use first time • has it got the look, feel and tone of GOV.UK • have users been considered throughout the development • can the service change in the future Concerns • check with the Service Manager • speak to us at GDS Tom Scott GDS
  • 34.
    After an assessment Complete the assessor prompts sheet • try to put in as much detail as you can, be collaborative • remember the standard is a minimum Write a short summary of the service and the review • this is needed for the certificate • share this with your Digital Leader • decide which criteria have passed, not passed or are not applicable Try to meet the Digital Leader • it’s in the Service Manager interest, get them to help • complete the online certificate, use the details sheet to help • ask your Digital Leader to ‘Sign’ the form Tom Scott GDS
  • 35.
    Resources to help The Service Manual • each criteria points has links to explain • it’s changing and improving, please feedback Digital Leaders office • they are experts in digital and responsible for the self-certs Service Assessments team and GDS • we asked for your help, we’re here to help • Google group community • service managers community Tom Scott GDS
  • 36.
    Self-assessment exercise Practiseas an assessor Tom Scott GDS
  • 37.
    Practise as anassessor Read through the scenario, choose either user needs, security and privacy or iterative design and personalise Use the assessor prompts, focus on partners chosen scenario, gather evidence Make a summary: decide which points the service has passed, not passed or are not applicable Feedback to the service manager 5 minutes 7 minutes 2 minutes 1 minutes Repeat Tom Scott GDS
  • 38.
    Self-assessment exercise Howdid it go? Tom Scott GDS
  • 39.
    Our expectations Nopass or fail for self-certification Digital Leaders are signing off the certification Assessments at each development stage • Alpha • Beta • Live • (we expect there will be just one assessment) Tom Scott GDS
  • 40.
    Next steps •Feedbacksurvey Prompts and evidence forms Updates to the service manual More self-certification training sessions Share your departments plans Tom Scott GDS
  • 41.
    Wrap up TomScott GDS
  • 42.
    Thank you TomScott GDS
  • 43.
    Tom Scott Digitalperformance analyst Government Digital Service @drtommac

Editor's Notes

  • #10 Lead discussion on the services linked here What are the products or services here? What links them together? Why have some been more successful? Which services do you use, why don’t you use the other services? Have they become a standards used by most?
  • #11 What do you see when you see these logos? Do they represent anything at all? What do people outside the civil service see? Why are they so different?
  • #12 To most people outside government this is how they see all those departments, they have limited interaction with the politics but regularly access to services and information. What does this symbol represent to you?
  • #14 to ensure that services are simpler, clearer, faster for users and based on data and feedback to establish a Digital by Default culture create a single domain for government build digital leadership and capability in the Civil Service