The Welsh Government is investing £4.9m to improve digital public services in Wales so that they are easier and slicker for people to use. |
One consequence of the coronavirus pandemic has been that many more people have needed or chosen to access public services online, and this has already driven the transformation of some digital services.
An example of this has seen Neath Port Talbot Council working with Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen Councils, and supported by the Centre for Digital Public Services, on a project to improve people’s experience of accessing adult social care services online. First-hand insights from users and social care staff are being used to develop better digital services including improvements to the referral process. Meanwhile, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s work to use digital automation to process applications for free school meals has resulted in a much speedier process. Working with the private sector, the local authority can now ensure that eligible school children are accepted on to the free school meals programme on the day of their application. This development has been invaluable during the pandemic when demand for free school meals has surged and as a result many more children have begun receiving healthy and nutritious meals delivered direct to their doorstep. Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, Lee Waters has said he wants this £4.9m investment in digital public services to drive more innovative and user friendly approaches across Wales. The funding will be directed to the Centre for Digital Public Services, which was established last year to transform the design and delivery of digital public services. The investment will support specialised training programmes and digital squads who will work with public sector organisations and help them to drive up their digital knowledge and improve their online services. This will help ensure that people accessing public service digitally can have an experience that is as easy and user friendly as when they shop or bank online. The funding is part of the Welsh Government’s Digital Strategy for Wales which is being ‘crowdsourced’ to test ideas and gather new suggestions. The strategy will determine how the Welsh Government harnesses digital, data, technology and AI now and in the future to benefit people in Wales.
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