User research away day
Today we saw some brilliant facilitation by the hosts Jordan and Michelle. A difficult tech set up to connect several sites, avoiding inevitable audible feedback loops, lining up lots of speakers to join remotely, facilitating some hybrid digital-physical workshops. Well done!
There were some fascinating talks about programmes of work being delivered by researchers across NHS Digital. Evidence-based and UCD-led approaches that are helping to shape the way teams work, to increase UCD maturity (great work Lucy)!
I presented an update on NHS Digital Panel Management Strategy – I’m not even sure how that went, would be interested to hear feedback. It was really lovely to see colleagues in person after 2 years sitting behind a screen! After years without any face-to-face presentations, I was feeling very anxious and out of my comfort zone at the start. Luckily this went away quickly when hecklers started and I just cracked on.
It would have been nice to introduce new research colleagues at the start, and have a bit more time for networking. However, with covid hospitalisation levels near peak levels I imagine networking was probably to be discouraged. This event already had been cancelled twice several times due to covid, so I guess a necessary compromise.
A few of the other talks were quite in depth. Training talk on Safeguarding was a bit too close to home at times. For me this would have worked better in person with a small group, and more time to decompress. It felt like an overload of (important) policy guidance and highlights of some potentially difficult or traumatic incidents to watch out for/avoid. I came away feeling pretty upset following my recent dog-bite incident and well as personally feeling quite vulnerable at time as a solo dad surviving beyond divorce.
Had a lovely lunch break with colleagues Claudio and Tanja who continue to inspire me with their motivation to crack on delivering loads of great work, despite their teams going through lots of interesting structure and supplier changes.
Doh - forgot to take pictures of the team or venue. if anyone has any photos do share!