S8080 recently launched the new site for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, delivered through the G-Cloud framework.
The redesign and development of the site will help people access PHSO services more easily by structuring the content more clearly through a reworking of their IA. The site also contains an interactive tool that allows users to quickly assess whether they are ready to take their complaint to the Ombudsman. This tool, placed on the homepage helps users understand the complaints process and signposts them to the correct information while helping PHSO filter enquiries that are not quite ready for the complaints procedure.
The design had to be sensitive to the user’s emotional state, as at the time they first engage with the service they were likely to be unhappy. By presenting the content clearly and showing them the clear path the complaint process takes, they are immediately helped and given them confidence in the service.
During UX and development, the site has undergone extensive usability and accessibility testing with third-party specialist testing agencies. The site was user tested under laboratory conditions and the findings of the usability report assisted the organisation in evolving the experience based on user’s needs and wants. Real-world accessibility testing was undertaken under a variety of conditions so the site and content can be accessed by all.
The website was built with the newly released Drupal 8 content management system. This latest version of Drupal offers many benefits over previous versions including performance improvements, an enhanced administration user experience as well as more control and customisation from a development perspective. In addition to these front-end improvements, using the open-source Drupal 8 CMS also assures a more ‘future-proofed’ website and by extension a greater level of security and performance for both users and their data.
The feedback from the organisation and the site’s users has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s been a pleasure to work with PHSO, who were highly engaged throughout the UX, creative and development phases. Their enthusiasm and subject expertise helped us understand their objectives and assisted in delivering a site that will make a real difference to its users and the organisation.
Take a look at the new Drupal 8 PHSO website here.
