Social Innovation Lab for Kent

Kent County Council

• Created an award-winning centre of excellence for social innovation
• Project framework and methods database
• More than 10 projects completed

Kent County Council has a reputation for innovation and good provision of services. In 2007 they asked Sophia Parker, Engine and me to help them develop an internal consultancy, which became SILK, the Social Innovation Lab for Kent.

We developed a project framework to guide teams who wanted to use service design techniques, we also prepared a database of design methods to spread awareness and build capability. I also mentored two teams exploring ways of getting better access to care and helping families in difficulties.

The SILK team have now completed a wide range of co-designed or co-produced services. Working with their communities in Kent, they have created bulk-buy schemes, timebanks, dementia pathways and services to help fathers re-engage with their families.