Exploring human rights approaches in service design
/This article was featured in the SCDC Weekly - 17th September
How does service design and human rights approaches work together? That's the question this guide from Third Sector Human Rights & Equalities explores.
The guide starts by exploring what service design is and how it works in Scotland. The double diamond model shows how discovering and defining an issue leads to ideation, testing, and finally delivery.
The Scottish Approach to Service Design sets out how people can be supported and empowered to participate in this process which, when done well, can lead to services that better meet people's needs and reduce inequalities.
A human rights and equalities-first approach goes hand in hand, and enhances, this way of working. They bring together people's rights around participation, non-discrimination, and empowerment to underpin how decisions are made and increase inclusivity.
Key to this approach is high-quality co-production and engagement so people can contribute their skills, knowledge and experiences in supported and meaningful ways.
"It is important that the service users aren’t made to feel like they have ‘been done a favour’," the guide concludes, "rather that these services are fulfilling their rights as rights-holders."
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