GDS update says work with councils has established patterns for two services using the identification platform
The pilots for the use of the GOV.UK Verify platform in local government have now reached the point where participant councils can take the first two services live, officials of the Government Digital Service (GDS) have reported.
They said that significant progress has been made in the pilots – using Verify applications for a resident’s parking permit and an older person’s bus pass – with patterns and prototypes developed to the stage where most of the user needs have been met.
In addition, the councils that took the prototypes into beta are now working on best practice services.
Sanjay Poyzer and Lizzie Bruce have reported the progress in a blogpost focused on the development of service patterns as part of the pilots.
They say the user research showed that the services of different councils have more similarities than differences, and have developed some examples of best practice. It includes people using Verify to prove their identity and eligibility for the services, along with the GOV.UK Notify platform to send confirmation messages and reminders.
It has also helped to identify the essential steps of the services and highlight policy changes to make them better.
Next step
“The next step will be for participant councils to go live with their redesigned services,” the blog says. “We’ll continue to iterate the pattern together from findings identified in live environments."
It indicates that there has been progress with the pilots despite reports of problems with the programme over recent months. GDS signed up 19 councils to take part in the pilots in October of last year, since when there have been reports of several dropping out and an internal review of the Verify programme.
The blog makes no reference to the number of councils still involved, but GDS’s willingness to go public with some details suggests it remains confident of what the pilots can deliver.
Image from GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0
