Norfolk's digital inclusion strategy

Our key outcome is for NCC staff to be digital advocates and champions. They'll understand how to use technology to:

• Support people in their everyday lives
• Overcome barriers to access
• Allow people to become digitally included

We consider accessibility as standard when developing new applications or digital services. This means the people that need them the most can access them.

Opportunities to trial assistive technology, guided by staff who understand the benefits and application, helps people to:

• Maintain or increase independence
• Maintain or increase employment opportunities
• Improve wellbeing

Our staff as digital citizens can make best use of digital services in their day-to-day roles.

Strategic plan: What we will do

Engage and communicate

Engage and communicate with staff so that they understand the support offer clearly and can communicate this to residents. This includes enabling staff to understand their responsibilities to provide accessible digital services and web content to customers.

We aim to have an engagement plan in place by October 2022.

Showcasing technology

Showcasing, technology test drives and training opportunities that influence and inform staff on the types of technology available to support people they are working with and support to access wider support available.

We aim to have held 15 events for staff by March 2023.

Support offers

Ensure staff understand how to access the support offers available (and go to Libraries staff for help where needed) for residents they work with so they can support them to access help. For example, where people have learning disabilities or we are working with families experiencing a range of inequalities and barriers to access.

We aim to have trained 1000 staff to become digital advocates in 3 years. 80% of staff trained will feel confident that they can really help people to become digitally included.

Town and parish council support

Work closely with the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) to provide support to town and parish council staff, who can in turn support residents.
We aim for 80% of parish clerks to be confident in how to refer people for help.

An efficient experience

Make it simple for staff to find local digital support offers for residents by ensuring the Norfolk Community Directory has a range of guided searches and up to date information to make this as quick and simple as possible.

We aim for 80% of staff surveyed to feel they can use the Norfolk Community Directory effectively to find information for residents.

Making digital technology accessible

Ensure that our digital technologies - such as our computer hardware, software, apps, business systems - such as Oracle and Liquid Logic - and business equipment such as smart phones are accessible for disabled staff and service users.

We aim to develop our digital systems and project staff to complete relevant training. Project documentation, including checklists, will ensure that accessibility needs are considered on all relevant systems development and procurement activities.