Stakeholders
Police Scotland
NHS
Type of work
Service Design
Systems Design
Student Work
Collaborators
Mariana Acosta Morales
Jia Qian
Shanyi Xiong
Ximan Chen
A co-response driven care network providing appropriate care for individuals in mental health distress, in Scotland.
Titled “Effective Policing”, this project led us to explore the role of a modern, functioning, fit-for-purpose Scottish Police Service. As Design Innovators and Service designers, we were to approach this context through the lens of “care”.
In Scotland, the Police are often the first contact when a person is in crisis. However, people with mental health problems need expert support. Through this project, we identified the need for an emergency psychiatric care unit, and a broader supportive care network.
Watch our complete project process video below:
Primary research plan & data synthesis
To conduct focussed enquiry, we clustered information several times based on emerging themes and strategic objectives. To gain perspective on particular focus areas, we followed a triangulated approach to collect primary data- speaking with the Police, members of the public, and subject matter experts.
Data synthesis through clustering
Engagement tools to interact
with the public
We designed engagement tools to ease into the topic of safety, well-being, and the Police. Using characters with varying personalities from popular cop shows in the UK, was an exciting way to start an in-depth conversation.
Focussing on Mental Health &
re-imagining first response to a crisis
Our research revealed a few distinct opportunities for intervention. We chose to focus on Mental Health as a group, after assessing the scope of the project and the positive impact it could create for both the public and the Police.
Assessing opportunities
Analysing the Mental Health context
INSIGHT 1
In a situation of acute distress, people require urgent primary care, as opposed to clinical or criminal emergency treatment.
INSIGHT 2
During a crisis, people prefer to rely on the Police’s 24x7 availability and immediacy of response, in spite of an undesirable experience.
Hence we framed our design challenge as "Re-imagining the response to a mental health crisis situation so individuals in distress receive the appropriate care from the right people.”
Identifying barriers and redesigning the service experience
Mapping relationships in the Ecosystem
We mapped the wide context of mental health and the relationships between care providers and the Police. It helped us see the variety of options available for mental health care, and the lack of a simple emergency psychiatric care unit to relieve the burden on the Police, and provide expert support.
2 part Service Proposal- A mobile care unit van & an integrated care network
Modelled after two pilot programs in Denver and Oregon, the van is a co-response team comprising of a Community Psychiatric Nurse, or a CPN, and a Paramedic. They are both dressed in regular civilian clothes.
2 part Service Proposal
Service Journey Map of Care
Our journey of care starts before the van arrives and extends beyond the moment the crisis is treated. A key aspect of this journey is being sensitive to the needs of diverse communities in Scotland, and being fair and inclusive during access, treatment and follow up care.
In building on this proposal, Service Blueprints, Impact Assessment models, benefits and other research frameworks were documented in detail. The video shared above best explains the experience of care through an illustrated storyboard.
As a Live project, we received insights and feedback from those involved in policing and mental health support in Scotland. Over the 2 months, we focussed heavily on gathering information from multiple sources, framing insights, and identifying opportunities that would lead to meaningful outcomes for people and the Police.
Service Journey Map of Care
People and organisations involved in the care ecosystem