West Sussex County Council embarked on a major improvement journey in 2020. At the heart of that was the development of a Children First Vision to put children at the heart of everything we do. We held a number of workshops on this them with our staff and managers and Emma attended to listen and engage in the work. We asked Emma to help us by bringing the Vision alive and making it a tangible visual reminder to all our staff that Children First was a reality. Without the visual representation of our vison, we knew that it would not have the impact and reach that we required.

When we organised the workshops, we asked Emma to attend and participate and sue her artistic skills to bring to life our discussions and ideas. She did this in real time and it provided a touch point for participants and really galvanised the work we were doing. As the session progressed, we were able to coalesce around the artwork that Emma was producing, and this stimulated further discussion and a focus to get the vision right. As the session progressed, Emma was able to adapt and change the image to meet the requirements of the service. This included adding text bubbles to accommodate the behaviours and actions we would initiate as part of the vision and also brought in local landmarks to give it an authentic feel and ownership.

The quality of the visual representation of our vision was excellent and has been used on all of the Council’s children’s services correspondence and work since then. It has been translated into stickers for laptops, poster and used as screen back drops in meetings. It has become an ever-present design reminder of our Children First approach and our staff fully identify with it now.

The Children First Vision illustration get regular feedback from colleagues, service users and wider stakeholders. External colleagues often comment on the vibrant nature of the illustration and how it has brought a dynamism to the Children First approach. Children and Young People love the vison and feel that they are fully included in it because it is easy to see and interpret. We have been so happy with the product and how Emma has been available to adapt and change the illustration as we have developed as a service. We are in our fifth year since producing the vison and now in the process of reviewing it. We are already thinking about how Emma will interpret our next iteration. I cannot speak highly enough of Emma; her talent, engagement and quality of product are outstanding.  

Vince Clark

Interim Director of Children, Young People and Learning (DCS)

West Sussex County Council