22 February 2010
People who use www.gov.je for information about States services will see a new look and feel to the site when they log on to the new website. The government site is being redeveloped so that people can find the information they’re looking for quickly and with ease.
Phase 1 of the website upgrade has focused on making the website easier to navigate and understand. The information has been organised by subject matter rather than by States department. There are links to working in Jersey, benefits and financial support, staying safe, and home and community, directing visitors more quickly to the information they need.
In addition, the web team has focused on making the site easier to read. In order to avoid jargon and lengthy sentences, small teams of web editors from within States departments have been trained to add, edit and improve content ensuring that it’s relevant, readable and easy to understand. Work will continue during 2010 with further information being added, as well as responding to the public’s feedback.
It has taken months of behind the scenes work by the Information Services (IS) web team and their local partner, C5 Alliance (C5), to design the site in a way that people want to use it. The new website structure has been based on the best and most up to date industry standards, and takes account of consultation with the public about what they wanted and need online. The web team is aiming to get into the top 25% of government websites in the UK, as independently assessed by SOCITM (Society of Information Technology Management), and will be working hard to stay there.
Director of Information Services for the States, Neil Wells, said: “The launch of the new look Gov.je is important in many ways. The design underneath it all gives the strong foundation necessary for States departments to begin providing the services that people expect online. The delivery of the site has also demonstrated a great working partnership between the States and private local businesses led by C5. It really has been a great team effort.
“This is the start of establishing the web as a major communication and delivery channel for public services in Jersey. The web team will now be working with States departments to see how current departmental and States-wide processes can be streamlined for more efficient and economic delivery.”
Phase 2 will see further development and enhancements; people will be able to do more online, from filling in forms to paying bills. IS and C5 will continue to work together to provide these ‘transactional’ services; concert goers should be able to book and pay for tickets online through the new site from May 2010. Online payment of car parking fines has been available on www.gov.je since January 2010.
The team is developing a sophisticated method of enabling more secure transactions whilst protecting customers’ personal data. Many States departments hold personal and sensitive information about their customers and the IS team need to provide a guaranteed and secure way for the department to identify the customer before any information is released or transactions carried out.
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