Making our platforms accessible

Cambridgeshire Community Services (CCS) NHS Trust and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) are Public Sector Bodies and answerable to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). It is responsible for making sure that NHS services comply with the latest law related to public sector websites.

As an NHS organisation, we must make our websites accessible in accordance with the ‘Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.’

We are monitored by the Government Digital Service. The CCS Trust Website was recently audited.

Explore the topics in this page:

Web content accessibility guidance

Basic requirements

How we manage accessibility

What else we do

Welcoming all feedback

Plans for the future

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

There is an internationally accepted standard that we are monitored against called the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). There are 13 comprehensive guidelines and 17 success criteria to satisfy.

We are specifically required to meet the rating 'WCAG 2.1 AA'.

The ‘2.1’ means it was latest version of the guidance published in 2018.
The 'A’ stands for the level of accessibility, AA is an excellent balance between access and an interactive user experience.

We are allowed exemptions in the criteria. This tends be videos and documents, dated before 2018 where updating is a seen as a disproportional burden.

The basic requirements

A website must be able to:

Change colours, contrast levels, and fonts.
Zoom in up to 300% with text staying visible on the screen, and most images scaling without resolution loss.
Navigate most of the website using a keyboard.
Navigate most of the website using speech recognition software.
Read most of the website using a screen reader, including the latest versions of JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver.
Read most of the website on devices without a screen, like a braille computer.

We must also have an accessibility statement on the platform using a government template that explains our compliance.

How we manage accessibility

The digital platforms are built to the WCAG 2.1 AA specification and we use recite me as our accessibility tool bar.

We also have a custom built accessibility checker in the website that will audit a page in less than 4 seconds and identify any issues.

There is also a great deal of training required to design content. There are NHS style guides to follow, we must taken into account different learning styles, create user profiles and create a logical narrative.

Two common content design pitfalls we often seen are:

Videos, graphic or photos being used without alternative descriptions, subtitles or scripts
Using vague or passive instructions such as ‘click here’ or ‘use link below’ rather than inserting the link or named document.

What else we do

Content

Content is designed based on the NHS style guide, the GOV.UK service manual and co-production. The target reading age is 9 years old.

Design Choices

Colours are chosen from an accessible palette, the tone of the colours is also selected to be subtle. Use of design elements is always to enhance but not overload visually. The body font you are reading now is ‘Atkinsons Hyperlegible’. This font was designed with the Braille institute and is widely regarded as one the most accessible and tested fonts.

Phasing out PDFs and leaflet

We are encouraging services to convert all information into webpages to increase accessibility and quality assurance. All pages on the platforms can be downloaded, printed with the desired reading preference using recite me. A lot of time was spent developing the pagination engine to ensure webpages would print and download well. try it now on this webpage.

Backdated web browser capability

The digital platforms are designed to automatically scale back features to make sure they still function as a basic website on older web browsers.

Balancing features with accessibility

To ensure everybody can benefit from interactive features we build in custom accessibility features where possible. Two examples are the listing and script options for the map and video blocks.

Map example

Barnardo's Chatteris Child and Family Centre

Larham Way, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, PE16 6PH

No appointment needed. You can call 01354 696989 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Mondays from 11am to 2:30pm and Thursdays from 1pm to 3pm.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Barnardo’s First Steps Child and Family Centre

20 Scalford Drive, Welland, Peterborough, PE1 4TR

No appointment needed. You can call 01733 295 860 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30am to 4pm.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Barnardo’s Honey Hill Child and Family Centre

150 Chadburn, Paston, Peterborough, PE4 7DH

No appointment needed. You can call 01733 574038 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Mondays from 9:30am to 10:30am and Thursdays from 11:15am to 12:35pm. For Sat Nav use PE4 7DR.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Barnardo's March Child and Family Centre

Community Room, Cavalry Drive, March, PE15 9EQ

No appointment needed. You can call 01354 650024 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm to 3pm.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Barnardo’s Orton Child and Family Centre (The Jigsaw Centre)

The Jigsaw Centre, 74 Herlington, Orton Malborne, Peterborough, PE2 5PW

No appointment needed. You can call 01733 391652 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Wednesdays from 10am to 3pm.

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Bewick Bridge Child and Family Zone

Bewick Bridge Community Primary School, Fulbourn Old Drift, CB1 9ND

No appointment needed. You can call 01223 728118 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 9:30am to 12:30pm (term time only).

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Cambourne Child and Family Centre

Sackville House, Sackville Way, Great Cambourne, CB23 6HL

No appointment is needed. You can call 01954 284672 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Fridays from 12.30pm to 2:30pm.

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Ely Child and Family Centre

Spring Meadow Infant and Nursery School, High Barns, Ely, CB7 4RB

No appointment needed. You can call 01353 612770 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to 12pm and from 1pm to 3:30pm.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Huntingdon Child and Family Centre

Huntingdon Youth Centre, Sallowbush Road, Huntingdon, PE29 7AF

No appointment needed. You can call 01480 372700 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Mondays from 11:30am to 1:30pm.

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Melbourn Child and Family Centre

Mortlock Street, Melbourn, SG8 6DB

No appointment needed. You can call 01954 286 012 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:30pm to 2:30pm.

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North Cambridge Child and Family Centre

The Centre, Campkin Road, Cambridge, CB4 2LD

No appointment needed. You can call 01223 728118 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Tuesdays from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

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Northstowe Child and Family Zone

Old Library, Northstowe Community Wing, Pathfinder Way, Northstowe CB24 1AA

No appointment needed. You can call 01954 284 672 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Tuesdays from 1pm to 2:30pm.

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Ramsey Child and Family Zone

Library Zone, 25 Great Whyte, Ramsey, PE26 1HG

No appointment needed. You can call 01480 372700 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Tuesdays from 10am to 12pm. Alternates between Library Zone, 25 Great Whyte, Ramsey, PE26 1HG and Ramsey District Office Site of Abbey College, Abbey Road, Hollow Lane, Ramsey, PE26 1DG. Please call 01480 372700 to confirm which venue.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Sawston Child and Family Zone

Sawston Community Hub, New Road, Sawston, Cambridge, CB22 3BP

No appointment needed. You can call 01954 284672 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on the 4th Friday of each month from 1pm to 2:30pm.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Sawtry Child and Family Zone

Sawtry Youth and Community Centre, Green End Road, Sawtry, PE28 5UX

No appointment needed. You can call 01480 372700 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Wednesdays from 11:30am to 12:45pm.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Soham Child and Family Centre

Weatheralls School, Pratt Street, Soham, CB7 5BH

No appointment needed. You can call 01353 612770 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 3:30pm.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

St Ives Child and Family Zone

Broad Leas Centre, St Ives, PE27 5QB

No appointment needed. You can call 01480 372700 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Thursdays from 10am to 12pm.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

St Neots Child and Family Centre - The Eatons

Bushmead Road, Eaton Socon, St Neots, PE19 8BT

No appointment needed. You can call 01480 372700 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Fridays from 9:30am to 12pm.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

St Neots Child and Family Centre - Eynesbury site

Winhills Primary Academy (Off Duck Lane), St Neots, PE19 2DX

No appointment needed. You can call 01480 372700 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Mondays from 12pm to 1:45pm.

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Storey's Field Centre

Eddington Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 1AA

No appointment needed. You can call 01223 728118 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on the 1st Tuesday of the month from 10am to 11:30am.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

The Fields Child and Family Centre

Galfrid Road, Cambridge, CB5 8ND

No appointment needed. You can call 01223 518333 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Mondays from 12:30pm to 2:30pm.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Waterbeach Child and Family Zone

High Street, Waterbeach, CB25 9JU

No appointment needed. You can call 01223 472791 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month from 10am to 12:30pm.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Wisbech Oasis Child and Family Centre

St Michaels Avenue, Wisbech, PE13 3NR

No appointment needed. You can call 01945 428664 or 01945 481150 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Fridays from 10am to 2pm.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Wisbech South Child and Family Centre

Elizabeth Terrace, Wisbech, PE13 2AQ

No appointment needed. You can call 01945 481150 or 01945 428664 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Mondays from 9:30am to 11:30am.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Littleport Child and Family Centre

Littleport Primary School, Parsons Lane, Littleport, CB6 1JT

No appointment needed. You can call 01353 612770 if you need to contact the centre. Clinics run on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 3:30pm. Come to the main reception for access.

Contact the Child and Family Centre

Video example

We are Children’s Occupational Therapists and Children’s Therapy Assistants working in the Cambridgeshire community.

You are the expert on your child and the situation, we will offer you our knowledge and skills to help you help your child.

We have a base in Wisbech, in Ely, in Huntingdon and in Cambridge

We see children at home, in school and in a clinic setting and work across both health and social care.

We hope our website will be helpful.

Welcoming all feedback – it’s an opportunity

Fazilet would you mind sharing your experience?

Improving accessibility is an ongoing process, that we are really keen to constantly improve on. All feedback is welcome, we encourage direct communication to get to solutions and improvements quicker. We have tough skin and will be supportive!

Feedback example

Please tell us about your recent experience with any of our services by answering a few simple questions. We want to hear about what you felt went well and what you think we could do differently.

Your voice makes a difference and helps us improve our services for you and other families.

Complete the survey