We're upping councils' data game

摘要

Data holds the power to improve public services for the better, but some councils are struggling to take advantage of this shift in practice. They might not have the right skills, nor enough time to exploit their data resources effectively. That's why I've been working with councils across England to design a data programme that suits their needs, which can be funded by the apprenticeship levy. Using the masses of data authorities already have to better inform commissioning and support continuous service improvement is a rising priority. Budgets are tight and getting tighter. COVTD has shown us how difficult it is to bring datasets together and identify vulnerable groups that needed more support, at a time when acting quickly is paramount. In parallel, the Black Lives Matter movement has led councils to reflect on whether their services treat different groups equally. Without the right data skills, teams are just not able to properly investigate these types of concerns.