Begin with a choice, not an extract
Local authorities hold data about contacts, assessments, decisions, provision and expenditure. Those records become useful when they help distinguish between possible responses to a defined service problem.
Specify the choice before requesting data. A question about reducing delays needs a different analysis from a question about locating provision or changing eligibility pathways. An unrestricted request for everything available creates work without establishing what would change as a result.
Make linkage earn its place
Use the least detailed data needed to answer the question. Cross-service linkage requires a defined purpose, a lawful basis, appropriate safeguards and proportionate access. Analytical convenience is not a sufficient reason to assemble a broader personal record.
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Inside the full briefing
- Build an analytical route from question to action
- Follow cohorts through the pathway
- Test explanations before recommending changes
- Questions for service leaders
- Where to start