How our ASC-WDS data is being used to support local decision making

We take a look at some of the organisations who are using our Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) data to inform decisions on a local level.

The data that comes from Skills for Care’s Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) is an invaluable resource for many organisations across the UK. By leveraging this data, organisations are able to make better decisions about their workforces, operations and services. We wanted to take a look at some examples of how our data is being used at the local level.

Suffolk Care Association

Suffolk Care Association (SCA) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that provides essential support, knowledge and advice to social care providers in Suffolk and North East Essex. In partnership with Suffolk County Council’s Adult Community Services, they helped establish the Joint Suffolk Care Partnership (JSCP), a platform dedicated to addressing all care-related matters impacting the residents of Suffolk.

Suffolk Care Association has effectively leveraged data from the ASC-WDS to enhance recruitment, retention and workforce development across the region. By collaborating with their local Integrated Care Board (ICB), they’ve used this data to support international care workers, enabling them to train for their OSCE exams at local hospitals and increasing the number of qualified nurses and addressing workforce shortages.

In addition, SCA has utilised the data to secure funding for senior carers pursuing nursing associate courses, aiding staff retention and career progression. The association also hosts recruitment days and taster sessions to attract new talent into social care, drawing on workforce data to target these efforts more effectively.

The organisation commented:

Oldham Council

Oldham Council recently used data from Skills for Care’s ASC-WDS data to inform its Market Position Statement (MPS), an essential tool for councils to communicate their service provision and workforce capacity to the local care market.

The MPS helps councils signal to providers their commissioning intentions, the needs of the local population, and the current capacity of services, ensuring that social care provision aligns with local demand.

ASC-WDS data not only informed the MPS but also supports market engagement events, where the council communicates with care providers about new commissioned services.

Skills for Care’s data plays a pivotal role in helping councils like Oldham maintain an informed and strategic approach to workforce planning, ensuring that social care services can meet the needs of local residents.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB is a key organisation responsible for planning and delivering health and care services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

The ICB's primary focus is on ensuring that services are coordinated, efficient and tailored to the needs of local communities. This includes managing budgets, commissioning healthcare services, overseeing primary care, mental health services, and social care initiatives.

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough ICB has effectively used ASC-WDS data to support its recent staff accommodation project. This project focused on addressing housing needs across the local care and health workforce, and the data has proven invaluable in guiding their approach.

Through the ASC-WDS, the ICB gained critical insights into the size and composition of the workforce, particularly within the independent care sector, which was essential for informing their staff housing needs survey. By understanding the workforce demographics, the ICB could better target and support those in need of accommodation.

This data-driven approach is helping improve the lives of healthcare and care workers, which in turn enhances the quality of care provided to patients and the wider community.

The ICB said:

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