How can better use of data help councils anticipate demand, tackle workforce challenges and strengthen adult social care services?
In a recent article published in The MJ, Hilary Hall and Pete Sidgwick explore how the WM-ADASS Adult Social Care Data Hub is helping councils turn shared data into meaningful intelligence to support better planning and decision-making.
Developed as part of the WM-ADASS Improvement for All Programme, the Data Hub brings together adult social care data, interactive dashboards and benchmarking tools in one accessible place. With more than 1,500 active users across England, it is helping councils identify emerging risks, understand workforce pressures and make more informed decisions.
One example of this in action is international recruitment. The International Recruitment Dashboard has helped councils identify and respond to emerging risks, including sponsor licence revocations, provider pressures and displaced care workers. By providing shared intelligence, it supports a more coordinated response to workforce challenges and helps safeguard continuity of care. Further insights into this work and its impact are available in the International Recruitment Learning and Evaluation Reports.
The MJ article also highlights the wider impact of collaborative data sharing, including reduced reliance on agency staffing and an estimated £10.6 million in avoided costs through collaborative working.
Looking ahead, the ambition is to develop the Data Hub itself further, moving beyond reporting and benchmarking towards predictive intelligence that helps councils plan for future demand and workforce needs.
Read the full article in The MJ (page 14)
Find out more about the WM-ADASS Adult Social Care Data Hub.
