Data is most valuable when we can fully realise its potential.  For this to happen we must ensure that we have good quality data, knowing what we hold and where, ensuring we collect, store and use it in a secure and standardised way.

Like most local authorities, in Bexley, historically, our systems have not talked to each other, and there was no common way to integrate data.  As a result, services often created standalone spreadsheets and databases to suit specific needs.

Improved coordination, access and safe sharing of appropriate quality data between services and with our partners can help provide a comprehensive single view of a customer’s journey with us, avoid duplication in the work we are doing to improve decision making and the overall experience of the people we serve.

What will we do?

• ensure our data is fit for purpose by assessing and monitoring our data quality and fixing any identified issues as a priority
• create and implement consistent data standards across all council services, focusing on standardised collection, storage, analysis and collaboration
• use data with purpose; not just stating ‘what happened?’ but using it to ask ‘why did it happen?’ and ‘how can we create a better outcome in the future?’
• putting quality data and analysis at the heart of our decision-making processes
   

What will the impact be?

• data is recognised by all council areas as a key asset
• data analytics inform policy and service design
• improved data quality
• continuous learning and improvement

Good quality data comes from good quality processes.  A lack of data ownership and management leads to different services using different data to answer the same questions.  Data should be owned and well-understood by those that collect it, with common processes and tools in place so that all services can use it to deliver high quality outcomes.

We will implement robust data management and governance practices for the effective, secure, legal and ethical use of data. 

We need the right tools, processes and technical support to enable effective data usage and analysis to take place. 

What will we do?

• review and implement council policies on data quality, management, collection and storage
• equip our staff with the technology and infrastructure needed to support the storage, quality analysis and usage of data
• promote the automation of more processes to make them more efficient, freeing up valuable resources for use elsewhere
   

What will the impact be?

• more digital and automated solutions to enable faster analysis and report writing
• staff have the right tools to succeed in providing the best possible services to our customers
• maximising our use of data in a way that is legal and ethical
• confidence in decisions made using our data

To be successful all directorates of the council must share and own the council’s vision to become a data-driven organisation.  Culture is central to this, supporting staff at all levels to understand and see the value of data and high-quality analysis, as well as collaborative ways of working.

What will we do?

• make sure service areas have access to staff with the skills to meet their data and analytical needs
• moving towards a more collaborative way of working, breaking down perceived barriers to data sharing, through greater understanding of the circumstances and purposes for which data can be shared and making it easier to access important data in a timely manner
• creating greater data search and analysis ability within the council
• working to improve data literacy across the whole council through targeted support and training
• training for staff on the ethical use of data
   

What will the impact be?

• collaborative working is the ‘norm’ with data more appropriately accessible for our staff, partners and customers
• staff are empowered to support the improved flow of data across the council, making informed decisions about data safety and ethical use
• improved data literacy and skills across all directorates of the council
• data is available at the time it is needed

We put our customers at the heart of everything we do.  In order to do this effectively it is important that we understand the needs of our customers, enabling us to deliver the right services to the right people at the right time.

What will we do?

• use insight from data and analysis to target our resources more intelligently, identifying future service pressures and developing interventions at the earliest opportunity.
• take on a more preventative approach to data usage, predictively identifying the needs of our communities early and inform service developments and local commissioning.
• evaluate impact through the improved analysis of data to understand effectiveness of approaches being introduced
   

What will the impact be?

• an improved understanding of our customers
• timely, targeted support ensuring needs are met at the earliest opportunity
• better, more efficient services