“Is there something I should know?”

Working together to provide better access to information.

Feedback on the Warrington Workshop

The Workshop was held on 16 November 2009 to introduce a project called DORIC, set up to develop a research and data observatory and a collaborative service between local partners in the sub-region. The project was in its early stages and the Project Board was keen both to raise awareness and encourage those likely to be most affected to contribute to its development. The Workshop was held under the auspices of Warrington Partnership and was attended by forty people from a wide range of organisations:

Warrington BC
Police
Cheshire West & Chester Council
National Health Service
Fire and Rescue
Connexions
Office of National Statistics
NW Regional Intelligence Unit
Golden Gates Housing
Warrington Housing Association
Learning & Skills Council
Cheshire & Warrington Economic Alliance
Job Centre Plus.

Presentations were made on the need for accessible information and the DORIC Project. Delegates also saw demonstrations of local observatories that were already in existence and shown something of two other observatories from elsewhere in the country. Copies of the presentations are available on request and a list of websites is attached so you can look at existing observatories. During the Workshop, you had the opportunity to ask questions and comment on what you had heard. What follows is a summary of those questions and comments.

The use of information and the need to improve

When asked what your organisation used information for, the number of you citing a particular type were

1. Assessments leading to a strategy, plan or policy      19
2. Performance management                                         19
3. Providing responsive services                                    14
4. Completing Government returns                                 12
5. Producing factsheets or similar                                   12
6. Other information requests                                         12
7. Other use of information                                               4

All types received a high score for needing improvement - on average 4 - where 1 indicated least in need and 5 indicated most in need of improvement. Within the average, however, there were some differences in view among respondents. The uses for information considered most consistently to need improvement were 1, 4 and 5.

Getting hold of the information you need

When asked what problems you encountered in accessing the information you needed, your responses suggested a user perspective and a practitioner perspective. Users were concerned about the accuracy and usefulness of the information supplied, timeliness and insufficient interpretation and analysis.

Practitioners referred to a lack of clarity among clients in defining what information they needed and a lack of proper programming. You also mentioned a number of issues around the acquisition of data, including different formats and geographies but in particular, the difficulties of persuading other departments or organisations to share. Frequent changes in information requirements, for example flowing from central government were cited along with mixed messages about data protection and information-sharing.

What you thought about the observatory proposal

Most of the discussion groups were aware of the benefits of having an observatory but recognised that its success would depend upon it being seen as a readily useable source of up-to-date, relevant and trustworthy information. It was also seen as a positive way of strengthening partnership working with the potential for income generation.

You identified possible problems with incompatible formats, restrictions on the publication of certain data and disruption of work programmes to ensure timely uploading of information. There was much concern about the risk of information being misused or misinterpreted if it were easily accessible to non-practitioners, with a resulting loss of confidence and reputational risk. The importance of training users was highlighted. The other main concern was that partners may not agree in future to commit the staff and finance needed to maintain the observatory.

Only one delegate thought their organisation would want to be an additional development partner and this was tentative. All those responding to the questionnaire, however, thought that their service or organisation would be interested in using or contributing to an observatory.

What you thought about the collaborative service proposal

Most groups found the proposal for a research and intelligence collaborative harder to respond to. This is understandable as, at present, its form has not been set out in any detail. The advantages of greater collaboration were identified, such as addressing information gaps and reducing duplication of effort. The opportunities for efficiency and streamlining services were also recognised.

But some of you wondered what added value a collaborative service would bring. Each organisation would still have its own information needs as well as those generated by partnership working. Staff may be resistant to what they see as unnecessary change. It may be more cost-effective to ask consultants to analyse information rather than fund DORIC. Determining priorities could raise tensions between partners. To make a sensible proposal for a collaborative service, it would be necessary to carry out an audit of current provision – a big job.

Of those responding to the questionnaire, most thought their service / organisation would be interested in being part of the collaborative service, but not all.

Questions posed

Questions asked reflected both the concerns expressed by some delegates in the discussion groups and the fact that the project was in its early stages. Some of you wondered if systems currently in use, like LiLAC and CoStar and InstantAtlas could be incorporated in the observatory. Others wondered what DORIC would tell us that we don’t know already.

Next steps

The Project Board welcomes the interest and general encouragement of those who attended. Concerns raised will be taken into account as the project develops. An undertaking was given to continue the dialogue and the next stage will be a series of structured interviews with key representatives to find out about current services and understand business needs. This will be important when we come to discuss options for observatory content and function, for example with software suppliers and in designing options for a collaborative service.

Data Observatories – some examples to try

Some of you expressed an interest in looking at what observatories around the country had to offer. Set out below is a list of some 50 observatories, with a range of different approaches. Have a look and if you see something you like, or something you don’t like, let us know.

Barnet Maps http://www.maps.barnet.gov.uk

Black Country Consortium http://www.blackcountryknowledge.co.uk/bco/index.jsp

Blackpool http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Services/S-Z/StatisticsOnline/

Bournemouth Abstract of Statistics
http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/Residents/Research_Information/Abstract_of_Statistics/default.asp

Bradford http://www.communitystats.org.uk/

Cambridgeshire Observatory http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/observatory

Cheshire West and Chester Joint Strategic Needs Assessment www.wcheshirepct.nhs.uk/JSNA

Cheshire LiLAC http://lilac.cheshire.gov.uk/MainMenu.aspx

Cumbria Facts and Figures http://www.cumbriaobservatory.org.uk

East Riding of Yorkshire http://www.goferinfo.com/dataobs/index.aspx

East Sussex in Figures http://www.eastsussexinfigures.org.uk/webview/

LB Enfield http://www.enfield-observatory.org.uk/enfieldobservatory/

Gloucestershire MAIDeN http://www.maiden.gov.uk/