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Data standards for social care: What we've done so far

We’re working to create data standards for social care in Wales.

Data standards help make sure information is:

  • recorded in a consistent way
  • made easier to share between organisations
  • more useful for planning and improving services
  • a stronger foundation for using data effectively.

Until now, there hasn’t been a national data standard for social care in Wales. 

You can read more about data standards here

Our progress

We commissioned BetterGov to support this work. They have now completed Phase 1 of the programme, which ran from November 2025 to April 2026.

This first phase focused on:

  • working with people across social care in Wales
  • understanding how data is currently recorded and shared
  • identifying common challenges that prevent data sharing
  • understanding similar work that has been completed elsewhere
  • developing the first version of social care data standards.

What Phase 1 has delivered

Phase 1 has created a strong foundation for national data standards.

Phase 1 - click to expand

Key outputs include:

  • 10 priority use cases covering areas like ‘front door’ assessment, safeguarding and hospital discharge 
  • A data catalogue containing 415 data elements, including 239 identified for consideration as data standards by the data standards writing group
  • Engagement with practitioners and managers from 14 local authorities across Wales 
  • A governance structure to manage standards going forward
  • A collaboration agreement demonstrating commitment across the sector
  • An early version of an online Data Standards Catalogue for social care in Wales
  • Options for the long-term management of social care data standards
  • An implementation guide covering the technical aspects of data standards using  Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR)
  • A range of documentation and technical outputs (coming soon!)

This means we now have the first national approach to social care data standards in Wales.

What we learned

Through workshops and engagement, several clear themes emerged:

  • Data is recorded differently across organisations
    Differences in the way information is recorded make it harder to compare data and share information.
  • Staff spend too much time duplicating data
    The same information is often recorded multiple times in different ways.
  • There is strong support for standardising data
    Especially if it helps reduce workload rather than add to it.
  • Sharing data between services can be difficult
    This is particularly challenging between health and social care.
  • The things that make sharing difficult are not always the fault of ‘the system’ 
    Information governance, data hygiene, leadership and culture all play an important role.
  • There is interest in better use of data and technology
    Including how it could support decision-making, save time, and reduce admin.

What this means

This work is starting to make a difference. We’ve already:

  • started developing a shared national language for social care data, where none previously existed 
  • co-designed our priorities with practitioners, not imposed them from the top
  • focused on reducing burden, not increasing it
  • built on existing UK standards, rather than starting from scratch
  • produced reusable outputs that will continue to be developed
  • worked with national programmes such as Connecting Care, the National Data Resource (NDR) and Health Level 7 UK (HL7) to ensure a consistent approach.

Overall, it gives us a clear starting point to improve how data is used across social care.

What happens next

We’re now preparing for Phase 2.

This next phase will focus on turning this work into a published and adopted national standard.

Phase 2 - click to expand

Will include:

  • Making sure all local authorities and providers can help shape the standards 
  • Continuing our co-design approach with practitioners and data experts by using a core writing group to develop the work
  • Ensuring all of our documentation and resources are available in Welsh and English
  • Testing and refining the standards with wider groups of stakeholders
  • Publishing and promoting a Minimum Operating Data Standard (MODS) for social care in Wales.

Long term objectives

We aim to:

  • encourage social care organisations to adopt and use MODS
  • work with system suppliers to encourage implementation of MODS
  • seek ratification of MODS from the Digital Service Standards Board for Wales.

Why this matters

Better data standards will help:

  • reduce duplication and admin for staff
  • improve information sharing
  • support joined-up care
  • provide better insights for planning and decision-making.
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Ultimately, this work will help improve outcomes for people who use care and support services

Get involved

We need your help to shape this work. We're committed to making sure people who need care and support, carers and practitioners are at the heart of what we do.

Whether you work in social care, use services or support someone who does, your experience and insight can help us develop better tools and systems.

If you'd like to get involved, please fill in our form and tell us which areas of our work interest you.

To find out more about this work, or to invite us to speak to your organisation, email data@socialcare.wales.