Written by Tara Hughes, research officer, ADR Wales social care theme team.
Social Care Wales is working alongside Administrative Data Research (ADR) Wales, part of the ADR UK investment, taking the lead for the programme of work around social care. Linked data research can have huge benefits when carried out safely and in the public interest. It helps us make informed improvements to the adult social care landscape in Wales.
We’ll focus on how linked data research can be developed in adult social care research, building on the work already taking place in the UK in children’s social care.
What we mean by administrative data
Linked data research typically uses routinely collected data, also known as administrative data. Administrative data is information created when people interact with public services like schools, social services, the NHS, the courts or the benefits system.
How can linked data research help us in our work?
Linking different types of administrative data held on individuals across social care and other organisations creates a wealth of data. This linked data can provide important knowledge and powerful insights into our society, helping us see where change is needed.
Local authorities collect important data on a variety of services, systems and interactions with people who contact them. For example, this could be information on individual care packages or the services accessed by families and carers. Linked data research provides insights and learning by using this already routinely collected data in an anonymised, secure and approved way.
The data collected can also be anonymously linked to other sources like health, housing or education data, significantly improving the reliability and accuracy of this information. Linking different data sources like these also creates opportunities to explore the impact of social care interventions on individual and family lives over time.
To give you an example of what this means in practice, we can measure the impact of providing unpaid care to a family member on the carer’s health and well-being.
We do this by comparing the unpaid carers sub-group data with the rest of the population. This could involve comparing data from similar age groups, genders, or even locality.
How do we ensure the data we link is kept private and secure?
All the data used and linked together for analysis is held within an anonymised and secure databank. In Wales, we’re fortunate to have access to the SAIL Databank.
Its full name, the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank, tells us a bit more about this national trusted research environment (TRE) for 'de-identified’ data. This means that researchers can access anonymised data via a secure TRE.
For further information on how your data is used and stored within the SAIL Databank, visit Apply to work with the data - SAIL Databank.
How can linked data research improve social care?
We want to share how linked data research can help our work in social care. Here are some examples of the impact of linked data research in other public services and the opportunities this gives us:
We can identify ‘at risk’ or ‘high need’ groups and provide preventative services for these groups.
In a recent study by Swansea University, researchers linking police and healthcare data identified vulnerable individuals before a potential police intervention. This could help reduce police callouts and future emergency medical admissions.
We can provide valuable information to support the planning and commissioning of services and improve the effectiveness of policies over time.
Care and Repair Cymru recently worked with researchers at Swansea University to design a study that evaluates the effectiveness of home adaptations. The study looked at how adaptations could prevent falls-related hospital admissions for older people, and improve discharge times.
The study was used as an evidence base for services in health and social care and to inform policies that promote healthy ageing through prudent healthcare and falls prevention, home advice and modification interventions - ADR Wales.
We can evaluate new and existing services and strategies nationally to assess their impact and inform future funding or policy decisions.
This study explores the impact of school-based counselling services in all secondary schools across Wales. The research will assess the effectiveness of early intervention through counselling on recording of depression, anxiety and medication.
Visit Data use register - SAIL Databank for examples of available data sources and research projects currently underway.
How to get involved
We can support you in understanding what data you have and how it can be used to evaluate and improve services and people's lives.
By providing some of the data you routinely collect to the SAIL Databank you can help your team, organisation, area of work, and community – including the individuals or families who access care and support.
Want to know more?
Take a look at our linked data research page for more information.
If you have any questions about this work or if you’d like to be involved, contact Tara Hughes and Lynsey Cross, our ADR work leads, at tara.hughes@socialcare.Wales and lynsey.cross@socialcare.Wales.
