Data Community
Become a member of the Social Care Wales Data Community
Growing the Data Community for social care in Wales
06 August 2026
Data is part of everyday social care practice. Whether it's recording information, sharing updates between services or using evidence to support decisions, data helps us understand what's working and where improvements are needed.
That's why Social Care Wales launched the Data Community. It's a space where people across social care in Wales can connect, learn from one another and share experiences of using data in practice.
Our aim is to help people feel more confident using data, build stronger connections across the sector and support better outcomes for people who need care and support. Since launching, we've been encouraged by the interest from people across Wales who want to learn, share and shape the future of data in social care.
Interested in getting involved? Whether you'd like to become a member of the Data Community or join a session to see what it's all about, we'd love to hear from you.
Talking social care data
Sign up to our talking social care data sessions
Depending on whether you've been a member of one of our communities before, you may be asked to create an account before joining a specific community.
What we've learned so far
Since launching the Data Community, we've already begun exploring some of the key areas that shape how data is used across social care in Wales.
Our first event, Shaping the Data Community together, gave us a shared starting point. Colleagues from across Wales reflected on the data landscape, the confidence people want to build and the relationships that make data meaningful. It surfaced practical ideas and helped us understand what matters most to people working with data every day.
In July, we held our second community event, Why data standards matter for social care in Wales. Owen Davies, Head of Strategic Data Programmes, shared how Social Care Wales is developing national data standards to help create clearer, more consistent information across the sector.
He spoke about why data standards matter, making it easier for systems to work together, reducing duplication and improving the quality of the data people rely on every day. Owen also described the collaborative approach behind the work, with practitioners from all regions helping shape the standards so they reflect real practice.
At its heart, the session highlighted that data standards are not just a technical exercise. They're a way of supporting better decisions, smoother journeys through care and more joined-up support for people across Wales.
Want to learn more about data standards? Visit our data standards webpage to find out what they are, see the progress being made across Wales and explore opportunities to get involved.
Data and digital belong to everyone
Alongside our community events, I recently joined the Social Care Wales Employer Support Roadshow in Newtown, Powys, where I introduced the new data and digital communities to local employers.
We began with a simple question: What data or digital tools could you not live without in your role?
People shared openly, compared experiences and recognised that data and digital are already part of their everyday practice.
From there, we explored what a community of practice is and the kinds of topics the data and digital communities will cover, including:
- best practice for information sharing
- reducing duplication and writing clear case notes
- digital tools and resources
- designing accessible services
- what others across Wales are doing in this space.
The conversations were lively and grounded in real practice. They reinforced something we've heard consistently since launch: data and digital are for everyone. Every role, every team and every organisation has a part to play.
Help shape what's next
We're still at the beginning of this journey, and the Data Community will continue to grow through the ideas, experiences and insights of its members.
Whether you're already working with data or want to learn more about its role in social care, we'd love you to be part of the conversation.
Join the Data Community, come along to a talking social care data session and help shape what's next.
Find out more
If you'd like to find out more about the Data Community, have an idea for a future community event or would like to share your work with other members, please get in touch with Zoe, the Data Community Manager.
Blog written by
Zoe Davies
Data Community Manager
zoe.davies@socialcare.walesI’m Zoe and I’ll be taking care of our Data Community.
My aim is to create an accessible, non-judgemental space for us to build our data skills, connect with one another and share learning.
Previously, I was a data analyst for Social Care Wales and Welsh Water.
I believe that through collaboration, social care data has the potential to transform services and outcomes for the people who access care and support.