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Data to impact – Lichfield District Council

Lichfield District Council (LDC) was facing significant challenges in understanding and addressing the social and economic outcomes within the district. One of the main issues was the lack of detailed data on health, education, housing, and wellbeing, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation and targeting interventions.

The underdeveloped data systems and insufficient data integration practices limited their capacity to harness data-driven insights necessary for informed decision-making. This low data maturity limited their ability to implement a ‘Health in All Policies’ (HiAP) approach, as there was no robust evidence base to assess the impact of non-health policies on public health.

The data to impact project explored how localised data could address social challenges and inform policymaking. In partnership with Impera Analytics, the project leveraged data from the Social Progress Index (SPI) to assess key areas such as housing, education, and social care.

Challenges

  • Understanding and addressing the social and economic outcomes within the district.
  • Lack of detailed data on health, education, housing, and wellbeing, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation and targeting interventions.
  • Underdeveloped data systems and insufficient data integration practices limiting their capacity to harness data-driven insights necessary for informed decision-making.
  • Low data maturity limiting their ability to implement a ‘Health in All Policies’ (HiAP) approach.

Approach

This data-driven approach allowed the council to target resources effectively and monitor the impact of policy initiatives. Key outcomes included identifying gaps in social progress, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and improving the council’s ability to measure the impact of its policies on residents’ wellbeing.

The project aimed to establish a comprehensive SPI at a local electoral ward level, consolidating over 50 outcome datasets, and providing training to key staff and councillors.

The Social Progress Index (SPI) now serves as a vital tool for comparing different attributes across all 22 wards in the district, identifying areas of need and enabling resources to be targeted more effectively.

Publicly accessible on the council’s website, stakeholders and citizens can explore and interrogate the data via interactive dashboards. The data is updated on an annual basis.

The main objectives were:

  • Develop a ward-level Social Progress Index to understand population outcomes
  • Enhance data maturity within LDC and establish a culture of data sharing
  • Provide an evidence base for a ‘Health in All’ policies approach
  • Establish a baseline measurement for the Lichfield Manifesto
  • Inform the Local Plan through data-driven insights

Outcomes and benefits

Impact on the organisation

The project introduced a new culture of data sharing across all internal teams within LDC, improved internal data standards, and encouraged departments to collaborate more openly and share insights. Evidence-based decisions became a key focus across various council operations.

Through the data-sharing agreement with Staffordshire County Council, the council enhanced its ability to access educational and adult social care data, enabling both councils to take a more unified approach to addressing social challenges.

Impact on the society

By making the SPI available to the public, the council fostered greater trust, transparency and engagement from residents and stakeholders, providing an open and clear view of social progress across all the wards.

The comprehensive data on social wellbeing helped demonstrate areas of need and justify the allocation of resources for development projects aimed at reducing inequalities and boosting local growth. The SPI tool also played a critical role in supporting the council’s efforts to secure funding through levelling up and regeneration bids.

View original case study article at impera-analytics.com