Power Of Data 22: joining up data, for joined up government
From the off this felt like a reunion but also an introduction; a celebration but also a challenge; a sharing of concepts but also of concrete work going on now with data. And, let’s face it, a competition of who wore this best?
So what were the celebrations, the challenges, the work happening, the ideas? What struck me most is that the conversation is different from previous Power Of Data events of 2015, 2017 and 2019. Post-pandemic, the argument that data is genuinely helpful to inform decisions has been made, but challenges remain to keep the good data fight going.
Elbows OUT
“Trying to convince a local authority to give you the budget is hard, but it’s not a hard choice to make if you can show the cost of not doing it.” Sam Hall
At a time where budgets are increasingly tight, to quote Tom Smith, it’s important to have ‘sharp elbows’ and to ‘show why these things matter’. Yes, there’s a deeper awareness of data than pre 2020, but one of the emerging key challenges in the current environment is, as Sarah Finch noted, ‘proving the value of data to your organisation’. Raise awareness around what will happen if data isn’t considered when decisions are being made; shine a light on crisis areas it can help in — from Sam’s example of food poverty in Merthyr Tydfil to Jon Mitchell’s on the health of our rivers.
Access all areas?
“Complex decision data comes from lots of different places and involves lots of different collaborations” — Bill Roberts
So data can inform decisions, you need to be able to get to the data in the first place because, as Prateek Buch pointed out, what happens if the person you get your data from goes on holiday or changes role? Also, what if you need more data, but you don’t know if it exists and who has it? Getting data in a place and shape where people can access it is really important here: whether it’s the continuing development of the API community under Charles Baird, to wider approaches like ONS’s Integrated Data Programme. But sharing and joining data can be really complex. As Jess Morley highlighted in her Better, Broader, Safer presentation, there are huge issues around data privacy, security and ethics when it comes to access around NHS data, and this is just one example of sensitive data. The recommendation that Jess and her team make is to make the default that working with such data takes place within a secure data environment, previously known as TREs (Trusted Research Environments). Public trust in data is a whole other blog post, but this article is about just my takeaways so I’ll stick a pin in it. For now.
You talking to me?
Context and communication came up repeatedly. Jess Morley explained how data needs context, and shared a story of data which appeared to show many men in their seventies as being pregnant. Closer investigation showed the code for foetus was very similar to that of a particular knee complaint. This very human understanding will always be key. Making decisions alongside data and using context is essential. And when you get the right data and context, the communication of it is the next big task. In our second panel, we heard how communicating data insights clearly, even when the message was hard to hear, is a skill in itself. The importance of providing advice when presenting data, as well as accepting that not everyone will always listen.
Only Connect
This was the first, in-person, Power Of Data event since 2019 and we were talking about the importance of joining data all day. I love working at home and I love virtual events, but nothing will ever quite replace that extra connection you get in person, when you have time to listen to each other. Thanks to everyone who spoke, thanks to everyone who came and thanks to you, if you’ve read all the way to the end.
