Improvements to National Minimum Data Set for Social Care are being rolled out

News release 13 July 2011

After consultations with sector employers Skills for Care has announced significant changes to the National Minimum Data Set for Social Care (NMDS-SC) designed to make it easier to input their data.

The changes were introduced based on suggestions made during ongoing consultations with employers and it was agreed to remove the monthly pay option and the question on continuity in the sector.

This is part of a clear commitment from Skills for Care to minimise the burden on employers by only asking for data items that are essential, and simplifying the data input process.

The Establishment Information Report has been updated to allow employers to check their information to see if there are any gaps in the data. Employers can use this report - along with the 'My Workers' report - to help people claiming from the Workforce Development Fund to ensure they have met the required criteria related to NMDS-SC completion.

Feedback from NMDS-SC users has led to an 'unknown' option being added to the Nationality and Country of Birth questions and ethnicity groups have been changed to fully reflect those used in the 2011 Census. All ethnicity data that was previously entered into NMDS-SC has been automatically mapped across to the new groups.

An update button has been added to various sections within the organisation and worker records to enable employers to confirm that they have checked the data and it is correct and up to date.

Skills for Care welcomes feedback or questions via the NMDS-SC Helpdesk on 0845 873 0129, which is open Monday to Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm.

Media enquiries:

Paul Clarke: 0113 2411297/ 07977519287. paul.clarke@skillsforcare.org.uk

Notes to editors:

1. Skills for Care is the employment-led strategic body for workforce development in adult social care in England, which is licensed jointly with its UK allies by UKCES to be the 'Skills for Care and Development' Sector Skills Council (SSC). Both organisations are chaired by Professor David Croisdale-Appleby. The other members of the SSC are the Children's Workforce Development Council (also for England), the General Social Care Council, the Scottish Social Services Council, the Care Council for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.
2. Skills for Care forms a strategic overview of workforce needs in adult social care, which accounts for nearly 1.6 million workers or 5 per cent of England's workforce, spread over 40,600 establishments employing care staff. Skills for Care members are drawn from groups representing public, private and voluntary sector care employers, along with representatives of staff, trainers, service users and informal carers. Social care includes residential care, domiciliary care and social work with all its specialisms.
3. Skills for Care and its SSC allies promote and develop the social care sector's National Occupational Standards which are statements of competence that describe 'best practice'.
4. Skills for Care regional committees are major brokers of funding for social care workforce development.