West Midlands ADASS is delighted to have secured funding through the Skills for Care Workforce Strategy Impact Fund to support the next phase of its regional Data Hub, enhancing workforce and market intelligence with predictive insight to support better workforce planning and evidence-based decision-making across adult social care.
Hosted by Shropshire Council, the project will build on the region's existing Data Hub by enhancing the use of existing workforce intelligence, integrating wider workforce, market and demographic datasets, and developing predictive insight into future workforce demand. Together, these developments will provide local authorities, providers and system leaders with the intelligence needed to support more informed decision-making, longer-term workforce planning and market shaping.
The award reflects our belief that, while we have become increasingly good at describing what has happened, there is an opportunity to become better at understanding what might happen next. By bringing together workforce, demand, market and demographic data, the Data Hub will help local systems identify emerging pressures and prepare for these.
The programme will be delivered in three complementary phases:
- Making better use of existing workforce intelligence by enhancing the value of workforce data already available through the Data Hub and existing regional datasets.
- Broadening the evidence base by bringing together additional workforce, labour market, demographic, commissioning and market intelligence to develop a more complete understanding of local and regional pressures.
- Developing predictive workforce insight through collaboration with the University of Birmingham, using advanced analytics and population modelling to forecast workforce demand over the next five, ten and 15 years and support long-term strategic planning
The project brings together a strong partnership including Skills for Care, the University of Birmingham, the Hartree Centre, West Midlands Care Association and colleagues from across local authorities and the independent care sector.
Andrew Jepps, Chair of the West Midlands ADASS Regional Workforce Network and Assistant Director for Care Commissioning at Staffordshire County Council, said:
"We're really pleased to have secured this support from Skills for Care. The West Midlands has always benefited from a strong culture of collaboration and sector-led improvement and this project builds on that tradition. This investment will help us strengthen the Data Hub as a practical resource for workforce leaders, commissioners and providers. By combining data with professional expertise, we can support more informed decisions about workforce planning, service sustainability and future demand.”
Hilary Hall, Director of Adult Social Services and Programme Sponsor, said:
"The West Midlands has a strong tradition of collaboration and sector-led improvement. This investment enables us to build on that foundation by developing a richer understanding of the relationship between workforce, demand and the care market.”
Professor Matt Bennett, University of Birmingham, said:
"There is a real opportunity to combine robust analytical methods with practical insight from leaders, commissioners and providers. By bringing these perspectives and different data sets together, we can develop intelligence that is both academically rigorous and directly relevant to the challenges facing adult social care giving decision makers access to data to make more informed decisions."
Kieron Broadbent, West Midlands Care Association, said:
"Providers continue to face significant recruitment, retention and sustainability challenges. We welcome this investment and the opportunity to work alongside partners to develop intelligence that helps us better understand future workforce and market pressures and supports practical solutions for providers and commissioners."
Shirley Way, Skills for Care, said:
"The Workforce Strategy sets out a clear ambition for the sector to recruit and retain, train and transform. Delivering that ambition will require collaboration and better use of intelligence. We are delighted to support this work in the West Midlands, which brings together workforce data, local expertise and strong partnerships to help develop practical approaches that can support the future sustainability of adult social care."
Over the next 18 months, the project will support the continuing development of the WM ADASS Data Hub and contribute to our wider commitment to Improvement for All.
Stay updated with information as the project unfolds on this website.
The impact fund has been established by Skills for Care to accelerate delivery of the Workforce Strategy for Adult Social care in England priorities through innovative projects that can demonstrate impact across the sector and improve outcomes for people who draw on care and support.