Better support for families through new data sharing projects

The government’s £7.9 million data accelerator fund will support 10 data sharing projects across England to improve joined-up working between councils, NHS trusts and police.

The fund will see 10 councils work more closely with police forces, local NHS services and schools to share data to ensure children and families receive the right help at the right time.

Rough Sleeping and Housing Minister Eddie Hughes said that, by sharing information across schools, health, housing, police and social care, frontline workers can get a full picture of an individual family’s needs and the often interconnected challenges they face, such as mental health issues, employment, and substance misuse. Having the complete information means tailored, wraparound support can be put in place as early as possible.

The announcement builds on previous work as part of the government’s Supporting Families programme where data sharing was used to identify children at risk of exploitation.

The 10 areas in England supported by the fund are: Nottingham, Leicestershire and Doncaster; Avon and Somerset; Reading, Portsmouth, Wokingham and West Berkshire; Sunderland; Leeds and Bradford; Doncaster and Wakefield; London; East Sussex; Greater Manchester; and Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk.

Funding for the data projects will run up until 2023 and is divided over two years.

Hughes said: “By local services sharing data, expertise and knowledge we can build a more complete picture of what is going on in a family’s life and use this to put in place tailored, wraparound support at an early stage. This fund will give local areas the tools to identify and support vulnerable children and families as early as possible and help them to live more positive, fulfilling lives.”