Commissioning Alliance unlock the power of data with Microsoft Azure

Local authorities collect and store data on peoples, place, and services from a myriad of sources. This data is locked within disconnected datasets, which are a wealth of insight and value. And many councils are struggling to make better use of it for reporting and analytics. Commissioning Alliance recognised the need for a modern cloud-based data infrastructure that supports Power BI reporting with trusted and integrated data. Separate and disparate sources of data bring with them a host of challenges for overburdened local councils, typically resulting in significant manual effort and cottage-industry approaches to preparing data for reporting.

Commissioning Alliance understood the possibilities that a modern Data Warehouse could offer them. It could take data from a wide variety of sources, and have a data model allowing effective, consistent reporting across a range of subject areas for a range of different consumers.

While the data platform can take data from a variety of sources and deliver numerous products of high value, one of Commissioning Alliance’s key use cases was to modernise the way London Borough Council’s report on a key type of data; the SSDA903 data. The SSDA903 is a mandatory data collection exercise for all councils in England, designed to provide central government with the information on children who were looked after.

The data is used to evaluate the outcome of policy initiatives and to monitor objectives on looked after children, both during their time in care and on reaching adulthood. Collectively, the data collected is used in the provision of information for research and statistical information in response to parliamentary questions.

Better integrating model and driving insights from SSDA903 data presents an incredibly valuable opportunity for individual councils to improve the quality and cost of services they provide to their citizens. This is achieved by integrating, modelling and driving insights from the data.

Utilising the Microsoft Stack, Simpson Associates and Commissioning Alliance collaboratively delivered a Data Warehouse with Data Reporting Capabilities with Power BI.

Simpson Associates were engaged by CA to help them meet on their requirements. Simpsons undertook a series of workshops to establish the As-Is and To-Be states, performing a gap analysis to develop a roadmap, architecture, approach, and costings for delivery. Additionally, the project aligned with the Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark to improve the security of workloads, data, and services on Azure and a multi-cloud environment. Ensuring adequate security measures were in place for all resources was vital, due to the extremely sensitive personal data involved.

An Azure data warehouse was developed using Simpsons’ ETL framework to accelerate the process of ingesting data from a range of sources into the data platform. The three tier architecture of the data warehouse is a proven approach to data transformation and data modelling for presentation, delivering a simplified data access layer that solves data challenges, answers key questions, and provides greater insights.

Investing in optimising the data access layer allowed CA to develop Power BI reports and dashboards for the specific 903 Social Care data with ease. The interactive reports make collaboration simple for local authorities, streamline and for managers and practitioners to self-serve answers to key performance questions. This improves benchmark rates and measures of looked-after children and can identify key characteristics between local authorities in the context of the indices of  deprivation and demographics data sources.

The project was a collaborative effort between Commissioning Alliance and Simpsons, with both teams operating virtually as one. Commissioning Alliance led the project management, supported by Simpson Associates’ expertise in design, technical aspects, data analytics, and reporting. The project was underpinned by an Agile approach to delivery with regular feedback, and emphasised the transfer of skills and knowledge, enabling CA to fully manage the platform.

CA is actively seeking opportunities to develop their capabilities, such as collaborating on regional data with additional local authorities. Introducing data science capabilities and expanding into additional use cases will amplify the value of data and insights for their services, benefiting citizens and improving outcomes overall, but specifically for Child Social Care.

Creating a bespoke solution meant it could cater for Commissioning Alliances specific needs:

• A secure central place for all data
• Utilising the modern analytical and computing capabilities of the cloud, with security and governance
• Improved collaboration between local authorities
• Greater ability to deliver on key objectives
• Elevated competence and potential through the transfer of skills and knowledge
• Improved ability to report on 903 data