Notes for analysis for Freedom of Information request reference no. 3315

The attached analyses have been completed from the Outcomes datasets (for short and long-term services) for 2007/08 and 2008/09. The 2008/09 analyses are now based on finalised datasets.

The total numbers of records and the number provided in this Freedom of Information Request for each year are as follows:

(a) Outcomes for short-term services 2007/08 - 92,040 records,

(b) Outcomes for short-term services 2008/09 - 150,080 records,

(c) Outcomes for long-term services 2007/08 - 34,767 records,

(d) Outcomes for long-term services 2008/09 - 47,957 records.

We have provided 12 tables in an EXCEL file to meet the request. An index and code definitions are provided on the first worksheets in the EXCEL file.

As requested tables 1-4 have been grouped on: (1) the National Client Record Provider ID; (2) the National Provider ID; (3) the organisation's name; and (4) the SP Administering Authority. So for example, where a service provider is delivering support in more than one administration authority then figures will appear separately for each of those areas.

One result of sub-dividing the data into providers is that numbers of records can be small. As a result, some have not been included in the attached datasets because of the risk of breaching confidentiality and our obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 - i.e. only those groupings with more than 5 Outcomes records have been included. Hence, as indicated in the figures shown at the top of this page, numbers of forms included in the analysis are fewer than the total number of forms.

Tables 5-12 are based on an aggregation of ethnic groups defined by the requester. These are specifically,

Figures for white British include figures only for those clients who have identified themselves as white British. Figures for the `other' group include all other clients whose ethnicity is known to be NOT white British. This group therefore includes - white (Irish and other); mixed white (white and black Caribbean, white and black African, and other); Asian/Asian British (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and other); black/ black British (Caribbean, African, other); and Chinese/ other ethnic group (Chinese, other). The unknown category includes any client whose ethnic identify is not known, whether because the field is missing or they have not wished to disclose the information.

Tables 5-8 are based on an aggregation by provider. Tables 9-12 are based on an aggregation by administration authority. We have aggregated the total number of clients in each of the ethnic group categories as defined above. In addition, we have totalled up the number of needs identified for each client. These have then been averaged per client by service provider (tables 5-8) and Administering Authority (tables 9-12). We have then similarly totalled up the number of needs met per client by service provider (tables 5-8) and Administering Authority (tables 9-12).

Once again, for reasons of confidentiality, we have not provided figures where a group has 5 or fewer clients in Tables 5-12. If a service provider or Administering Authority has more than 5 white clients but 5 or fewer in the other categories then we do provide data for the white clients but not for the other categories. The same principle applies where there are 5 or fewer white clients but more than 5 clients in one or other of the other two categories.

To note clients can on occasion have more than one Outcomes form, usually because they require support from more than one service in the course of a year. The national insurance (NI) number is requested on the Outcomes for short-term services form (although it is not a compulsory field). The NI number is really the only way in which re-entry to services can be identified. It is NOT requested on the long-term Outcomes form. We cannot release the NI number for reasons of confidentiality because disclosure of NI numbers would enable individuals to be identified.

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Response to FOI request reference no. 3315. Provided on 24 September 2009. CLG