Kate Gore, Relationship and Engagement Manager – ASC‑WDS, Skills for Care, discusses why data is so important in shaping the social care sector for everyone.
Impactful decisions in social care start with robust data. Every day, many decisions are made across the sector – by care providers, commissioners, regulators and the Government. These decisions affect the people who work in social care, as well as the people who draw on care and support for themselves and their families. They relate to funding, workforce planning, training, pay, regulation and long‑term strategy. The quality of those decisions depends heavily on the evidence that sits behind them. The data must be robust, reliable and up‑to‑date evidence, rather than based on assumptions or anecdotal information.
Data is not just numbers on a page or figures in a spreadsheet – it tells us the story of a complex, diverse and vital workforce that supports millions of people every day. Through our workforce data and intelligence, we build a clear picture of who works in social care, where pressures and shortages are being felt most strongly, how the workforce is changing over time, and where investment and support can make the biggest difference.
Without this insight, there is a real risk that policy and planning is shaped by perception rather than reality, which could lead to missed opportunities and unintended consequences for the sector.
Through our data, workforce modelling and research, Skills for Care provides a comprehensive national picture of adult social care in England, alongside local and regional insights that support workforce planning and market shaping at every level. Our data is used widely across the system – by the Department of Health and Social Care, local authorities, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), employers, academics and representative bodies. Our data evidences what is happening in social care now, what has changed over time, and what needs to happen next to support a sustainable workforce. By bringing this evidence together, we help ensure that conversations about social care are grounded in real experiences from across the sector.
One of the most visible and widely used examples of this work is our annual State of the adult social care sector and workforce in England report. Built on data shared by providers using the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC‑WDS) service, the report highlights key trends in recruitment, retention, pay, qualifications, workforce demographics and staff vacancies. These insights are routinely used in policy development, parliamentary debates and funding decisions. They help decision makers respond to real workforce challenges and trends. As a result, the report plays a crucial role in shaping how adult social care is understood at a national level.
This data is helping to inform important discussions on fair pay, training, investment, and learning and development funding, as well as wider conversations about how to attract, retain and support people working in social care. Having a strong evidence base makes these discussions more meaningful and helps ensure that the voice of the sector is reflected in policy decisions.
ASC‑WDS: the foundation of workforce insight
At the heart of this work is the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC‑WDS) service. ASC‑WDS is the leading source of workforce data for adult social care in England, with more than 20,000 care locations providing information about their services and the people they employ. This makes it a uniquely powerful resource for understanding the workforce at both a local and national level.
ASC-WDS allows care providers to safely store workforce and training records, monitor turnover and vacancy rates, and benchmark themselves against similar organisations. For many employers, it is a practical and valuable business tool that supports workforce planning, training management and access to funding initiatives such as the Learning and Development Support Scheme. Keeping data up-to-date can make a real difference to how organisations plan for the future and support their staff.
In addition, maintaining accurate and up-to-date data within ASC-WDS helps providers evidence key workforce information to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and local authorities. This can support a smoother inspection process by demonstrating compliance, transparency and effective workforce management,
However, the value of ASC‑WDS goes far beyond individual organisations. Every time a provider updates their data, they are helping to build a more accurate and representative national picture of social care. That collective effort ensures that the sector’s voice is heard where it matters most – in the policy rooms where future priorities, investment and decisions about social care are shaped.
When care providers contribute to ASC‑WDS, they are directly influencing how social care is understood, discussed and supported at a national level. We value every organisation that takes the time to use the service. Your data underpins our research, strengthens the evidence used by decision makers, and ultimately supports better outcomes for people who work in social care and those who rely on it.
Together, we can use data to drive understanding, investment and positive change for the sector now and in the future.
Kate Gore, Relationship and Engagement Manager ASC‑WDS, Skills for Care