Data and Insights

Understanding the story behind what data and numbers tell us has been highlighted by many safeguarding partnerships as a common area for development. Even partnerships with mature data sets can feel 'data rich, but intelligence poor' when it comes to understanding what is driving a change in data trends, or using data to understand impact. The provision of a consistent dataset creates a strong foundation for gathering insights and narrative to inform meaningful multi-agency discussion and decision making.

The hub has developed guidance and definitions document to accompany the NW Multi-Agency Safeguarding dataset to specify clear definitions and set-out why each measure has been deemed important to include. The guidance also has prompts, scrutiny questions, and tips to support meaningful conversations to interpret and analyse data, to understand what difference multi agency practice is making to the lives of children and their families, and to inform safeguarding partnership activity and priorities.

In November 25 the hub hosted an Interpreting Data session for the region to support MASA’s in developing discussions around safeguarding datasets, with a follow up session in March 26 for Health colleagues across NW ICBs and NHS Trusts. Participants heard from Durham and Stockton-on-tees & Hartlepool on different approaches to embedding meaningful discussions around data into their safeguarding partnerships.

Please find resources below;

- A one-page summary of the key learning points from the session,

- A North West Story Board template to assist MASAs in gathering narrative and insights from multiple agencies - aligned to best practice approaches identified in Durham and Warrington,

Child Exploitation is a strategic priority for more than two thirds of the 24 multi-agency safeguarding partnerships in the North West, umbrella terms include Contextual Safeguarding, Complex Safeguarding, Extra Familial Harm and Harm Outside The Home.

In December 2025 we hosted a data lab to discuss how and what exploitation data was currently being utilised with MASAs and sub-groups across the North West. Colleagues from the Greater Manchester Complex Safeguarding Hub also summarised their Understanding Exploitation package covering types of harm, intersectionality and the importance of data and analysis. Within breakout rooms colleagues considered current data, gaps and how outcomes and impact is captured for young people. These insights have informed a North West Exploitation dataset - more details will follow soon.
The slides from the data lab are available below