Improving records
The issue of good quality records is given extra importance by information sharing as more than one organization is relying on the accuracy and timelines of information help by one partner.
Good Quality Information
Good quality information is one of the critical success factors for successful information sharing in practice and practitioners will need to feel confident that the information shared is accurate. Incorrect or out of date information will cause frustration and inconvenience and in a small, but significant number of cases, inaccurate data may put children and young people at serious risk.
It is important that all practitioners, managers and administrators understand the link between good record keeping and the eventual quality of information available to be shared.
Local Action
Tests show that there are likely to be errors in the records held by every organization. With the help and support of all practitioners and managers we can improve the information held in our systems. This process will this help us meet our Data Protection Act obligations, help get our records in good shape to save us time, energy and frustration and to meet our inspection needs.
How can record quality be maintained?
Traditionally, data quality improvements have been regarded as “behind the scenes” tasks. Technicians, administrators and data managers have tried to make improvements largely without involving those who collected the information in the first place.
Very few practitioners and practitioner managers appreciate that they too can help to improve data quality but with the right information they can be supported to develop a good understanding of the role they can play in maintaining good quality records.