The Information Centre’s latest Collections newsletter supports the use of the NMDS-SC to replace the SSDS001 which also provides a considerable amount of information that will assist Councils with Adult’s Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs) in their strategic planning for social care provision.
‘Skills for Care launched the National Minimum Dataset for Social Care (NMDS-SC) in October 2005. The NMDS-SC can provide the data currently collected on SSDS001, plus a considerable amount of additional useful information. From 2006 the NMDS-SC has been being gradually phased in and all CASSRs are being actively encouraged to complete it. It has been agreed that the SSDS001 return will continue until it is proven that the NMDS-SC is being completed by CASSRs. Analysis has shown that it will be necessary to collect the SSDS001 again in September 2009 and this has now been approved by SIGASC.
The NMDS-SC provides CASSRs with very useful strategic planning information for social care provision. The sooner CASSRs complete the NMDS-SC regularly, the sooner the SSDS001 can be discontinued.’