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What is Southampton Data Observatory?

Southampton Data Observatory is a one-stop shop for data, intelligence, specialist reports, needs assessments, summary analysis and headline statistics covering the city’s population, health, community safety, economy and public services. It is also home for Southampton’s Single Needs Assessment which brings together statutory needs assessments such as the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), and the Community Safety Strategic Assessment under one umbrella.

Southampton Data Observatory brings together data from key stakeholders across Southampton and Hampshire and, combined with nationally published data, makes it accessible to professionals, businesses, the voluntary sector, citizens and communities. Its aim is to make data more accessible and deliver intelligence to help inform evidenced based decision making, service planning and commissioning for professionals, as well as providing insight into the ways in which we can all make the city a better, more fulfilling place to live.

Why has Southampton Data Observatory been created?

Data used by public service organisations can effectively be used to inform professionals, councillors and members of the public about numbers, rates and geographical locations for outcomes, events, demand, delivery and need in relation to the Services provided by the Local Authority and other public sector organisations within the city.

Southampton Data Observatory brings this together in one place to better identify population need, encourage the better use of data and intelligence and enable professionals to make evidenced informed decisions. It also opens up local data and intelligence for researchers and voluntary sector organisations who may use it in a variety of ways. Finally, it empowers individuals and communities to hold public organisations to account for what is happening and encourages active citizenship through enabling informed involvement at a local level.

Southampton Data Observatory helps to do this by:

  • Publishing needs assessments and deep dive analyses
  • Publishing analysed datasets by topic; including benchmarking, trend analysis and deep dive
  • Signposting to useful externally published datasets, tools and resources
  • Publishing local level information at electoral ward, neighbourhood, GP practice and Better Care Cluster level
  • Publishing maps and interactive tools
  • Publishing summary slide sets and infographics on key topics

What about Data Protection?

Southampton Data Observatory is part of Southampton City Council and is subject to the controls and privacy policy set by the Local Authority and the Data Protection Act (2018). The data and intelligence published on this website is primarily at a population level and not personal or sensitive.

Nonetheless, Southampton Data Observatory considers the data protection issues in relation to all published data and intelligence, and ensures there are sufficient safeguards and disclosure controls in place in terms of protecting the identity of individuals.

Southampton Data Observatory will continue to seek advice from Southampton City Council and partner agency Data Protection Officers as the site continues to be developed.

Southampton Data Observatory governance

The Southampton Data Observatory is maintained by the Data, Intelligence and Insight Team in Southampton City Council. However, it has been developed in partnership with statutory partners including NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight (CCG) and Southampton Voluntary Services, with data contributions from a wider range of partners including Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and South Central Ambulance Service.

The Strategic Analysis Steering Group (SASG) was formed in 2018 to ensure that the Southampton Single Needs Assessment (SNA) was fit for purpose, accurately reflects the needs of the local population and provides an evidence base on which key strategies and commissioning plans can be built. The group also has oversight of the Southampton Data Observatory, the primary mechanism for communicating the findings of the SNA and is accountable to the Southampton Health and Wellbeing Board for delivering the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and the Southampton Safe City Partnership for delivering the Safe City Strategic Assessment.

Any requests for updates to the SNA and the Southampton Data Observatory from stakeholders should be raised with their relevant SASG representative. For further information on the SNA and the Southampton Data Observatory please contact the Data, Intelligence and Insight Team at data.observatory@southampton.gov.uk