Benson model for Health Visiting
Information Requirements – Child Population
This document will provide an understanding of the data requirements to populate the the Benson
model, why this information is required and Benson Wintere’s policy on using this data.
This document is intended to inform those developing the dataset to understand requirements, and
information governance (IG) function about the security of data.
Where potential issues exist around integrity, robustness or completeness of the data, Benson
Wintere may also be able to assist in validating and developing the dataset.
About the Benson model
The Benson model is an used by health visiting services to assist decision making and planning in the
areas of service delivery and workforce structure. The Benson model is populated with aggregated
intelligence on the local child population to help profile demand for services across localities.
A core function of the Benson model is capturing caseload complexity. This requires access to data
on deprivation and safeguarding. This ensures a better picture of local demand can be developed.
Data required does not contain any personal information (such as name, date of birth or postcode)
and is not granular enough to allow individual identification. The data is required only in aggregated
format, to enable profiles of deprivation and age to be developed.
Child Population Data Requirements
1. Child population
Data is required to establish the child population and allow deprivation profiles to be established for
each locality. The data is aggregated and aligned to populate the Benson model. This enables the
Benson model to profile caseload complexity at each locality.
Deprivation profiles are developed by establishing the Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) for each
child, allowing the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) deprivation scorei to be
mapped.
Once accessible these scores are assigned to deprivation quartiles for each locality. This information
is then incorporated in the Benson model. Service profiles then enable services to be profiled in line
with the average requirements of each quartile of deprivation (and safeguarding) –enabling the
Benson model to reflect that some services may be delivered more intensely as caseload complexity
increases.
Data specification
The following information is required for each child eligible to receive health visiting services in the
local area:
#
1
Field
Lower super output area
Data format
E01000001
Comments
Allows access to the Income Deprivation
Benson model for Health Visiting
Information Requirements – Child Population
(LSOA) code of home
address
Affecting Children Index (IDACI) deprivation
score. If only postcodes are available Benson
Wintere can map the postcode to the
relevant LSOA.
2
Age of child
3
(GP model)
GP practice name
0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 (or)
1st year, 2nd year
etc
XYZ Medical
Centre
4
Team name
South team
This assists to build a profile of the age
spread in each locality. Date of Birth is not
required, just the current age of the child
The GP practice the child is attached to.
Where the child is not on a GP list this field
can be left blank. If the local team is not
organised on a GP basis, this field is optional.
The team providing health visiting services to
the child. For GP models this will be aligned
to the GP; for geographic models it will likely
be mapped to the LSOA code
2. Safeguarding and other targeted populations
The Benson model allows for an additional dataset of customised populations representing total
numbers of children in at risk groups or groups otherwise targeted by the local service. These
groups are named and profiled in line with the requirements of the local service – common
examples are:
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Child protection
Children in need
Looked after children
Vulnerable children
Children on a CAF
Children with additional medical needs / care plans
Domestic violence
Children living in temporary accommodation
Children or families with English as a second language
Travelling communities
This provides a basis for targeted these groups in the service profiles – for instance the child
protection service will link with the child protection population.
The Benson model requires total number of children in and other targeted groups by either GP or
LSOA however this may be aggregated at the locality level where this is not possible.
It is important these numbers are as accurate and up to date as possible.
Benson model for Health Visiting
Information Requirements – Child Population
Responsibilities
Generating and accessing this data is the responsibility of the local service. Aggregating and
updating the dataset can be performed by Benson Wintere as part of the support arrangement
agreed with the local service.
Data Format
It is requested that this information is provided in tabulated, MS Excel or Access compatible format.
Templates may be circulated if required to assist capture and validation of this data.
Future Data Refresh
To ensure the Benson model outputs are calibrated to the requirements of the local caseload,
periodic refreshes should be carried out, with frequency to be determined by the local service. For
instance, 3 monthly, 6 monthly or annually. This would require the same dataset to be generated
and aggregated for alignment with the requirements of the Benson model.
Data Transfer
To assist the transfer of information we would first request that sensitive information is removed
from the source file.
To ensure the information can be transferred safely and securely, we are able to provide access to a
secure FTP site if email is considered unsafe. This may also assist where file size presents issues for
files to be sent over email.
Our Data Policy
At all times we will seek to establish and comply with the local service’s policy on ownership,
transmission and storage of sensitive data.
The postcode or LSOA data are not stored in the tool or retained for any other purpose except for
future refresh of the analysis in the event of change. The dataset can be disposed of if required.
No other information specific to the child (name, address) is requested and if received in error would
be immediately removed.
i
http://data.gov.uk/dataset/income-deprivation-affecting-children-index