LIS Services

 

LIS are usually one component of a set of services built around delivery of shared intelligence. The recent CLG LIS report suggests that the most successful LIS sites are those which are complemented by a range of services. Examples of services that a Shared Intelligence Unit, potentially linked to the partnership rather than a specific organisation, can provide include:

1. Expert telephone 'Help Line' for providing advice on local intelligence and data issues

2. One-to-one face-to-face advice as required

3. Establish protocols and organizational framework for cross-partnership data exchange

4. Processing/cleaning/geo-coding/exchanging data

5. Bureau service for one-off requests for data or outputs (eg. custom maps)

6. Forum for improving understanding of user needs and targeting them with outputs

7. Bespoke analysis / research and report production on key issues

8. Production of regular Policy Briefing reports and annual a 'State of Area’ report

9. Production of regular ward profile bulletins for elected members

10. Promotion and training activities including specific sessions for use of the LIS and more general sessions on use/application of local intelligence in decision-making

11. Maintain a wider 'intelligence section' of the observatory

12. Contribute to strategy development and performance reporting as information experts

Data

The range of data managed within a LIS can be wide and classified in many different ways. Most common is some form of domain specific classification where indicators are grouped into top level categories like ‘Demography’, ‘Health and Welfare’, ‘Crime and Community Safety’, ‘Education and Childrens Services’, ‘Environment’ and ‘Economy’. There may also be cross-cutting themes such as ‘Performance’ and ‘Social Disadvantage’. Key government data sources include ONS Neighbourhood Statistics, Dept for Work and Pensions, NOMIS, Audit Commission and several areas of NHS information services. However the value of LIS is their ability to combine national data with local data available from a wide range of internal business systems including those of partners. This local data is often not provided to central government and, even when it is, it tends to be in an aggregated form or only provided infrequently or both.