Performance Analyst in City of London

Overview

The Performance Team has a group of analysts who work together to meet the reporting needs of the department. Each performance analyst will have a main area of focus, relating to either Education, Social Care or Youth Justice Services. Analysts are also expected to work flexibly across these service areas, as directed, to meet the needs of the department and to continuously improve knowledge and skills across the team.

Main Purpose

• Co‑ordinate and deliver data collections and statutory returns in order to meet the information needs of the Children, Schools and Families department.
• Extract data from case management and other systems used by the department or central government to develop reports, using analytical techniques, ensuring accuracy, clarity and timeliness.
• Develop and contribute to the coordination and production of management information, analysis and dissemination to internal and external customers.
• Maintain and develop shared systems in order to improve the supply and use of high‑quality data across the department.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible to the Performance Manager for matters relating to data collection, research and statistical analysis.
• Co‑ordination of elements of data collection across the department as assigned.
• Facilitation of training and attendance at performance reporting meetings as required.
• Management of the collection and collation of assigned statutory returns as well as other local performance indicators.
• Production of data reports that are accurate, clear, timely and fit for purpose for use within the department, corporate reporting or for partnership use (e.g. Merton's Safeguarding Children Board).
• Continuous improvement of data quality through case management and information systems, including shared information systems.
• Continuous improvement of data visualisation and accessibility.
• Work on a wide range of information systems across children services, ensuring inter‑operability with team colleagues and that data from diverse systems is pulled together, cleansed and analysed.
• Carry out duties in accordance with government / departmental guidance, local and national safeguarding guidance.
• Comply and work within Freedom of Information Law, Data protection Law and Caldecott guidance.
• Contribute to cross‑team objectives and projects within the department and corporately.
• Contribute to the formulation and implementation of the team business plan.
• Ensure security and confidentiality of all data as necessary, especially with regard to electronic data transfer.
• Comply with Corporate and Departmental Health and Safety policies and procedures.
• Ensure the Council's Equal Opportunities and Disability Discrimination Policies are adhered to.
• Ensure that the Authority's aims regarding customer awareness are achieved.
• Undertake any other duties as may be required by division managers, commensurate with general duties and grading of the post.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• A good understanding of data protection, Freedom of Information and Caldecott law and guidance.
• A good working knowledge of databases / case management systems such as Mosaic, Core+ or Synergy.
• A strong knowledge of reporting requirements and processes for either Education, Social Care or Youth Justice statutory returns.
• An understanding of current legislation concerning either Education, Social Care or Youth Justice reporting and monitoring.

Skills

• Effective problem‑solving skills and the ability to analyse and evaluate information and apply criteria to make judgements.
• Excellent ICT skills, including Excel, with an ability to use these for analytical purposes.
• Expertise in data visualisation, ideally with a good working knowledge of PowerBI.
• Good interpersonal skills including an ability to work collaboratively and effectively within the team, across departments and schools.
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written, and an ability to translate complex developments into accessible language.
• Ownership for supporting and delivering improvements in data quality.
• Strong performance management skills to contribute positively to corporate and departmental performance monitoring requirements.
• Ability to work collaboratively across divisional / departmental / partnership projects and teams.
• Ability to comply with corporate equal opportunities and health and safety policies / procedures and ensure that the authority's aims regarding customer awareness are achieved.
• Develop and maintain links with other council officers and external agencies to link the department's data with other datasets including those of partners.

Experience

• Experience of successful collection, analysis, utilisation of data and the production of a range of statistical reports from children’s social care, youth justice and/or education systems.