Insight Analyst

Are you a data enthusiast ready to make an impact in Children\’s Services?

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Performance and Information team as an Insight Analyst responsible for collating, reporting, and analysing management information within Education and Skills.

The role will lead a new mandatory national and local school attendance data requirements and the development and maintenance of the technical infrastructure required for the secure, efficient, and timely handling of vast volumes of attendance data from all schools. This will include the development, ownership, and delivery of attendance tracking reports and multi-cohort analytics to inform tactical operations, strategic decision-making, and performance scrutiny.

Main duties of the job

As an Insight Analyst, you will be expected to lead on internal and external stakeholder engagement, including managing expectations, delivery of insights, and data driven recommendations.

The role will include a wide cross-section of internal council departments (Targeted Education, School Effectiveness, Social Care and Family Help) and external partners (Schools, Alternative Education Provisions, Health Service providers and more).

Your key responsibilities will include leading on capturing and retrieving essential data for local and statutory requirements, ensuring accuracy and clarity. You will scope, design, and create reports using software like Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services and Power BI, enabling us to meet statutory obligations and local performance oversight needs.

To excel in this role, you should possess an HNC or NVQ Level 4 qualification in statistical analysis or information management, or relevant experience.

You should have skills in assessing data integrity, matching, analysis, and strong skills in stakeholder engagement, along with advanced Excel skills.

Strong understanding and practical use of SQL and Power BI would be an advantage, and knowledge of Childrens Services and the Public Sector would be beneficial but not mandatory.

Join our team and use your data skills to make a real impact in Children\’s Services.

About us

Why us?

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a \’One Council\’ ethos. Thats why we focus on getting the things that matter to our people right.

The council is committed to creating an environment of positive working relationships where everyone feels engaged, supported and able to thrive. Our Identity is a framework which sets out how we are all expected to lead, work and act to deliver our services. We will not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment of any kind. Everyone is expected to promote a culture of inclusion, dignity, trust and respect which is underpinned by our vision and Our Identity framework.

We are firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to the principles of inclusion and diversity in both employment and the delivery of services.

Job responsibilities

As the Insight Analyst, you will:

Apply tools and techniques for data analysis and data visualisation (e.g. Power BI).

Presenting data and analyses in a visually appealing way that directs attention toareas of key interest and importance.

Proactively share knowledge and promote a data-driven cultureIdentify, collect, extract and migrate data to and from a range of systems/sources(e.g., API, SharePoint, MS Excel, CSV, web, databases, JSON) using specialistunderstanding of BI technologies ((e.g., Microsoft Power BI, SSRS, SSAS)

Support services to improve data quality to ensure end-users are making decisions onthe best possible data.

Understand the impact of using incorrect or incomplete data on the outcomes of theresidents and risk of poor service delivery.

Manipulate and link different data sets whilst understanding the implications of linkinginappropriate data, understanding security protocols and adhering to legislation

Summarise and present data and conclusions in the most appropriate format forusers, using plain English to ensure data is fully understood and recommendationsare clear

Responsible for the preparation and submission of statutory returns, ensuring they areaccurate and timely to ensure that the Councils good reputation is maintained andWiltshire\’s performance is reflected accurately.

Keep up to date with central government requirements for recording, collation,submission and analysis of data relevant to Childrens services.

Maintain an excellent understanding of the origin, robustness, potential use andlimitations of data both locally and nationally available being able to give advice andsupport to senior managers.

Develop, manage and monitor information and performance systems under theleadership of the Team manager to ensure they are fit for purpose meeting local andnational needs.

Produce reports to inform activity and outcome monitoring and decision makingthrough complex data analysis, cross matching datasets and exploring relationshipsbetween datasets.

Information given needs to be appropriate and accurate so thatsubsequent actions and decisions made are correct. A poor evidence base may resultin the wrong outcome e.g., incorrect decision making or budget distribution, or thewrong corrective action being taken.

Data and analyses are to support services in thefulfilling of their statutory duties including safeguarding and health surveillance.

Ensure compliance with the requirement of Caldicott, the Data Protection Act, HumanRights Act and other relevant policy, legislation and guidance and establishes theways in which these should be interpreted within the council.

Respond to requests for data and information as required, including FOIs, ensuringinformation responses are appropriate, proportionate and within timescales.

Collect and collate information from partner agencies to meet national and local needsinstigating information sharing agreements as needed.

Negotiating andtroubleshooting as required.Deal with confidential, sensitive, complex and potentially distressing information.

Coach and support members of the team to ensure that the team meets it objectives.

Oversee the work of the team in a supervisory capacity, making decisions andadjusting workloads to ensure deadlines are met.

On an ad hoc basis, be willing to support very occasional activities outside of normalhours recognising the need for agility during exceptional circumstances.

Undertake any other duties commensurate with this role and responsibilities insupport of the delivery of effective council services.

Person Specification

Experience

• High proficiency with BI technologies (e.g. Microsoft Power BI, SSRS, SSAS).
• Extensive experience of reporting tools to extract and combine data (2 years experience minimum).
• Knowledge of SQL queries; TSQL or PL/SQL.
• Knowledge of Python, R, SSIS automation.
• Knowledge of how relational databases are structured, data types, analytics life cycle, object creation & maintenance.
• Experience working in a Big Data environment, dealing with large diverse data sets.
• Knowledge of ARC GIS and mapping data sets.
• Predictive analytics – experience of demand modelling/forecasting and ability to build analytical models including regression & clustering.
• General knowledge & experience:
• Knowledge of the Childrens services performance and information landscape, to include relevant statutory returns, inspection frameworks and local reporting needs
• Detailed operational knowledge of case management systems within the department and in schools
• Significant experience in designing and developing performance systems and performance indicators
• Significant experience of collating, analysing, interpreting and presenting management information
• Expert level of IT MS office, advanced excel user, xml manipulation
• Experience of using case management systems and influencing design to enable data capture, reporting and analysis
• Experience of setting targets and expected ranges and working collaboratively with the business to do so
• Solid understanding of basic mathematical and statistical principles such as measures of central tendency, measures of spread, correlation, and the ability to apply this understanding.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level, professional qualification or equivalent in a related discipline or equivalent relevant experience in information management and analysis.
• Completion of level 4 data analytics or equivalent.
• Familiarity with DAX, R, Python or equivalent.
• Experience of Data Science, Machine Learning and/or Statistical concepts.