The overall objective of the review is to build up an agreed minimum data set (and associated data dictionary) of key management information which is of direct use and benefit to local authorities and their local strategic partners, to the Department of Health and other government departments, to the regulator and to the general public.

Within this objective, there are a number of key principles and aims which the zero-based review (ZBR) should meet:

• The key aim is to encompass all data requirements in a single data set; there should be no additions outside this and so no exclusions from the ZBR.
• The future data set should drive local accountability – one of the primary audiences for these data will be the general public, service users and carers.
• The future data set should support sector-led improvement, so must be based around those data which Councils agree is of value for benchmarking and comparison.
• Alignment with the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework will be ensured throughout the development of the data requirements.
• The general principle is that there should be no additional national requirements for data, since there will be no formal policy monitoring or performance management. However, there is a need for a minimum set of data centrally to ensure that core departmental functions can be met for example ministerial accountability to parliament and the public and appropriate funding of the social care sector. It is envisaged that these will overlap with other requirements but should any additional requirements be identified, there must be a clear, robust business case for each, which should be subject to approval by the OID Board.
• There will be a significant focus on achieving as broad a consultation as possible, reflecting the primacy of local accountability and the needs of individual users of the data.

The development stage of the review is being led by the NHS IC, through four main workstreams with a supporting group considering classification issues, and overseen by a Programme Board with representation from DH, ADASS, NHS IC, CQC and LGA.

ZBR Programme Board terms of reference

The ZBR Programme Board has agreed a set of principles which will underpin and inform the work.

ZBR Principles