Surrey County Council: Protecting vulnerable citizens through digital innovation
In today’s digital age, local governments are often caught in the balancing act of upgrading their services while addressing the needs of their communities—especially the vulnerable. Among these, Surrey County Council’s approach stands out as a beacon of innovation and strategic use of technology in public services.
It started with a forward-thinking digital transformation initiative. Like many councils, Surrey County Council was faced with the significant task of collecting and syncing data from a wide range of different agencies, each operating its own data systems. In this case, these included multiple records of names, addresses, medical records, Priority Registers, and social services, utility and emergency services providers.
The council faced a formidable challenge: how do you streamline such diverse information and ensure rapid assistance reaches those in need?
In collaboration with Kainos and using Datactics software, the council crafted a solution: a state-of-the-art data sharing hub. This database a dynamic system designed to load, consolidate, and standardize vast amounts of data from disparate sources. Handling over 100,000 rows of data, the system was fine-tuned to match, de-duplicate and enhance information within a mere 10 minutes.
An important feature of this hub is its ability to make crucial data instantly accessible to emergency services. Enhanced address details linked to GPS coordinates allowed for precise, on-map visualization—ensuring that help was dispatched accurately and efficiently.
This innovation didn’t stop at data integration. The system also tackled the critical elements of data governance and privacy. Stringent policies were put in place to ensure that only essential information was accessed by emergency responders, safeguarding the privacy of the individual.
The impact was immediate and profound. Emergency services now had access to a dashboard or an interactive map that pinpointed the locations of vulnerable citizens, detailing their medical needs and other vital information. This ensured that the responders were not only well-informed but also appropriately equipped to offer effective help.
The success of Surrey’s digital strategy was nationally recognized when it received the Editor's Choice Award at the Computer Weekly 2016 Digital Leaders 100 Awards. Lucie Glenday, Surrey County’s Chief Data Officer, encapsulated the sentiment, noting that the system provided crucial information enabling responders to act without delay.
Surrey County Council’s journey exemplifies how digital tools can transform public services, enhancing responsiveness and improving the safety and quality of life for residents. It stands as a model for other local authorities looking to navigate the digital future, proving that strategic use of technology can lead to more effective and resilient public services.
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