 design process – this might be improved by sharing a roadmap of future data development areas, providing updates via sector networks as to future plans (prior to star chamber approval process), or specifically requesting input from local data and performance leads when communicating change proposals  Local officers say that the rationale for new data collection (or decision not to collect) is not always clearly communicated – this might be improved by including rationale and/or discarded options in some targeted communications  Local officers say that the current process for introducing new data items creates significant burden on data and systems teams, and that some new statutory data collections seem to arrive without legal basis to ensure supplier support, and that there is a high volume of new change on the horizon which is not currently clearly organised – this might be improved by sharing a roadmap of future data development areas, and/or reviewing the current process to ensure it suits its purpose, and/or exploring options for ensuring LAs have capacity for adapting to new changes 16 DfE Project 2A: User research into social worker inputted data to CMS Recommendations for LAs:  Review the local data items on forms to check for relevancy to current practice and priorities and delete any data and information fields not used for an agreed period of time  Revise CMS training regarding best practice to include good examples of recording, explain purpose of the forms used, set expectations of the data to be collected, and clarify the purpose of the local and statutory data which the forms capture  Ensure an appropriate level of check and challenge is applied when considering local requests to add additional data and information fields to forms  Provide monthly 