Last updated: 22 October 2024

Collecting information, or data, is an almost daily necessity for frontline workers. Otherwise, how would we know who people are, what help and support they need and from which services. We collect housing, medical and custodial histories, information about substance use, and even sex work. All of this is deeply personal and often sensitive information that needs to be collected, stored and used appropriately.

Who are these videos for?

The aim of this series is to ensure that frontline staff and team leaders basic understanding of:

  • what good practice looks like when it comes to collecting, storing, using and sharing data for casework purposes,
  • some important ethical and legal considerations,
  • how the principles of trauma informed care can improve data collection, accuracy, storage, and use, and
  • how good data can be used to create positive change, including some case study examples from the homelessness sector.

Below you will find three videos. They set out the essentials of good data collection, storage and use in the day-to-day work of delivering the work of frontline homelessness services, and how frontline data can be used to develop practice and demonstrate impact.

Each video is around 8 minutes long and includes short case study examples and suggested activities and actions team leaders can include in team meetings to help promote learning about good data collection and use within your teams and organisations.

Each video has an accompanying transcript, including links to all the online resources mentioned.

Video transcripts