Building decision support data systems for new programmes in settings where implementation science is new: lessons from Scotland

The Addressing Neglect and Enhancing Wellbeing programme in Dundee, Scotland, has been developed between local partners and the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection (CELCIS) to bring a more inclusive and child-centred response to children with wellbeing concerns and/or at risk of neglect. Guided by Active Implementation methodology, a key focus of the programme has been to develop low burden, meaningful data measures within a cohesive Decision Support Data System. The GIC 2021 storyboard presented our learning from developing a Decision Support Data System for not only a new programme but also in a country where implementation science is new. We explored Dundee’s existing children’s data landscape across education, health and social work; re-purposed existing (meaningful) data indicators for use within the Decision Support Data System; collaboratively developed new tools where meaningful measures did not exist; and focused on building local capacity to collate and analyse the data. In presenting the work above, particular focus was placed on the challenge of embedding a new approach to data that gives careful consideration to process/input, fidelity, capacity and outcomes measures.