LGR Data Migration: Preparing Social Care Systems for Reorganisation

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) creates significant challenges for councils managing social care systems and data.

As existing organisations change and new unitary authorities are established, councils need to consider how information held across existing systems will be managed, separated, migrated and made available to new organisations.

For Adult and Children’s Social Care, getting this right is critical.

Why Is Data Migration Important for LGR?

Social care systems contain complex and highly sensitive information.

This can include:

• Service user records
• Assessments and care plans
• Safeguarding information
• Financial information
• Provider records
• Historical case information
• Reporting and performance data

LGR may require data to be disaggregated, cleansed, mapped and migrated into new systems or configurations.

This needs careful planning to minimise disruption and protect data quality.

What Should Councils Consider?

A successful LGR data migration programme should consider:

1. Data Mapping

Understanding what information exists, where it is held and where it needs to go.

2. Data Quality

Identifying duplicate, incomplete, outdated or inconsistent information before migration.

3. System Compatibility

Understanding how existing systems, integrations and interfaces will work within the new authority structure.

4. Migration Testing

Test migrations provide an opportunity to identify problems before information is moved into the live environment.

5. User Acceptance Testing

Practitioners need confidence that migrated information is accurate and accessible and that systems continue to support their workflows.

LGR Is More Than a Data Exercise

Data migration should not be treated as an isolated technical project.

LGR provides an opportunity to review processes, workflows, system configuration and reporting at the same time.

Councils may need to decide whether to retain existing systems, consolidate platforms, change configuration or introduce new technology.

The LGA’s current LGR guidance highlights the importance of digital, data and case-management system readiness alongside wider service transformation.