This playbook sets out the NHSBSA’s expectations for planning and doing analysis.
It provides direction and guidance for everyone at the NHSBSA. It is especially for:
Directors and Heads of Service to ensure appropriate governance of analysis in their areas.
Commissioners, users, analysts and analytical assurers. This includes non-analysts and third-party suppliers.
It covers all analysis and datasets. This includes analysis and data published externally and used for internal decisions. It also includes analysis/data given to our sponsors/partners.
This will ensure quality and consistency of analysis and support well-informed decisions.
This Playbook is based on:
The Green Book and Magenta Book also cover analysis involving appraisal and evaluation.
Commissioner – the person requesting the analysis. This could be an internal team, external partner or sponsor such as DHSC or NHS England.
Analyst – the person planning, undertaking and documenting the analysis. This includes Data Analysts and Performance Analysts. It also includes Customer Insight Officers, Statistical Officers, Statisticians and Data Scientists.
Critical friend/analytical assurer – the person who signs off that the analysis is fit-for-purpose. This person should not be delivering the analysis. They are usually a Senior Analyst but need not always be an analyst. Ideally, they will have prior knowledge of the subject matter and/or techniques being used.
Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) – the person who takes responsibility of a ‘Business-Critical Model’ resulting from the analysis throughout its lifecycle. The SRO signs-off that a model is fit-for-purpose prior to its use. This may be the Commissioner.
