Interim report: Exploratory Research into Workforce Training and Development for Data Sharing in Scotland
This is one of a series of interim reports produced as part of the Information Sharing Project in collaboration with The Promise Scotland. This project has sought to understand the legal, cultural, and technical barriers to data and information sharing as it relates to care experienced children, young people, and their families across public sector agencies and organisations in Scotland.
This report was written by Urban Foresight, with contributions from Datavant, and focuses on exploratory research into workforce training and development for data sharing. The work evaluated existing approaches to data protection and data sharing training through a combination of desk-based review and surveys, supported by exploratory conversations with data protection specialists and frontline workers. The report presents findings on current toolkits, training provision, and everyday practices, and sets out recommendations for future research for consideration of ‘care system’ stakeholders.
The findings presented here should be read alongside insights from the other work packages, as together they contribute to a shared and evolving understanding of how data and information sharing can better support care experienced children and young people in Scotland. The full set of final project outputs is due to be published in spring 2026.
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This research examined the impact of different types of toolkits and training on data sharing practice across Scotland. Insights from engagement with ten data protection specialists and frontline workers suggest that while a range of resources exist, they are often difficult to access, inconsistent, or of limited practical relevance to day-to-day roles. These experiences prompted wider discussion about the organisational culture and processes that shape how data sharing decisions are made in practice.
Participants consistently highlighted the absence of a strong, connected network for sharing learning and aligning approaches across organisations. In response, the research identifies the development of a network as a key intervention, with the potential to support best practice, improve engagement with stakeholders, and provide a foundation for future research and collaboration.
The report also underlines the need for further research to better understand how toolkits, training, organisational processes, and culture interact to support (or constrain) good data sharing practice. Importantly, it notes that the first step in taking this work forward is to identify which organisation or organisations are best placed to lead and sustain these efforts.
Once a stakeholder network is in place, the report proposes several priority areas for future research, including:
Integrating greater consistency into toolkits and training;
Building a shared skills and knowledge profile for the workforce around data sharing for care experienced children and young people;
Making training more meaningful, accessible, and impactful for everyday practice;
Developing policies and processes that support the effective implementation of training;
Cultivating shared values that enable confident and proportionate data sharing.
The report concludes that investment in network-building and targeted future research will be essential to catalyse change, strengthen workforce capability, and overcome known barriers to effective data and information sharing for care experienced children and young people across Scotland.