About needs assessment modules


Introduction

The online needs assessment tool is designed to provide the background; appropriate evidence-based information on prevalence; incidence and risk factors affecting children's health and the provision of healthcare services; and the basic statistical and other data necessary for the preparation of a Children's Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). This information will support the requirements set out for undertaking a needs assessment as part of both a Childrens and Young Peoples Plan and a Joint Stategic Needs Assessment.

This online tool takes its data from a range of sources, including the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and data held and provided by the Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

Using this tool will save you considerable time in compiling your needs assessment - it provides a comprehensive starting point to the available health intelligence for your needs assessment. This tool will provide you with a template which you can download for further local development.

The geographical focus of the CHNA can either be a Local Authority or a Primary Care Trust.

Format

The Children's Health Needs Assessment is made up of a number of modules. All needs assessments begin with an overview of the population and general population health and well-being. In addition, there are optional modules available depending on the focus you wish to adopt for your needs assessment. ChiMat is still in the process of developing the full range of modules. Currently you can choose from:

  • Demographic profile
  • Child and adolescent mental health (CAMH)
  • Children with disabilities
  • Continence in children
  • Healthy Schools Profiles new

We will be adding more modules over the coming months. If you would like to be kept informed of new modules as well as updates to the most current data available in existing modules you can sign up to the ChiMat e-bulletin.

The Children's Health Needs Assessment provides:

  • Descriptive text
  • Prevalence rates applied to the chosen population
  • Relevant activity data
  • Financial and workforce information
  • A summary of local services
  • Guidance about other (non data driven) aspects of a comprehensive needs assessment

Using the needs assessment tool:

  1. First select the geographical area for which you want to prepare a needs assessment.

    Currently the needs assessment uses ONS resident population data for local authorities and PCTs. The option of PCT registered populations will be available soon. You can also select a 'CAMHS Partnership' population if a CAMH needs assessment is being prepared. This will follow the local authority which is represented by the Partnership. In some cases CAMHS Partnerships comprise multiple local authorities.

  2. Select the theme 'Child Health Needs Assessment' from the drop-down box.
  3. Select the module which you are interested in. As noted above, the currently available modules are: Demography and overall child health and well-being; Child and adolescent mental health; and Children with disabilities.
  4. Click the blue 'forward' arrow.

You will then be presented with a report tailored to your chosen geographical area. From here you can:

  • Copy the whole module or the text and charts you're interested in and paste them into your own document for further development
  • Print the outline needs assessment (you need to print in landscape format)
  • There is also an option to create a PDF of the needs assessment - however, this is not currently recommened
  • View futher information about the data:
    • Click the 'view notes' link to view a table setting out all the underlying data sources and definitions.

Further developing your Children's Health Needs Assessment

Once you have downloaded the ChiMat needs assessment template you can continue to develop it locally. Local input will include:

  • Local intelligence about services
  • Input from consultations and stakeholder events
  • Descriptive text
  • Comment on local priorities

The ChiMat template provides guidance on where to get further information and help on these aspects of your needs assessment and we will shortly be providing further general guidance.