Definition
Data ageing refers to the requirement of a time lag in extracting data for reporting to accommodate the time between when a service activity occurs and when it is
entered into a client system. The time lag is determined by the minimum amount of time for data to be sufficiently complete in the source system to be accurately reported.
For example, caseworkers who see families in the community are not able to enter data in real time, so a period of time is allowed for that data to be entered. Data is typically aged for two months before extraction. As such there is a minimum of two and a half month lag between the end of a reporting period and the availability of finalised data. For example data for the reporting quarter ending 30 June will not be available until the 31st August (likely available 1st September) at the earliest.
Data ageing provides an opportunity for information recorded in the source system (such as ChildStory) after the fact, to be included in reporting and ultimately provide a more accurate depiction of the situation.
Unaged data is useful for tracking compliance with recording and identifying tasks that are outstanding. Unaged data is only suitable for operational reporting and use by district staff for the purpose of managing outstanding casework tasks.
Comments
| For example, at the end of May a little under 80% of placements that commenced in the month have been created in ChildStory; however by end June the number is around 96%. |
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| This means that if reporting at the end of May, you would miss 20% of the placements, whereas by waiting until the end of June, you only miss 4%. |
Related content
| Relation | Count |
|---|---|
| Metadata that references this Glossary Item | 26 |