Version: 3.6.0 | Published: 12 May 2025 | Updated: 206 days ago
National Workforce Data Set
Dataset
Summary
Type:
Information standards
Effective From:
01 March 2025
Applies To:
- NHS organisations
- Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
- NHS England
- Other arms length bodies of the DHSC
- Independent sector providers of NHS funded health care
- Social enterprises providing NHS funded care
- Other third sector organisations
- Local Authorities and Social Care organisations where applicable
Impacts On:
The changes will mostly impact administrative staff responsible for HR /
Workforce / Finance information, but some of the changes will require validation
of existing and future information from clinical managers regards members of
their team, working in conjunction with their HR / Workforce / Finance
colleagues. Implementation of this information standard impacts all health IT
systems suppliers providing systems to the above providers; suppliers should
work with their customers to determine necessary changes.
Conformance Date:
01 March 2026
Topics:
- Data definitions and terminologies
- Demographics
- Reference data
- Workforce
Care Settings:
- Community health
- Dentistry
- Hospital
- Maternity
- Mental health
- Urgent and Emergency Care
Alternate Name:
Also known as NWD.
Documentation
Associated Media:
Description:
The National Workforce Data Set (NWD) is a reference data standard containing standardised definitions to facilitate the capture of nationally consistent information relating to the NHS and wider healthcare workforce.
NWD data items support a variety of workforce collections and are also embedded within HR/workforce IT systems, including the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and NHS Jobs.
The National Workforce Data Set has been updated to ensure that the NWD and Electronic Staff Record (ESR) remain aligned and best reflect the changing Health and Care workforce. Changes include:
• Job Role – new value/change to existing value • Occupation Code – changes to existing values/retire a value
• Area of Work – new values/changes to existing values
• Fixed Term/Temporary Contract Reason – Changes to existing values/retire a value
• inclusion of a new element relating to Socioeconomic Background Information at the request of the Secretary of State
• Presentational / guidance updates to the NWD specification and guidance documents which do not materially impact the individual values described by the NWD.
Documentation Link:
Relations:
Dependencies:
No known dependencies.
Document Control
Sponsor:
Stephen Balchin, Head of Workforce Information and Analysis, Department of Health and Social Care
Approval Date:
18 February 2025
Business Lead:
Alyson Whitmarsh, Lead Information Manager - WTE Data & Analytics, NHS England
Post Implementation Review Date:
01 March 2027
Scope:
Health Services, NHS Services
SRO:
Chris Roebuck, Deputy Director of Analysis - Clinical Outcomes and Indicators,
NHS England
Technical Committee:
Data Alliance Partnership Board (DAPB)
Mandated:
Yes
Status:
active
Legal Authorities
Legal Authority:
Section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012
Legal Authority Description:
This information standard is published under section 250 of the Health and
Social Care Act 2012
Origin
Name:
NHSE-SD Data Catalogue