The Scottish Government launched its latest Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD09) on 29th October. It ranks datazones (some 700 people on average) across Scotland from 1 (most deprived) to 6505 (least deprived). As an index, it measures relative not absolute deprivation (i.e. how multiple deprivation compares between datazones, rather than how much deprivation is in each).

Its uses include: understanding the concentration of multiple deprivation, informing policy and allocating resources. SIMD09 updates previous indices in 2003, 2004 and 2006. The SIMD09 methodology is broadly comparable to SIMD06 with 38 indicators in six thematic domain indices and one overall multiple deprivation index.

A QuickBrief is available which summarises Fife/Scotland comparisons, basic trends, and shows the most deprived areas in two maps. Much more detailed analysis and briefing will follow.

Further information including reports, guidance and mapping will be found on http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/SIMD/ and www.fifedirect.org.uk/deprivation .

To discuss, contact Chris Mitchell and colleagues in Fife Council’s Research and Consultation Team chris.mitchell@fife.gov.uk , and Robert McGregor, Sustainable Communities Programme Manager for Fife Partnership, robert.mcgregor@fife.gov.uk

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A warm welcome to Mukesh Dhariwal who joins the KnowFife Dataset project team this week, with a particular responsibility for needs and outcomes data.

Mukesh has taken on the role of Public Health Dataset Coordinator, and will be based part of the week in Public Health in NHS Fife, and the other part of the week in the Research and Consultation team in Fife Council.

Mukesh will work closely with Robert McGregor in relation to the evidence base for Sustainable Communities, and the Fairer Fife Framework and will have an active role in promoting the Fife findings from the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2009.

Please note that SIMD09 is due for release on 29 October 2009.

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Fife's population is now 361, 890 (based on 2008 mid-year estimates). This is an increase of 1,490 people from the 2007 figure of 360,500.

The General Register Office Scotland (GROS) have just released population estimates for small areas.

The following information is now available through the KnowFife Dataset across the range of Fife geographies in use in the system:

Population Estimates
* Total population
* All 0-15
* All 16-29
* All 30-59
* All 60 and over

Population Structure (males and females)
* children (0-15)
* working age (16-59/64)
* pensionable age (60/64 and over)

All person population in 5 year age bands

You will find this information in the Population Profile, or by selecting indicators in Pick and Mix.

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Regular FREE training courses are available throughout the year to help people to get the most out of the KnowFife Dataset.

The next formal training courses, delivered through NHS Fife's Health Improvement Training Programme, are planned for:

Tuesday 15 September 2009
Thursday 19 November 2009
Wednesday 17 February 2010

All of the training courses are half day, from 9.30 - 1.00 pm, at Carleton House, Markinch.

See events under www.fifedirect.org.uk/knowfife or contact karenstirling@nhs.net if you are interested in finding out more.

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If you want to know what the make up of an area is in relation to housing tenure, 2009 data is now available for

Owner occupied
Rented from the Council
Rented from other social landlords
Private rented
Other
Second Homes

You can access this through the Area Profiles through Stronger Communities data theme, and then selecting the Housing profile.

You can also view this through Pick and Mix, again under the theme of Stronger Communities, Housing subtheme

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2007 data is now available for the following datasets:

* All cause mortality
* Cancer mortality
* Coronary heart disease mortality
* Birth numbers and rates
* Child health
* Hospital admissions
* Emergency admissions
* Immunisations

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We wish Jo-Anne Valentine all the best as she moves from her role as Fife Public Health Dataset Coordinator to a new role, that of Public Health Manager. Although she will still be working for the NHS in Fife, she will no longer have an active role in updating and maintaining needs and outcomes data within the KnowFife Dataset.

Through her work in establishing the Fife Public Health Dataset, Jo-Anne has been a pioneer for small area statistics in Fife, and this has transformed how we think about and use data within Fife.

We thank her for her contribution she has made in recent years to the KnowFife Dataset, and wish her well in her new role.

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The main way in which we measure deprivation in Fife is using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (2006). The index is based on the relative deprivation of areas using datazone as the geography. As an index cannot be aggregated up to higher level geographies (in the way that most datasets can within the KnowFife Dataset), only selected data is available:

% of the population SIMD employment deprived
% of the population SIMD income deprived

However, we have now created a new geography - SIMD Quintiles - which allows you to look at a range of data according to 20% bandings. For example, those parts of Fife that are in the 20% most deprived in Scotland.

If you want to know more about the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, and local analysis for Fife, go to www.fifedirect.org.uk/knowfife , see services, Deprivation Statistics and Analysis.

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If you're using Thematic Maps or Pick and Mix, you might find that you are seeing double!

You can now choose to view information in a double map template, in addition to the single map template.

The double map template allows you to look at two different indicators and the strength of the relationship between them.

Please note the double map template is not available for the datazone geography because of the number of geographic areas involved.

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The KnowFife Dataset User Guide has been updated to help users to make the most of the system.

There are also regular training courses offered throughout the year.

Go to www.fifedirect.org.uk/knowfife to find out more.

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With improvements to the Map Selection in Area Profiles and Pick and Mix, it is now even easier to find the area that you are looking for. Once you have selected an area type, you now get a map which offers an alternative way of selecting an area (or areas) for a report, or your own table or chart.

If you are not sure of the geography type to use, try using the Profile by Postcode search. This will give you a range of higher level geographies which contain that postcode area and help to find the geographic area that suits your needs.

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Along with a new look site, we now have a new geography of High School Catchment relating to the 17 High Schools (excluding denominational High Schools) across Fife.

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There has been a change to the interactive maps and dashboards in use in the KnowFife Dataset. Instead of SVG (scaleable vector graphics) the system now uses Flash, which is generally more widely available for users. See Thematic Maps section for more information.

Background mapping is now included in all Thematic Maps to help with understanding the area to which the data being viewed relates.

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You will notice some differences to the KnowFife Dataset following an upgrade of the system.

Key differences are:

* The ability to search by postcode to access a profile at a range of higher geographies

* Quick Profile - see all available reports/profiles for a single geographic area at a glance

* Changes to the names of some sections. Advanced Tables are now Pick and Mix, Dashboards are now Thematic Maps

* More use of icons for navigation through the site

* Improved charting in Pick and Mix

* Customisation of geographies - in Area Profiles save your selections of areas to use again (you need to be signed in to the system to do this)

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