Welcome to the National Analyst Network

Thank you for being part of our growing community

The National Analyst Network is a practical, welcoming and peer-led community for analysts, data scientists, intelligence colleagues and others using data, evidence and insight to support strategic commissioning and better decision-making across health, care and wider public services.

Building on the success of the Midlands Analyst Network, the National Analyst Network widens this community so that colleagues from across the country can connect, share learning, discuss common challenges and strengthen the contribution of analysis in practice.

The Network provides a supportive space to share ideas, resources and good practice; seek advice; ask questions; spark debate; and develop skills together. It is part of the Strategic Commissioning Intelligence Centre and brings together colleagues from across the wider analytical community, recognising that strategic commissioning depends on insight from many organisations, sectors and perspectives.

Meet your Network lead: Rachel Caswell

Rachel is a Senior Healthcare Analyst at the Strategy Unit and the Lead for Training & Development. She has led the Analyst Network since its early days and is passionate about supporting analysts to connect, learn from each other, share practical expertise and strengthen the role of analysis in decision-making.

Fortnightly Huddles

At the heart of the Network are our fortnightly online Huddles, hosted on MS Teams. Huddles are informal but informative sessions covering a wide range of topics linked to analysis, intelligence, evidence, decision-making and strategic commissioning.

You are very welcome to join any Huddle that feels useful or interesting to you. You do not need to be a member of the National Analyst Network to attend a Huddle, but joining the Network means you can be kept up to date with future Huddles, events, resources and opportunities to contribute.

We welcome contributions from Network members, as well as speakers from academia, health and care organisations, national bodies, subject specialists and, occasionally, international presenters.

For quick access to a Huddle, please use the link below. If you have any questions about the Huddles - including how to join the Network, access previous recordings, suggest a topic or present at a future session - please contact Rachel Caswell at rachel.caswell@nhs.net or complete this form.

Next Huddle: 12th November - Integrated Needs Assessments

Sharing emerging learning on how systems are approaching Integrated Needs Assessments and how intelligence can inform strategic commissioning

Integrated Needs Assessments (INAs) are being developed across systems to bring together intelligence about population need and outcomes and support strategic commissioning. Experience and learning around their development and use continue to emerge across systems. So what are INAs being used for, how are systems approaching them, and how do we make sure intelligence leads to action?

This National Analyst Network Huddle will share emerging learning and different perspectives from work coordinated by NHS England and the national Strategic Commissioning Intelligence Centre, alongside practical examples and reflections from systems on developing and using INAs.

We’ll explore perspectives on the role, purpose, and intended use of INAs, how they relate to JSNAs and wider system intelligence, approaches to refreshing them proportionately, and how collaborative working across system partners can help translate intelligence into priorities and action. We’ll also look ahead to what systems may need from future guidance and how INAs can continue to evolve.

Who is it for?

The session is for analysts, data scientists, BI and intelligence colleagues, population health and performance teams, public health teams, and others involved in needs assessment, strategic commissioning, planning and improvement across ICBs, NHS providers, local authorities, regional and national teams, academia and the wider analytical community.

Clinical colleagues, commissioners, and decision makers interested in how intelligence can inform strategic decisions are also very welcome.

How does this connect to strategic commissioning?

Understanding the context is the first stage of strategic commissioning. This includes understanding population need, inequalities and outcomes. INAs provide an opportunity to bring together different forms of intelligence to build a shared understanding of the population served and its needs now and in the future.

This Huddle will explore how analysts and system partners can use INAs to frame the right questions, synthesise and interpret intelligence, and translate insight into commissioning priorities and action.

What will we explore?

• Emerging learning on the purpose, development, and use of INAs
• Moving from insight to action
• Alignment with JSNAs and wider system working
• Refreshing INAs and future guidance and support

Join via your calendar invite - if you don't have this - see below!

Click here to join the meeting Join us at 11 am!

Up and coming Huddles

• 12/11/26: Integrated Needs Assessments: understanding population needs to inform strategic commissioning (Title TBC)
• 26/11/26: Exploring workforce opportunities for analysts with Neil Morgan and Jon Adamson, MLCSU
• 04/02/27: Introducing the RAP Accelerator Programme with Rhian Davies, YiWen Hon and Chris Beeley, Strategy Unit

Continue the conversation ...

Continue the conversation through the Commissioning Academy where you'll find practical resources - from tools to podcasts and case studies - and discussion opportunities to support strategic commissioning. Explore further learning linked to the Strategic Commissioning Development Programme and connect with peers tackling similar challenges across the strategic commissioning cycle. 

The Strategic Commissioning Intelligence Centre (SCIC) is a core part of the Strategic Commissioning Development Programme (SCDP), in partnership with the Strategy Unit. See here for more information about SCIC.