National Workforce Data Set
Specifies the data standards to be used for NHS workforce information, including the NHS occupation codes.
About this standard
- Publisher
- NHS England
- Also known as
- Also known as NWD.
- Reference code
- DAPB1067 Amd 73/2022
- Publication date
- 09/02/2023
- Status
- Active
Show definitions of statuses
Active. Active standards are stable, maintained and have been approved, assured or endorsed for use by qualified bodies.
Deprecated Deprecated standards are available for use and are maintained, but are being phased out, so new functionality will not be added.
Retired standards Retired standards are not being maintained or supported and should not be used.
- Standard type
- Information standards
Show definitions of standard types
Collections. A Collection is a systematic gathering of a specified selection of data or information for a particular stated purpose from existing records held within health and care systems and electronic devices.
Extractions. An extraction is a type of collection that is pulled from an operational system by the data controller and transmitted to the receiver without additional processing or transcription by the sender.
Information standards. Information standards are agreed ways of doing something, written down as a set of precise criteria so they can be used as rules, guidelines, or definitions.
Technical Standards and specifications. Technical standards and specifications specify how to make information available technically including how the data is structured and transported.
- Contact point
- Please state ‘National Workforce Data Set’ or ‘Workforce Data Standards’ in the subject line.
Link to standard
- Documentation
- opens in a new tab
(opens in new tab)
- 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.
- Associated medias
- Conformance date
- 01/02/2024
- Effective from
- 09/02/2023
Topics and care settings
- Topic
- Data definitions and terminologies
- Demographics
- Reference data
- Workforce
- Care setting
- Community health
- Dentistry
- Hospital
- Maternity
- Mental health
- Urgent and Emergency Care
Dependencies and related standards
- Dependencies
No known dependencies.
- Related standards
Review Information
- Scope
- Health Services, NHS Services
- Sponsor
Stephen Balchin, Head of Workforce Information and Analysis, Department of Health and Social Care
- Senior Responsible Officer
Chris Roebuck, Chief Statistician, Data and Analytics, NHS England
- Business Lead
- Alyson Whitmarsh, Information Analysis Lead Manager, Data and Analytics, NHS England
- Approval date
- 26/01/2023
- Post Implementation review Date
- 31/01/2025
Legal basis and endorsements
- Legal authority
Section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012
This information standard is published under section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012
More information
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.
Note that the information standard is approved for use in England. However, the NHS in Wales also uses the standard and is encouraged to do so.
About this change
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:
- Additions to the Job Role
- Additions to the Area of Work
- Additions to the Nationality
- Additions to the Destination on Leaving
- Additions to the Source of Recruitment
- Additions to the Type of Contract
- Deletions from the Occupation Code
- Deletions from the Nationality
- Deletions from the Destination on Leaving
- Deletions from the Source of Recruitment
Updates have been made to the guidance provided for anyone intending to utilise the reference data defined by the NWD for secondary purposes. This does materially impact the input of the data items.
Page last updated: 18 June 2024