| ANNEX A |
| STATISTICAL NOTES |
| 1. An
exercise was carried out by SWSG prior to the 31/3/94
residential census in an attempt to improve the level of
data coverage. It was discovered that, owing to changes
in local authorities’ registration practices,
several homes which had not previously been included in
the annual residential census should now be included. As
a result of this exercise the overall number of
residential homes, places and residents increased
significantly, particularly in homes for people with
learning disabilities and homes for people with mental
health problems. This does not reflect a sudden
increase in provision of residential services but an
improved level of coverage owing to changes in
registration practices. |
| 2. Most of
the information in this bulletin is obtained from annual
statistical returns on residential establishments, day
centres and other services by local authority social work
departments and from returns completed by individual
homes and day centres. |
| In the event
of non response, previous figures are used. Current
practice is to use figures up to 2 years old at the
census date. Where a Local Authority did not return an
estimate was calculated based on population, from either: |
- the appropriate
regional data from the previous year (if
available); or
- from the Scotland
total excluding the missing authority
|
| 3. Day
centres are classified according to the client group
which makes up the largest proportion of those attending.
This means that a centre catering for many client groups
may often be reclassified, and this will account for some
of the fluctuations in the figures from year to year. |
| 4. The gross
weekly charge information was collected according to the
following definitions: |
| Local
Authority Homes - the standard weekly charge for a
permanent resident as at 31 March (i.e. the full cost to
the authority of providing accommodation). |
| Private and
Voluntary Homes - gross weekly charge at 31 March as
specified in contracts with the local authority. |
| 5.
Information about bed use in Scottish Health Service
hospitals was obtained from the Scottish Health Service,
Information and Statistics Division. Some of this also
appears in their publication ‘Scottish Health
Statistics’. |
| 6. Sheltered
housing information in Table 2.5 was obtained from the
statistical returns made by local authorities to the
housing division of The Scottish Office. |
| 7. A number
of homes did not provide all of the requested information
about residents. In addition, detailed information about
persons who are in residential homes for holiday or
respite care is not collected. Consequently, some of the
tables which give detailed information about residents
contain different totals. |
| 8. All
information relates to the year ending 31 March 1997
unless otherwise stated. |
| 9. When
percentages are used they may not add to 100 per cent
because of rounding. |
| 10. The
population figures used in this bulletin for calculating
per capita rates of service provision are the population
estimates for Scotland as at 30 June 1997 (see Annex B). |
