Senior Data, Performance and Insight Analyst (Childrens Social Care)

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Help us transform children's services through data, insight and innovation

At Merton, we believe that great data leads to better decisions, stronger services, and improved outcomes for children, young people and families.

We're looking for an exceptional Senior Data, Performance and Insight Analyst to join our ambitious Data, Performance and Insights function within our Children, Lifelong Learning and Families Department.

This is a pivotal role at the heart of our improvement and transformation journey. Working closely with senior leaders, operational managers and front-line services, you'll lead the delivery of high-quality analysis, business intelligence and performance reporting that drives strategic decision-making and service improvement.

This role will focus on Children’s Social Care, although the postholder will work flexibly across the wider Children, Lifelong Learning and Families Department and contribute to our vision of becoming a truly data-led organization.

About the role

You'll oversee the data function for Children’s Social Care and Youth Inclusion, shape how data is used across the department, and champion innovative approaches to performance management, business intelligence and insight generation. You'll play a key role in helping services understand demand, performance, outcomes and future need, ensuring that decisions are informed by robust evidence and meaningful intelligence.

You will:

• Lead a complex portfolio of analytical, performance and insight work, managing competing priorities and ensuring delivery to agreed deadlines.
• Provide expert advice and champion best practice, while using professional judgement to identify priorities, risks and opportunities
• Lead the delivery of high-quality analytical products, performance reporting and business intelligence.
• Develop and maintain engaging Power BI dashboards and visualisations.
• Transform complex datasets into actionable insights that influence policy, strategy and operational delivery.
• Lead statutory data collections and returns, ensuring compliance, accuracy and timeliness.
• Drive improvements in data quality, governance and information management.
• Support service transformation programmes and digital modernisation initiatives.
• Apply predictive analytics, forecasting techniques and emerging AI solutions to address business challenges.
• Manage and develop analysts, building analytical capability across the service.
• Work with senior leaders, partners and stakeholders to embed a culture of evidence-based decision making.

About you

We're looking for an experienced senior analyst who combines technical expertise with curiosity, innovation and a passion for public service improvement.

You will bring:

Essential experience

• Significant experience in data analysis, business intelligence and performance management within a public sector environment, ideally Children's Services.
• Experience delivering analytical products that support service improvement and strategic decision-making.
• Experience of statutory reporting, information governance and data compliance.
• Experience managing, mentoring or developing analysts and working with senior stakeholders.
• Working with large and complex datasets from multiple systems
• Strong technical skills including use of visualisation tools such as PowerBI