On 21 March 2021, every household in England and Wales will be asked to complete their census questionnaire – the once-in-a-decade survey that provides the most accurate estimate of our communities.
The census is for everyone and is conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics. Census 2021 will highlight areas of deprivation, show the ethnic make-up of the country and provide information on our living arrangements, health, education and the jobs we do.
The anonymised information from it will inform policy at a local and national level – such as decisions on where new doctors surgeries, housing and bus routes are planned – for years to come. It will also ensure big decisions facing the country following the coronavirus pandemic and EU exit are based on the best information.
Ahead of 21 March, a census officer will arrange to deliver two types of census packs to care homes.
The pack for care home managers contains a letter with an access code. This gives access to an online form, which asks questions about the establishment you manage. It also asks for a count of usual residents and of visitors who are staying overnight on Sunday 21 March 2021.
The resident pack contains individual paper forms for each resident, a pre-paid envelope to return the form and information about privacy.
As a care home manager, you will be asked to complete the communal establishment manager’s form, distribute a resident pack to each resident, and try to make sure individual forms are completed on behalf of any resident who is unable to complete it themselves. More information on how to help residents take part in the census is available here.
All residents, and any caretaking, maintenance or other staff and their families who live in this accommodation and have no other permanent UK address will need to complete an individual questionnaire. The census counts visitors to establishments but asks no questions about them.
There are a range of support services available – including information in large-print format, Braille and British Sign Language. Language support will also be available via our free phone contact centre.
Results from the 2021 Census will be available within 12 months. Personal details are not shared and no-one, including government bodies, can identify you in the census statistics. Your record will be kept secure for 100 years, and only then can future generations view it.
For more information about the help available and care home manager and residents packs, please visit www.census.gov.uk or phone for free, from March, on 0800 141 2021. For households in Wales, contact 0800 169 2021.
