Accuracy and reliability

Overall accuracy

Statistics Denmark counsels and advises municipalities on correct practice with regards to data reporting. However, Statistics Denmark does not have the necessary knowledge to asses the differences in municipal proceedings regarding disability services granted to children and youth. As the municipalities use different digital systems for data reporting and transmission, the data are not registered systematically and uniformly. For instance, one municipality can post a given measure under a section of the legislation included in the statistics, while another municipality can charge the same measure under a different section which is not included in the statistics.

In order to ensure that transmission of data and reporting are done in a most possible uniform manner, the municipalities are obliged to implement and adhere to the regulations formulated in the Databekendtgørelsen (i.e. The Executive Order on Data Transmission in the Social Policy Area). 98 municipalities are presented in the statistics and have approved the number of granted disability services. The data received from the municipalities is thus considered as complete.

Sampling error

Not relevant for these statistics since the statistic's method is complete enumeration.

Non-sampling error

The statistics contain data from all of the 98 municipalities in Denmark. The data, which the municipalities approve, are summarized.

There may be some measurement errors in the period variable for the given measures. Some municipalities tend to set the start date of a measure as being the date when the measure is granted, while other municipalities correctly specify the start date as being the time when a given measure actually takes effect.

The municipalities have differing practices in their assessments and internal housing offers. If a municipality cannot provide support and special care for children and youth with reduced physical or mental capacity through housing in relevant daycare, school or club institutions, an offer is established on the basis of regulations, formulated in the Act on Social Services. What is posted in one municipality under a section of the legislation that is included in the statistics, may in another municipality be registered under another section that is not included in the statistics.

Administration and assessment of disability services can involve multiple departments of a given municipality. There is thus a risk that not all of the cases are reported. However, the intensive validation process, in cooperation with the municipalities, minimizes such risks.

Municipalities should report all disability measures, granted to disadvantaged children and young people, but it must be assumed that there are missing cases. Validation process and yearly meetings with the municipalities minimize such errors.

Quality management

Statistics Denmark follows the recommendations on organisation and management of quality given in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and the implementation guidelines given in the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF). A Working Group on Quality and a central quality assurance function have been established to continuously carry through control of products and processes.

Quality assurance

Statistics Denmark follows the principles in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and uses the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF) for the implementation of the principles. This involves continuous decentralized and central control of products and processes based on documentation following international standards. The central quality assurance function reports to the Working Group on Quality. Reports include suggestions for improvement that are assessed, decided and subsequently implemented.

Quality assessment

The statistics are published annually, no later than 6 months after the end of the reference period. This ensures that users have actual and relevant knowledge of disability services, granted by the municipalities. The 4 statistical tables, presented in Statbank Denmark, (HANDBU01, HANDBU02, HANDBU03 and HANDBU04), ensure that the users can answer relevant questions regarding disability services granted to children and youth.

The statistical tables, together with a publication of a NYT-article on the subject, and the documentation of the statistics, ensure that the statics are available for the users. The registry provides relevant researchers and ministries with a possibility to investigate more complex aspects and questions, both regarding specific measures, but also on connection between the measures and other aspects.

The statistics are accurate and reliable as the statistic's method is complete enumeration. Uncertainty of the statistics in total is assessed as being low. Quality of the statistics is ensured through the yearly process of data validation in cooperation with the municipalities. Each municipality receives a validation list, which contains relevant information extracted from the Statistics Denmark's database. On the basis of these lists, the municipalities asses the quality, implement necessary corrections and ultimately approve the reported data.

The statistics contain data from all of the 98 municipalities in Denmark. Data presented in the statistics cover the period from the 1th of January 2022 to 31th of December 2022. Substantial variations in number of specific measures can occur when comparing the municipalities. Such variations can occur even if size population of the municipalities in question is taken into account. The variation can stem, among other, due to the differences in housing offers and assessment practices of the municipalities.

Data revision - policy

Statistics Denmark revises published figures in accordance with the Revision Policy for Statistics Denmark. The common procedures and principles of the Revision Policy are for some statistics supplemented by a specific revision practice.

Data revision practice

The statistical register, which forms a basis of the statistics, is a progress register updated yearly. Revisions of previous years are conducted upon the publication of a new reference period. Since the registry contains progress data, revisions going several years back, can occur. Notifiers can make daily corrections of data, which have already been reported or add new information. Such changes and additions will be included in the subsequent publication of the relevant reference year. Relative few revisions are expected with regards to periods spanning back in time more than a few years.

Since the statistics are published for the first time, no revisions have been made for the current publication.