Care Homes: Occupancy Rate
type: Dataset
conforms to: http://mlcommons.org/croissant/1.0
contact point: ContactPoint
date modified: 2026-08-20T17:18:56.009931
date published: 2026-08-13T12:54:40.015986
description: Note: This dataset will not be receiving updates through this portal. Please refer to the [Public Health Scotland Open Data](https://www.opendata.nhs.scot/dataset/care-home-census/resource/e5e5bd8f-a2c9-4898-bbb0-21488e7433f2) platform for the relevant data. Data on occupancy in care homes from the annual adult Care Home Census, aggregated to council level and Scotland level. The Care Home Census dataset includes statistics on Care Home residents at a snapshot date (31 March) as well as admissions, discharges and deaths during each financial year. All publications and supporting material to this topic area can be found on the [ISD Scotland Website](https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Care-Homes/Census/). These statistics are also available for download from the [NHS Scotland Open Data portal](https://www.opendata.nhs.scot/dataset/care-home-census), along with other health and care data.
accuracy: The Care Inspectorate's eForms system automatically validates some of the data submitted by care homes. E.g. a care home cannot submit data unless the number of residents at the start of the financial year equals the number of residents at the end of the financial year plus the number of admissions during the financial year, minus the number of deaths and discharges during the financial year. However there are known issues with the data, e.g. discharge dates are not always recorded (in part 2 of the census which asks for data at individual long stay resident level), and so some deceased residents and some residents who were discharged alive, are incorrectly included. This was discovered for the first time when ISD CHI-seeded the 2017 care home census individual level long stay resident records then matched them to death dates from National Records Scotland.
comment: Occupancy rate in care homes, for different main client groups and across care sectors
completeness: Please see the [Care Home Census data supplier guidance](http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Health/ScottishCareHomeCensusB) letter for definitions of terms used in the Care Home Census. Long Stay Residents are those whose intention when admitted to an adult care home was to stay there for more than six weeks, regardless of how long they actually stay. Residents whose intention when admitted to an adult care home was to stay there for fewer than six weeks are counted as Short Stay Residents, and the reason for the short stay was not for respite relief. If a resident stays for longer than 6 weeks they are counted as a long stay resident instead. Residents who stay in an adult care home to provide respite or holiday relief to them and/or their carer are Respite Residents. A period of respite is normally one night or one weekend or a few weeks at most.
confidentiality: The following disclosure control methods have been applied to the data, in order to protect confidentiality: [ISD protocol on Statistical Disclosure Protocol](https://www.isdscotland.org/About-ISD/Confidentiality/) and the [Scottish Government's privacy notice](http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Health/ScottishCareHomeCensusB).
consistency: These statistics are also available for download from the [NHS Scotland Open Data portal](https://www.opendata.nhs.scot/dataset/care-home-census), along with other health and care data.
geographical coverage: S92
geographical coverage: S12
license id: uk-ogl
quality management: The Care Home Census is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics status means that the official statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value. They comply with the Code of Practice for statistics and are awarded National Statistics status following an assessment by the UK Statistics Authority's regulatory arm. The Authority considers whether the statistics meet the highest standards of Code compliance, including the value they add to public decisions and debate. [Find out more about the Code of Practice](https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/osr/code-of-practice/) [Find out more about National Statistics](https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/national-statistician/types-of-official-statistics/)
reference period: PeriodOfTime
  end date: 2017
  start date: 2007
timeliness: This dataset is updated annually.
uniqueness: Not assessed
update frequency: annual
validity: The statistics are used by the Scottish Government, local authorities, private and voluntary service providers, academics and members of the public to get a clear picture of care home provision across Scotland and to plan the provision of care home places in the future. A short summary report is available on the uses of the [Care Home Census data](https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Care-Homes/Census/Uses-of-SCHC.pdf).
will be updated: false
included in data catalog: CKAN
keywords: Health and Social Care
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
record set: records

Public Health Scotland
type: Organization
contact point: ContactPoint
  contact type: customer service

Care Home Sector
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Care Home Sector

occupancy-rate-in-care-homes.csv
type: FileObject
description: Data file for Care Homes: Occupancy Rate
comment: Occupancy rate in care homes, for different main client groups and across care sectors
dictionary: Column
  column: Main Client Group In Care Home
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyCode
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Care Home Sector
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Measurement
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: DateCode
  type: int
dictionary: Column
  column: Units
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyName
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Value
  type: int
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyType
  type: text
encoding format: CSV

Units
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Units

Value
type: Field
data type: Integer
source:
  extract:
    column: Value

DateCode
type: Field
data type: Integer
source:
  extract:
    column: DateCode

Main Client Group In Care Home
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Main Client Group In Care Home

GeographyType
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: GeographyType

Measurement
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: Measurement

GeographyCode
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: GeographyCode

GeographyName
type: Field
data type: Text
source:
  extract:
    column: GeographyName