Introduction to FPM

A 'Getting started' FPM user guide and a Data Dictionary are available for download but please feel free to get in touch if you cannot figure out how to achieve what you want, if in doubt what the best way forward is, if you need somebody to rectify an error, if you spot or suspect an issue with the tool or any other case you want to discuss. 
For help please email: ProfileFeedback@dhsc.gov.uk 

Ground rules

1. Functioning of Fingertips and all its components depends on all users working in a responsible manner, adhering to high standards of data quality, co-operating and communicating effectively to our mutual benefit.
   
   
2. The responsibility for data quality lies with you. We expect that only fully QA’ed data gets uploaded. If, for whatever reason, less than perfect data is added, please make sure that this is made obvious e.g. by adding the right value note and possibly also a note in the metadata.
   
   
3. Supply complete and good quality metadata. This is the most important tool for keeping the database tidy and enabling sharing.
   
   
4. Avoid duplication of indicators. Search carefully before you create a new indicator as it may already be in the system. If you need to create a new (but similar) indicator, clarify the differences in the metadata section to facilitate the IMRG (Indicator and Methods Review Group) process.
   
   
5. Do not upload any data that must not be in the public domain (after the launch of related product(s)). Suppression or any other form of disclosure control needs to be applied upon data entry. Fingertips has no facilities to supply this functionality.
   
   
6. By uploading data to Fingertips, you accept that other users can use ‘your’ indicator(s) in context of their Profiles. While we encourage people to liaise with colleagues who ‘own’ an indicator for practical reasons (e.g. to keep updates in sync), nothing is holding you back from embedding existing indicators into the products you develop. If you are working on a Profile over a longer period of time and want to ensure that data are not published prematurely by somebody else, you need to build in a warning, e.g. a temporary prefix on the indicator name.