Census Day is 21 March 2021. The census is a survey about all the households in England and Wales. Every householder is responsible for completing a questionnaire for their household and should either answer for all household members or ensure they all have their own.
Everyone must complete or be included in the census and provide accurate information. The Census is online, using an access code in the letter about the Census, but people can ask for a paper copy to be posted to them. There is more about the census and how it operates at Census 2021.
People can complete the census on the day or in advance if they answer as if it is 21 March. If they need help, they can:
- ask someone else to fill it in for them, or help them if they can’t do it themselves
- get help to complete the census online: find a support centre
- access web chat, call on the phone or use the text relay system from the contact page
- read translations of information about the census in different languages
Census Arrangements for Care Homes
There are specific arrangements in place for completing the census in care homes. A census officer should have arranged to deliver packs to the manager of the accommodation. The manager should receive two types of census packs:
- Manager Pack – contains a letter with an access code. This gives the manager access to an online form, which asks questions about the establishment they manage. It also asks for a count of usual residents and of visitors who are staying overnight on Sunday 21 March 2021.
- Resident Pack – contains individual paper forms for each resident, a pre-paid envelope to return the form and information about privacy
What the manager needs to do
- Complete the communal establishment manager’s form.
- Distribute a resident pack to each resident.
- Try to make sure individual forms are completed on behalf of any resident who can’t do it for themselves. A member of staff, a family member or a friend can help.
For care staff who may be asked to help people complete the census, there is guidance on Getting started: Completing the census for someone else. This includes a section on helping someone who lacks the capacity to answer for themselves.
There is information on accessibility on the Census website at: Languages and accessibility.
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