How digital transformation fits into the new 10-year adult social care vision

On 1st of December 2021, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) released their white paper laying out their 10-year vision for reforming the care sector. The vision covers a broad scope of topics, but two main themes are made clear in the early stages: ‘People’ are at the heart of social care and ‘person-centred care’ is vital to delivering the best possible service.

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How digital transformation fits into the new 10-year adult social care vision

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On 1st of December 2021, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) released their white paper laying out their 10-year vision for reforming the care sector. The vision covers a broad scope of topics, but two main themes are made clear in the early stages: ‘People’ are at the heart of social care and ‘person-centred care’ is vital to delivering the best possible service.

As a result, most of the plans announced out by the government revolve around investing in support for carers and residents, and solutions for how more people can have fair access to the tools they need to deliver outstanding care.

The news that generated the biggest buzz in the media involved capping the amount of money which everyone in England will have to pay for their personal care costs at £86,000. In addition, there’s also going to be £1 billion spent over the next three years with the intent to improve the lives of carers, residents and their families. The funding will go towards:

  • “The range and amount of new supported housing to be increased through £300 million in housing investment.”
  • “New technology and digitisation backed by at least £150 million to improve care quality and safety, support independent living and allow staff to provide focused care where it is needed.”
  • “The 1.5 million strong adult social care workforce will see a record £500 million invested so they have the opportunity to progress in their careers with training and qualifications while providing an even better standard of care. This will help recognise their valued skills and prioritise their wellbeing with greater support for their mental health.”

Importance of technology in social care

‘People’, ‘person-centred care’ and ‘technology’ go hand-in-hand, so naturally there’s a large focus on the role technology plays in social care throughout the 10-year vision. The DHSC highlights several times that practicing personalised care can provide a greater level of independence, improve outcomes, enhance quality of life, and enable more control and responsibility. To back this up, the white paper contains statistic-based evidence and real life examples to show how technology supports improved care. However, it’s clear more action needs to be taken to help care providers receive the benefits that come from digital transformation.

Many goals are set out in the vision, but the main mission in relation to technology is to increase confidence levels in adult social care workers for using technology effectively to support people’s needs, while freeing up time to deliver outstanding care. But in the current system there are several challenges that first need addressing.

There must be consistency in quality and fair access to data – nationally, regionally and locally – to help identify best practice and areas of improvement, and so all professionals have the correct digitised information to safely provide outstanding care. It wouldn’t be fair if only some care providers had complete access to these proposed data systems and others weren’t able to learn this new way of working. For this to become a reality and to grow confidence equally across the sector, technology needs to be fully utilised and this is what the 10-year vision sets out to accomplish.

Increasing levels of digital transformation

The benefits of digital transformation have become well-acknowledged by care sector authorities. Two key quotes from the white paper include, “when technology is embedded seamlessly into care and support services, it can be transformative, helping people to live happy, fulfilled lives in their homes and communities.” And secondly, making good use of digital tools can “help identify risk, prevent incidents from occurring and ensure quick and appropriate responses to avoidable events such as falls, urinary tract infections, medication errors and bedsores.”

Technology has supported many care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic by keeping people connected and enabling remote monitoring, and for the majority, it’s here to stay. In a recent survey, 90% of care providers said they will continue to use technology as they have during the pandemic. However, recent research by Age UK has highlighted that many people, still either don’t use the internet, can’t access the internet or don’t feel confident using it. This is a huge obstacle, which can be tackled by accelerating and supporting the adoption of technology across social care. Some of the methods noted in the white paper to help fix this issue include:

Promoting the potential of technology to support people’s lives and aspirations

“We will publish a social care technology blueprint, as well as developing advice on ‘what good looks like’ for social care technology, to help everyone involved in the provision of care understand what they should be aiming for.”

The DHSC are planning to create and deliver an ambitious digital transformation programme by working closely with key partners and a range of experienced individuals. By making it clear what the key benefits of utilising technology are (enhancing quality of care, freeing up time and creating stronger connections), as well as setting out guidelines for ‘good’ performance, more care businesses might adopt digital systems.

Supporting adult social care providers and staff

“Technologies can complement and enhance the quality of care delivered by the workforce, while digitisation of care records will ensure care staff and multidisciplinary teams have the information they need to provide holistic, person-centred care in any setting.”

The DHSC will take several steps to support adult social care providers and staff to fully understand the benefits of digital transformation and how it can drive success across the business. This includes increasing staff confidence for using technology safely and securely, and to have access to all the required information to deliver high-quality care.

Funding next-generation technology

“There is a significant opportunity for UK-based innovators to develop the next generation of care technologies to meet the demands of global demographic trends and ageing populations…”

Technology suppliers will need to work towards ensuring their products are user-friendly, accessible for everyone, and for all levels of experience. New innovative technologies will need to be developed to ensure consistent information becomes transferrable between different systems. At least £150 million of new funding will be invested.

 Investment in digital social care records

“By March 2024, we will ensure that at least 80% of social care providers have a digitised care record in place that can connect to a shared care record…”

Only 40% of social care providers are currently fully digitised, with the rest using traditional paper record systems. Without support, it’s projected there would only be a 12% increase in three years, compared with the target of an additional 40%. With the aim of increasing the digitisation of social care, there’s better opportunity for equal partnerships with the NHS to make records available.

Enhancing infrastructure and cyber security

“We will… deliver fibre broadband upgrades to those care homes still dependent on poor connections… In addition, we will work in partnership with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the telecommunications industry to ensure home care providers have the infrastructure they need to work digitally. “

With Internet access a huge factor in digital transformation the DHSC will aim to deliver fibre broadband upgrades to all care homes still dependent on poor connections. Work has already started and all analogue phone lines across the country will be switched to digital connections by 2025 in an effort to speed up connections.

Increasing digital skills

“Targeted digital leadership support for decision-makers who can drive cultural change at a senior level.”

A workforce that’s skilled and confident in the use of technology is necessary to achieve the goal of 40% increase in care providers who are fully digitised in the next three years. The DHSC is putting together a “comprehensive digital learning offer” to help train and build transferrable skills to assist with the use of technology in care settings.

Care Recording - Importance of Record Keeping

CareDocs & digital transformation

At CareDocs we’re committed to creating a user-friendly and accessible digital care experience for everyone. Our priority is supporting care providers with person-centred care but there are many other benefits to take advantage of. With exciting projects in development, it’s a great time to digitally transform your care business.

Our dedicated Business Development Managers are here to walk you through the set-up process and ensure you feel confident using our care management software effectively for your business and unique challenges. We also provide free technical support and on-going training to help you stay in full control of your care records.

To learn more about CareDocs, please book a free demo with one of our friendly Business Development Managers, email sales@caredocs.co.uk or call 0330 056 3333 (opt. 2).
If you require assistance with the CareDocs software, we’re standing by to provide support. Email support@caredocs.co.uk or call us on 0330 056 3333 (opt. 1).

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Originally published on December 9, 2021
Article updated on June 1, 2023

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