Digitalisation moves closer

The Digitising Social Care programme involves a joint team of NHS England and DHSC staff supporting the digital transformation of the adult social care sector in order to improve the quality and safety of care.

The programme aims to ensure that 80% of Care Quality Commission registered providers adopt digital social care record solutions by March next year.

By December approximately 50% of registered care providers had moved away from paper-based record management and instead implemented a digital social care record software (DSCR) solution. As we enter the new year there’s no doubt that we’re going to see a further increase in the numbers of providers following suit.

The uptake in DSCRs makes 2023 the first year that most providers will be working digitally. This digital shift will help staff provide outstanding, personalised care by having the most upto-date information at their fingertips. But it will also open up opportunities for care staff to develop new skills and create new professional development opportunities.

These roles will blend both technical and professional/carer skillsets to create a new category of workers – staff who both understand technology but who also have the caring expertise and skillset to understand how technology can, and should, be applied to their work in order to deliver better care. Having these roles and skillsets in place will be critical to ensuring investment in technology and digital innovation results in better services and support for the people we care for.

DSCRs are undoubtedly the foundations of digitalisation in the adult social care sector. They allow staff to access relevant information quickly and efficiently across both health and social care to support the delivery of better and more personalised care to an individual.

An exciting first step towards improved access to health information in the adult social care sector is the opportunity for CQC registered providers to view information via GP Connect. This approach allows providers (who meet the relevant criteria, including having a DSCR in place provided by an NHS assured supplier) to see a restricted view of an individual’s GP record. More than 800 providers are already using GP Connect in this way and we predict that with a greater uptake in DSCRs this year we will see more providers coming on board.

Traditionally the move towards greater digitalisation of the sector has been very much driven by the early adopters of tech, those who have always been at the forefront of digital engagement.

This year we hope to see more providers who may have previously been less involved in making investments in this area begin to take their first steps on the digital journey. And, despite the significant pressures within the care and health system, this growing momentum towards digitalisation will lead to more innovative ideas and proposals on how tech can improve people’s lives and improve the quality of care that we deliver during 2023 and beyond.

It may sound daunting, knowing where to begin, but there’s lots of support available. A good starting point is the Digital Social Care website (digitalsocialcare.co.uk) which has information on everything from how to select a DSCR supplier and access funding support to info on the training that’s available to support your staff.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter for regular updates on our work on digitalising social care – just drop us an email at: england.adultsocialcare@nhs.net