Using digital resources to support leadership in social care

Becoming a digital social care organisation for managers and leaders includes practical advice from care providers who’ve introduced digital technology into their organisation covering the first steps in thinking digital, how to scope and get people on board, planning for the change, searching for a supplier and solution and implementing the digital system.

How we run our lives and businesses has fundamentally changed due to the growing impact of digital technology. From our homes, to our phones, to our work, to our leisure, all elements of our lives have changed. Social care is changing too, embracing what new technologies can offer. Therefore, to make the best of these opportunities, employees at all levels within social care need to have core digital skills and have the confidence and competencies to use them.

This free elearning course is for all staff working in adult social care services in England.

Care providers can use this course to improve and assess their staff’s knowledge of data protection and cyber security – including their individual responsibility to keep information safe. The course meets the training requirements within the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT).

This is the only free elearning resource on this topic specifically designed for social care staff. The scenarios reflect situations that staff face within adult social care settings – including care homes, supported living, home care and community services. It covers all client groups, and all staff with access to personal data.

https://www.digitalcarehub.co.uk/elearning/?mc_cid=23202bcb0d

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/digital-change-health-social-care

The Digital Leadership programme is available from Skills for Care and delivered in partnership with the National Care Forum.

The guidance covers best practice around digital record systems, highlighting the efficiency they afford when compared to the paper-based methods they replace.

Digital and AI technologies

A new online advice service to help the NHS and care system adopt and make use of new digital and AI technologies launched this month.

The AI and Digital Regulations service provides guidance and offers:

• a website providing centralised, curated and up-to-date regulatory content around AI and data-driven technologies
• access to specialist support for developers and adopters of AI and data-driven technologies

The service is a multi-agency collaboration between Care Quality Commission (CQC), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Health Research Authority and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

Funding opportunities

The 2023/24 digital social care record funding process is currently underway. This funding is designed to support Care Quality Commission-registered (CQC) adult social care providers to adopt a digital social care record in their care settings.

The grant amount is £70.00 per bed for care homes with 25 or more beds, or £1650.00 for all other providers registered with CQC, procuring a digital social care record system from the assured solutions list between April 2023 and March 2024.

To register your interest, you can contact:

Sarah McNally: [email protected]

Claire Badzek: [email protected]

Skills for Care believes that developing digital leadership and growing the wider sector’s skills are inter-dependent. Growing and developing confident and skilled digital leaders will ensure the digital development of those they manage.

Throughout November and December, Skiils for Care are shining a spotlight on increasing #DigitalConfidence in adult social care, so that you can make the most of digital technology in your organisation.

We know that digital can sound daunting, but it doesn’t need to be

https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/news-and-events/Spotlight-on/Improving-digital-confidence.aspx?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Enews&utm_content=LandingPage&utm_campaign=DigitalConfidence#msdynttrid=AElu_n5UaFDvkLUv3Tb4Om1I0nHqbD6ms3kEwW21eJ8

Short snippets of learning ranging from videos, podcasts, blogs, links to Ted Talks and much more…

Inspiration Library – Leadership Academy

The Leading through digital change programme offers a unique opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge needed to confidently adopt digital technology. This four-week practical course is designed for adult social care managers who want to lead digital transformation in their organisations but don’t quite know where to start or how to overcome the unique challenges in the sector. Designed and delivered in partnership by Skills for Care and National Care Forum, this programme is created to equip you with the knowledge and ability to identify and implement digital solutions that align with the needs of your organisation and the individuals who draw on your care and support.

Lead and implement effective organisational development in a digital world. The workplace is changing. With increasing digitalisation, it is essential that you and your organisation are equipped with the right tools, skills and understanding to effectively manage and lead organisational development. Starting with an introduction to organisational development and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), you’ll learn how to design a people centred strategy for change as well as implementing professional strategies to address the challenges of developing organisations and teams in changing environments.

Sussex Digital In Reach Team provides a free platform on which Care Providers across Sussex can access free advice and support on technology, digitalisation and data protection. We are run by the care providers for the care providers.

Good quality records underpin safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care. They communicate the right information clearly, to the right people, when they need it. They are an essential part of achieving good outcomes for people.

This guide clarifies what good digital records look like and how providers can achieve this. It also covers the commitments CQC makes to support providers’ use of digital record systems and what we will look at on inspection.