Digitising Adult Social Care Record

Background

The Department of Health and Social Care published the white paper People at the Heart of Care in December 2021. This outlines the 10 year vision for the reform of the Adult Social Care sector. The Government has committed to invest at least £150m in digitising the social care sector.

Programme Objectives

• 80% of adult social care CQC registered providers will have adopted a digital social care record (digital care planning system) by March 2024
• By March 2024 sensor-based falls prevention and detection technologies, such as acoustic monitoring, will be in use in care homes for the residents that have been identified as most at risk of falls, reaching at least 20% of residents
• Testing other types of care tech, driven by the benefits case and local need

What is a Digital Social Care Record (DSCR)?

A DSCR allows the digital recording of care information and care received by an individual, within a social care setting. It provides an electronic care planning system, and replaces traditional paper records. DSCRs are:

• person-centred
• enable information to be shared securely
• are available in real-time
• available to authorised individuals across the health and care sector.

A DSCR has the potential to save an average of 20 minutes per care worker per shift!

Why move to a Digital Record?

Care service managers who already have digital care records tell us that staff spend less time having to find out information and update records. They also state that records are more accurate as staff don’t have to remember to update records later as they are updated in real time. They have less storage issues and care is improved as systems can flag when a task is overdue, or if a patient is deteriorating. Systems can tell staff what task is needed that day, so workload is planned. Organisations are seeing improved data management, advanced data protection, and have the ability to run audit trails.

What is the DSCR Initiative and the Funding Opportunity?

The DSCR initiative is being managed by NHS England. The aim is to support those care providers who are still using paper records, to move to approved digital solutions. This has several benefits locally as well as bigger benefits through the ultimate use of a Shared Care Record. This allows everyone involved in a person's care to see appropriate information to help with that care. To support this to happen, and ensure we benefit as soon as possible, some funding has been released to support care providers to make the switch. 

The funding grant should be used to support the implementation of a procured digital social care record from the assured suppliers list and for sensor based falls prevention and/or detection technology (care homes only). There is no provision to carry the funding forward to future years and it should not be used to pay for ongoing licence fees or any other purposes. If you wish to know more about the funding opportunity then please email contractsadults@cornwall.gov.uk.

CAHSC

CAHSC's mission is to work towards a resilient and caring community in the adult social care sector. CAHSC provide quality training, funding opportunities and advice to support providers. This is to enhance the quality of care delivered to all users of adult social care services. 

An important part of our work is supporting providers on their digital transformation. This includes helping them complete the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT). Getting the DSPT sorted shows you’re following good practice – and meeting legal and regulatory requirements for data use. 

Need help? We offer a range of support, from workshops to 1:1 sessions. For more information please visit the CAHSC website.  

Digital Social Care Records Provider Event

On 3 May 2023 Cornwall Council held a provider engagement event that gave Adult Social Care Providers an opportunity to hear about:

• how the digitising social care programme is being implemented across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
• how to access the funding
• hearing from the solution suppliers directly about their product and capabilities

Please use the links below to view the videos and view or download the DCSR toolkit and appendices. The useful resources link includes links to the DCSR website.