A group of care oganisations have launched a new website to support social care providers with technology and data protection issues.
Named Digital Social Care, it has been set up in a partnership between the Care Provider Alliance, Skills for Care and NHS Digital with funding to sustain it until at least March 2021.
The site has been formally launched after the team behind it completed the beta phase of development.
The move responds to a growing consensus, highlighted at the recent UKAuthority Digital Health and Social Care conference, that independent care providers have been in need of support in their digital efforts to improve information sharing in the sector.
The project involves support for the take-up of existing national IT solutions such as the Data Security and Protection Toolkit and NHSmail, and will be extended to develop a set of core requirements to support social care providers in choosing IT suppliers.
It will also involve the development of a self-assessment tool for levels of digital maturity.
Vital information
Ian Turner, chair of the Registered Nursing Home Association, representing the Care Provider Alliance, said: “We are really excited to be working with NHS Digital on this project. We know just how critical it is that social care providers across the country are able to maximise digital and this project and website will provide them with vital information and advice to make that happen.
“What’s also really positive is the fact that all of the work will be done in collaboration with the social care sector, enabling the sector to drive the agenda.”
Currently the website has sections on the benefits of digital care, protecting information, sharing care records via email, choosing software equipment and latest guidance.
