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Following the success of last year’s Local Investment Programme, NHS Digital and the Local Government Association have announced new funding for digital pilots that benefit people who access adult social care and improve services.

A share of the £1m funding, provided by NHS Digital and managed by the LGA, with support from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Care (ADASS), will be awarded to local authorities that put forward projects that support innovative uses of digital technology in the design and delivery of adult social care.

Twelve authorities will receive £20,000 to design a digital solution to address a specific issue with their service, with six receiving up to a further £80,000 to support its implementation.

This year, local authority bids should focus on one of the following three themes:

• Efficiency and strengths-based approaches
• Managing marketing and commission
• Sustainable and integrated social care and health systems

James Palmer, Programme Lead for the Social Care Programme at NHS Digital said: “Last year’s projects delivered inventive, forward thinking and creative solutions to local challenges in social care. They have led to successful outcomes for both services and the people who use them. 

“This year, the funding will help to identify and address some key pinch points within local authority services, especially those around the integration of health and social care systems.  We are looking forward to seeing the innovative solutions that councils come up with in response to our latest round of funding.”

Mayor Kate Allsop, Deputy Chair of the LGA’s Community and Wellbeing Board said: “We are committed to enhancing the role that information and technology can play in the commissioning and delivery of health and social care services. As part of this agenda we are pleased to run another funding round in collaboration with NHS Digital, to stimulate digital solutions to social care challenges at a local level.”

Glen Garrod, President of ADASS said: “This funding supports one of the key opportunities for this year – enabling people to make informed decisions about what they need. Local councils and partners can find their own solutions via this funding and we hope to see some of the great ideas that emerge being adopted across the country.”

Now called the Social Care Digital Innovation Programme (SCDIP), this encourages the adult social care sector to use technology to respond to challenges in their local area. It is intended to support direct practice, improve information sharing and enable integration. 

Previous projects have included home video-conferencing in Essex, voice-activated home support in Hampshire and electronic referrals for home care packages in Sefton and Knowsley.

Apply here

For more information and to apply, click here.

Closing date: 4pm, 1 June 2018

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Notes to editors

1. NHS Digital is the national information and technology partner of the health and care system.  Our team of information analysis, technology and project management experts create, deliver and manage the crucial digital systems, services, products and standards upon which health and care professionals depend.  Our vision is to harness the power of information and technology to make health and care better.
2. The Local Government Association is a politically-led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government. The LGA supports local areas in sharing and using digital and assistive technology to transform social care and support integration of health and social care.
3. Deadline for expressions of interest: 4pm, 1 June 2018.
4. Extra information on this year’s bid themes:
   1. Efficiency and strengths-based approaches: using digital channels to engage citizens and people accessing services in the design, development and delivery of health and social care processes.
   2. Managing markets and commissioning: using technology to support care providers with their digital maturity and improving the quality and range of care and support provisions.
   3. Sustainable and integrated social care and health systems: developing approaches to cross-sector working and ways of improving patient flow in and out of hospital.
5. For media enquiries please contact media@nhsdigital.nhs.net or telephone 0300 30 33 888.