WIREDGOV

Twelve councils have been chosen by NHS Digital and the Local Government Association to explore how technology could help shape the future of social care.

Scoping proposals range from how biometric technology might be used to assist people with learning disabilities and autism in the Wirral to how skills passports might help the social care workforce streamline employment checks and statutory training between providers in the London Borough of Havering.²

The programme, commissioned by NHS Digital and managed by the Local Government Association, is for digital pilots by councils that will benefit people who access social care and improve services.

Twelve councils have been awarded £20,000 each in the first ‘discovery’ phase of funding, to investigate local challenges that could be addressed using digital technology. Six will then be chosen to receive further funding of up to £80,000 to design and implement their solution.

In total, 80 local authorities applied for the funding, out of a total of 133 councils that were eligible.³ The successful councils are:

• Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
• Bracknell Forest Council
• South Tyneside Council
• Lincolnshire County Council
• Nottingham City Council
• London Borough of Havering
• London Borough of Haringey
• Shropshire Council
• Cambridgeshire County Council
• Isle of Wight Council
• Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
• Sunderland City Council

James Palmer, Programme Lead for the Social Care Programme at NHS Digital, said: “The successful projects span a wide range of areas, from assistive technologies to predictive analytics. This funding will give the local authorities a chance to identify and investigate a local problem before testing out a potential solution. They will be sharing their experiences from the pilot projects, adding to our collective knowledge of how digital can effectively be used to support the delivery of adult social care.

There are some really exciting proposals this year and I am looking forward to seeing the outcomes.”

Elected Mayor Kate Allsop, Digital Lead on the LGA’s Community and Wellbeing Board, said: “The councils selected have chosen some important areas to address ranging from exploring new methods of linking residents with community resources to addressing social care provider workforce shortages. In the next three months they will be engaging with users to explore whether there are digital solutions to improve the lives and experiences of people needing social care. Projects will be designed around the needs of service users and complement the work of health and social care professionals. We will ensure that learning is shared across the sector”

For more information visit www.local.gov.uk/scdip.

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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. A full list of projects is available on www.local.gov.uk/scdip from 2pm on 21 June and available on request.
3. There are 152 local authorities in England with social care responsibility but 19 local authorities funded via the Local Investment Programme last year were not eligible to apply this year. More information on the Local Investment Programme can also be found at www.local.gov.uk/scdip .
4. Extra information on this year’s bid themes:
   • 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.
   • 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.
   • 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.