Innovating for independence: a win-win for health and social care

This policy briefing by the think tank Reform calls for quick action to scale up technology within social care. It points out that too much of the technology in social care is not being scaled and is stuck in small scale pilots that are not having the system-wide impact they could achieve.

Drawing on the insights of sector experts, it highlights a number of barriers to adoption and a range of ‘quicks wins’ relating to raising awareness and codesigning tech solutions, collating the evidence/best practice to improve procurement, and building capacity and tech capability amongst commissioners, funders and care givers in order to improve at home care and support. The briefing recommends:

• An umbrella organisation should hold a repository of evidence on technologies in adult social care and distribute bi-yearly summaries to local authorities and integrated care boards.
• Guidance on the role and use of data in technologies should be co-produced by practitioners, commissioners, the technology industry, charities and academic organisations.
• Central government should establish a more substantial grant fund for the adoption of technology, building on the Accelerating Reform Fund (opens new window).  
• A simplified procurement process for new technologies should accompany the new fund.  
• Local authorities and NHS trusts should collaborate in the procurement process through the use of joint bids, ensuring both the costs and benefits are shared.
• Local authorities should support their workforce to improve their digital skills and enhance their capabilities, allocating appropriate time to training.
• Leaders and senior employees should demonstrate enthusiasm and desire to use technological innovations and enhance their own and their workforce’s digital skills capabilities.