Peter Skinner, programme director for digitising social care at the NHS England Transformation Directorate, explains the benefits of digital care planning

When technology is embedded seamlessly into care and support services, it can be transformative – helping people to live happy, fulfilled lives in their homes and communities.

As part of the plans for reform set out in the 2021 government White Paper, People at the Heart of Care, the digitising social care programme is supporting widespread digitisation across the sector to improve the quality, safety and personalisation of care and support services.

A priority focus for us is to support the adoption of Digital Social Care Record solutions (DSCR) within adult social care.

What exactly is a DSCR?
A DSCR solution (which you also may know as an electronic care plan) allows the digital recording of care information and care received by an individual, within a social care setting, replacing traditional paper records. DSCRs allow information to be shared securely and in real-time with authorised individuals across the health and care sector.

DSCRs have the potential to transform the way in which care is provided. Moving care plans from paper to an electronic format makes it easier for care workers and managers to get the information they need to deliver care, respond more quickly to people’s needs, minimise risks to people’s safety, and reduce time wasted on administration and reporting. And looking to the future they will provide the platform for other remote care tools to integrate, supporting more personalised care and ensuring you get a more complete picture of someone’s care needs. Already 1,000 providers can access relevant information from GP records through their DSCRs and that’s just the beginning.

The critical role DSCRs can play has also been recognised by the Care Quality Commission. In May it published guidance about DSCRs and their importance in achieving good outcomes for people who use services.

The guidance states that “digital records will increasingly replace paper records, meaning digital systems will be vital to capture and share information.

This is essential for truly integrated services that work for people”. It also summarises what good digital social care records look like, signposting readers to our list of assured solution providers, which have been tested to ensure they meet the needs of care providers.

The CQC’s guidance highlights the benefits of the digital approach to care planning and how it supports providers to:
• Capture information more easily at the point of care
• Support staff to respond more quickly to people’s needs
• Share important information quickly, safely and securely between care settings
• Minimise risks to people’s safety.

Over the past year we’ve made significant progress working with the sector to help providers to adopt DSCRs, in line with government commitments, but we know that there are many providers who still need to make that leap. If you are one of them, we’re here to help. From a list of assured solutions, funding and skills support, we can support you to move away from paper-based record-keeping and to see how a digital approach can support you in achieving good outcomes for people using adult social care services.

Have a look at digitalsocialcare.co.uk to find out more or you can email the digitising social care team at england. [email protected]