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Digital transformation of adult social care could help reduce hospital admissions, according to new guidance from the government.
The What Good Looks Like Framework and Digital Skills Framework aims to better equip social care staff with the skills required to benefit from new technologies to enhance patient care.
The government wants to ensure innovative technology is being put to the best possible use to enhance care. It uses as an example a system that allows a care professional to access a resident’s information from GP records through a digital social care record in order to support their care from hospital to home.
Staff will be given training on how to use new technology such as virtual care centres. This is where people drawing on care can access a care worker virtually for help and reassurance around the clock. This will give those needing care more autonomy and independence in their own homes by eliminating the need for reoccurring or overnight checks.
The guidance says that in some cases, care settings may choose to use the new structure to support staff in implementing new artificial intelligence (AI) monitoring technology which helps to reduce falls by tracking the movements of those receiving care.
What is the Digital Skills Framework?
The Digital Skills Framework is a free resource to help support the development of digital skills across the adult social care workforce. It defines seven key areas of effective digital working and can be used by social care employers to help with planning staff training, or by individuals for their personal development.
This includes using and managing data, how to use technology for person-centred care and supporting a culture of good practice in using technology for personalised care.
The framework is organised in two levels: digital skills for all staff, and digital skills for those who want to ‘go further’ (this level is relevant for people working in, or looking to progress into supervisory, management or leadership roles, digital champions, business support, administration roles or similar).
What is the What Good Looks Like Framework?
What Good Looks Like, gives organisations and local authorities a standard to meet when seeking opportunities to modernise and improve the quality of care in their area through technology interventions such as the Digital Care Record.
The guidance builds on the NHS England What Good Looks Like framework which provides clear guidance across seven success measures for health and care leaders to digitise, connect and transform services safely and securely.
It provides a series of common goals to work towards that will help achieve the vision set out in People at the Heart of Care. It is designed to be used by local authorities and care providers of all sizes and types of service, including both Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered and non-registered providers.
Professor Vic Rayner OBE, Chief Executive of National Care Forum said: “The delivery of great quality, safe and person-centred care is the number one priority for all care providers. Digital approaches to the delivery of care should complement this work of care professionals and many innovative providers are already leading the way in driving this digital transformation, supported by teams who are digitally skilled and confident.
“The publication of both the Digital Skills Framework as well as the What Good Looks Like guidance will be essential resources in the journey towards ensuring all providers and people who receive care and support services can benefit from a digitised adult social care sector.”