Laing Buisson Innovation in Care Conference 2023 – Futureproofing Social Care: where are we now and where are we going?

Innovation in social care is a rapidly growing area, especially when considering Digital applications, with new technologies emerging all the time. These innovations have the potential to significantly improve the quality and efficiency of social care, helping to meet the growing demand for services and support vulnerable people. Attending the Laing Buisson ICC2023 provided an overview of some of the key digital innovations in social care, along with their potential benefits and challenges. The event also discussed the current state of digital innovation in social care and outlines some recommendations for future developments in this area.

Social Care is facing significant challenges, including rising demand, increasing complexity, and limited resources. Digital innovation has the potential to help address these challenges by providing new tools and solutions that can improve the quality and efficiency of social care.

Key Topics at ICC2023 FOR Digital Innovations in Social Care:

Several key digital innovations are transforming social care, including:

1. Remote Monitoring, Wearables and Smart Technologies: Capturing live and accurate data on someone’s well-being to support them in the comfort of their own home. Digital advancement in this area has allowed for better digitally-enabled care for independence and peace of mind.

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• Assistive Technologies: These include a wide range of devices and applications designed to support people with disabilities or older adults to live independently and improve their quality of life.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI has the potential to revolutionize social care by enabling more accurate predictions, personalised care plans, and automating administrative tasks.

ChatGPT was highlighted and could potentially revolutionise the social care sector.

• Sustainability and Green Practices – How social care through the built environment can lead to best practices for the planet and the future
• A social care model that likens healthcare to social care closely. Are we about to see a rapid change in how home care is operated through a self-managed model? Furthermore, how technology has become a core element of this new self-managed social care model.

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Benefits and Challenges:

Digital innovation in social care has the potential to provide significant benefits, including:

1. Improved Quality of Care: Digital innovations can help to ensure that patients receive timely and accurate diagnoses and treatments, improving outcomes and quality of life.
2. Increased Efficiency: Digital technologies can help to reduce the burden on healthcare providers and streamline administrative tasks, allowing more time to focus on patient care.
3. Cost Savings: By reducing the need for in-person visits and improving efficiency, digital innovations can help reduce social care costs.

However, there are also several challenges associated with digital innovation in social care, including:

1. Data Security and Privacy: There are concerns around the security and privacy of patient data, particularly in light of recent high-profile data breaches.
2. Ethical Considerations: There are also ethical considerations around the use of AI and other digital technologies, particularly about issues such as consent, bias, and accountability.
3. Who/How will technologies be commissioned and regulated with the interests of those receiving care to benefit?
4. Where is the future of investment in social care technology coming from? And what can social care do to drive positive change within the sector…

NCF has developed a Digital Leadership Programme – Aimed at combating fears surrounding digital adoption and implementation. Please see our Digital Leadership Page here for more information on the programme and how to get involved.

Current State of Digital Innovation in Social Care:

The adoption of digital innovations in social care varies significantly across different regions. Where the funding is being established and how social care can access this is of main priority and hopefully, some insight from local ICSs will be developed to be part of this integral process, as well as the regulator. In general, the adoption of digital innovations is also more advanced in healthcare settings than in social care. We see the need for change in a sector that currently has no clearly defined pathway to success.

Recommendations for Future Developments:

To fully realize the potential benefits of digital innovation in social care, there are several key recommendations:

1. Increase Investment: Governments and other stakeholders should invest in digital health and social care infrastructure, including the development of new technologies and applications.
2. Social care needs to collaborate, peer share and gain a positive understanding of where we can build on digital innovations to better best practices and solve key problems underlying within the sector such as the workforce.
3. Digital technologies need to be integrated, working alongside one another to provide a solution to solve multiple areas of social care.

To know more about how you can get involved in Digital Innovation at the NCF please contact our Digital Transformation Officer Kate Gore via email kate.gore@nationalcareforum.org.uk