Skills for Care Digital confidence campaign

Here's why

• We know that digital can sound daunting, but it doesn’t need to be.
• You and your team may already be using more digital solutions at work than you even realise – for example tablets and digital assistants such as Alexa.
• In our latest campaign, we want to take the fear out of the word “digital” and help everyone to gain a better understanding of what being more digital in social care can look like.
• Digital technology can play an important role in supporting better outcomes for people who draw on care and support and in improving work processes, but only 54% of the sector are using digital ways of working.
• By 2025, the aim is for there to be established digital, data and technology talent pipelines, and improved digital literacy among leaders and the workforce, plus all health and social care settings having the right infrastructure and connectivity to work digitally.
• Support is available to grow skills and confidence with digital technology, including Skills for Care resources and projects from other partners we’re working closely with.
• With our campaign you can find out more about the learning and development opportunities that build digital skills and confidence and increase your understanding of how digital solutions can improve the quality of social care.

Resources: to develop digital confidence

Digital Skills Framework

This free resource helps to support the development of digital skills across the adult social care workforce.​ It can be used by employers to help with planning staff training or by individuals for their personal development. ​

The framework supports the government commitment in Next Steps to Put People at the Heart of Care to provide a ‘comprehensive digital learning offer’ for the adult social care sector.

Find out more about the framework

Digital Leadership Programme

This four-day virtual programme for registered managers and deputy managers of adult social care services is designed to build digital confidence and ability. It will help develop managers into digital leaders and will equip them with the insight to identify and embed digital technology in the delivery of care and support.

Find out more about the programme

Workforce Development Fund

The Workforce Development Fund can be used to fund a variety of digital learning and development modules. Covering a variety of topics and subject areas, our range of modules offer flexibility, easy access and the opportunity to upskill your workforce whilst improving digital confidence.

Find out more about the fund

Digitising Social Care

The new CARE-branded digitising social care website has now launched. Here you’ll find everything you need to get started with your digitisation journey, along with resources and articles to help build digital confidence.

Visit the website

Barclays Digital Eagles

Skills for Care is working in partnership with Barclays to provide digital support, virtual learning sessions and eLearning to the adult social care sector. This offer is favailable to the adult social care sector at no cost.

Learn more about Barclays Digital Eagles

Webinars: to develop digital confidence

Watch the following webinars covering digital leadership and using technology within your organisation

I’m a technophobe, get me out of here – taking the fear out of digital for social care managers

This webinar provided registered managers with support and practical information that can help get them started on their digital journey. Our aim is to help everyone embrace technology and plan their digital journey, one step at a time. We were joined by a panel of registered managers who discussed their experiences and shared their top tips.

Watch here

How can technology support the delivery of care?

In partnership with NHS-Transformation Directorate, this webinar explores the different types of technology currently being utilised in adult social care including digital care records and care planning tools, e-rostering and other technologies that support the provision of quality care. Hear from a panel of employers and representatives from the sector talking about their experiences, reflecting on their journey in implementing the technology and how they made the case for digital in their organisations, and providing advice, guidance, and top tips.

Watch here

Using technology to support the people you care for

For many vulnerable people we care for, the pandemic will mean a dramatic reduction in activities and family contact. Staff may also have less free time to spend with the people you support as things change. We need to minimise the impact for those you care for and their families. In this webinar, we will explore how technology can offer some help to connect people and to bring ‘outside experiences’ in.

Watch here

Using technology to support your staff and each other

Exploring how technology can be used to help with common problems such as sorting rotas, communications, information sharing, peer networking and emotional support. We set out examples and links to practical examples of where these types of tech solutions are already being used, as well as highlighting where free or low-cost tech is currently available.