techUK responds to the Department for Education's call for evidence on AI and Digital Technology in Children's Social Care

techUK has submitted its response to the Department for Education's Call for Evidence on the use of AI and digital technology in children's social care.

Drawing on the expertise of our members across the digital economy, including providers of case management systems, AI tools, and data platforms used by local authorities and frontline services, the response sets out a practical view of where AI can add value, what is holding back adoption, and what central government can do to enable safe, effective deployment.

A central message of the response is that AI in children's social care is still in its early, exploratory phase, with most current applications focused on low-risk, supportive tasks such as case-record summarisation, meeting transcription, and natural-language access to existing data. Crucially, the core technologies needed to support children's services are, in most cases, already available. The barriers to wider adoption are not primarily technological, they are structural, cultural, and regulatory. The priority for government should therefore be to create the commissioning capability and governance clarity needed to deploy these technologies safely and at scale.

The response covers the current landscape of AI use, including the important distinction between AI embedded within case management systems and standalone tools added on top; the data and interoperability challenges that limit a holistic view of children and families; the risks and ethical considerations that must shape adoption, including the active management of bias; the procurement and capability barriers that slow implementation; and the need for proportionate, outcome-focused evaluation.

techUK's recommendations to central government include providing clear, practical guidance on data sharing and acceptable AI use; prioritising federated data approaches over large centralised programmes; supporting secure, enterprise-grade AI environments; shifting procurement towards outcome-based models; investing in commissioning capability within local authorities; and funding regional demonstrators and practice-led innovation programmes that build the evidence base for what works.

The full response is available to download here.

Lewis Stewart

Programme Manager ‑ Health and Social Care, techUK

Lewis brings a multidisciplinary background spanning health policy, stakeholder engagement, digital innovation, and elite sport. A former Commonwealth Games champion, he draws on the resilience, adaptability, and team-driven mindset gained through years of high-performance competition.

Before joining techUK, Lewis supported a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons, where he led on constituency engagement and produced evidence-based research to inform debates, committee work, and policy advocacy. He has also helped shape youth wellbeing policy through the Youth Sport Trust, collaborating with government, education, and grassroots networks to drive impact.

Lewis has played key roles in health tech and mobility startups, helping to bring innovative solutions to market and improve user experience in complex systems. With a degree in Biochemistry and Pharmacology, he combines analytical thinking with a passion for evidence-led, people-centred change.

Email:: [email protected]

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Health and Social Care Programme activities

techUK is helping its members navigate the complex space of digital health in the UK to ensure our NHS and social care sector is prepared for the challenges of the future. We help validate new ideas and build impactful strategies, ultimately ensuring that members are market-ready. Visit the programme page here.