techUK welcome Government announcement on funding boost for adult social care workforce
26 Oct 2021
techUK welcome Government announcement on funding boost for adult social care workforce
On October 21 the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced £162.5 million to help improve workforce retention and recruitment in adult social care services.
Funding will be used to strengthen local recruitment initiatives and better support the existing workforce and will be available until March 2022.
Minister for Care Gillian Keegan has said, “This funding will help care providers recruit and retain staff, supporting both those already making a difference while bringing in new colleagues to help. Everyone deserves to be cared for with dignity and respect. This funding, as well as our wider reforms, will bring us closer to a world-leading social care system.”
While techUK warmly welcomes the additional funding, further detail of how this will be allocated is needed. techUK is calling for a focus on digital skills for the social care workforce. Equipping and upskilling the social care workforce with the required digital skills is essential to enable the work force to utilise systems, understand the data they need and supporting those living at home to live more independently.
The Nuffield Trust’s recent report on developing the digital skills of the social care workforce highlighted that as health and social care settings are using digital technologies increasingly, they “hold significant potential to enable skills development by enabling care staff to take on new responsibilities or to undertake tasks more efficiently.”
The report found that digital skills have positive consequences on broader skills development as well as creating fertile ground for greater integration of health and social care. It made the case for more investment and joint working to ensure that the use of digital health technologies in social care settings is seen as a joint responsibility and priority between health and social care services.
Earlier in the year NHSX published the tech plan for health and care, acknowledging that technology has the potential to deliver significant system-wide benefits for people in care and care professionals. This plan highlighted that the social care sector is facing its own challenges in reaping the benefits of digitisation. According to the tech plan, around a third of social care organisations are still largely paper based, with less than 10 per cent of carers able to digitally view or update care records. This paper-based approach continues to obstruct integration between health and social care, with only 29 per cent of social care professionals surveyed reporting that they have digital access to the information they need from health care providers.
There is a clear case for the additional Government funding to be spent in part on helping social care staff acquire and improve digital skills in order to improve not only retention and recruitment via opportunities for growth and development, but to improve quality of care as well.
In February 2021, techUK published the Ten Point Plan for Healthtech to outline recommendations for how we can drive progress. With the help and collaboration of our health and social care members, we called for the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities, NHSX, and local authorities to support the integration of social care through digital transformation. The Plan also recognised that low levels of familiarity with digital were currently limiting the potential of digital transformation to change how care is delivered. With white papers on adult social care reform and integration expected in November 2021, techUK’s Social Care Working Group will be looking to respond to these publications.
Alex Lawrence
Head of Health and Social Care, techUK
Alex Lawrence
Head of Health and Social Care, techUK
Alex joined techUK in July 2021 as Programme Manager for Health and Social Care. Since July 2023 Alex has led the Programme.
Alex formerly worked at Portland Communications, joining as part of their 2019 Graduate Scheme intake. In March 2020 she joined Portland’s Health team, supporting a range of clients in the life sciences industry across both public affairs and strategic communications.
Alex has a degree in History from the University of Cambridge, focussing on Early Modern Europe and material culture. Outside of work she enjoys reading, finding new places to eat, and running.
Robert joined techUK in October 2022, where he is now Programme Manager for Health and Social Care.
Robert previously worked at the Pension Protection Fund, within the policy and public affairs team. Prior to this, he worked at the Scottish Parliament, advising politicians and industry stakeholders on a wide range of issues, including rural crime and health policies.
Robert has a degree in Politics and International Relations (MA Hons) from the University of Aberdeen, with a particular focus on strategic studies and energy security. Outside of work he enjoys activities such as running, rugby, boxing and cooking!
Clara joined techUK in October 2023. She brings experience across a range of domestic and global health issues, with particular focus on digital health, HIV/AIDS and climate change and health.
Clara holds an MSc in Global Health and Development (University College London) and a BSc in Psychology (University of Birmingham).
Tracy Modha
Team Assistant - Markets, techUK
Tracy Modha
Team Assistant - Markets, techUK
Tracy supports several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Cyber Security, Defence, Health and Social Care, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.
Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!
Tracy has a great interest in tech. Gaming and computing have been a big part of her life, and now electric cars are an exciting look at the future. She has warmed to Alexa, even though it can sometimes be sassy!
Georgina is techUK’s Associate Director for Local Public Services
Georgina works with suppliers that are active or looking to break into the market as well as with local public services to create the conditions for meaningful transformation. techUK regularly bring together local public services and supplier community to horizon scan and explore how the technologies of today and tomorrow can help solve some of the most pressing problems our communities face and improve outcomes for our people and places.
Prior to techUK, Georgina worked for a public policy events company where she managed the policy briefing division and was responsible for generating new ideas for events that would add value to the public sector. Georgina worked across a number of portfolios from education, criminal justice, and health but had a particular interest in public sector transformation and technology. Georgina also led on developing relationships across central and local government.
If you’d like to learn more about techUK, or want to get involved, get in touch.
Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK
Ileana Lupsa
Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK
Ileana Lupsa is the Programme Manager for Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, at techUK.
Ileana studied electronics, telecommunications and IT as an undergraduate, followed by an MSc in engineering and project management at Coventry University.
She refined her programme management expertise through her most recent roles working in the automotive industry.
Ileana is passionate about sustainability and creating a positive impact globally through innovation.