Social Care Annual Digital Maturity Self Assessment

We recommend care providers take this 5-minute survey annually to identify areas for improvement, accommodating the increasing use of digital technologies in social care.

Help us to Help you!

Completing the survey can provide evidence for future funding for social care providers in Sussex, which could support digitalisation efforts, including improving broadband/WiFi, falls prevention, remote monitoring, digital care planning, and staff training.

It's not a test but a self-assessment, and you can complete it as often as you like. After the survey, you'll receive recommendations based on your answers, and if you meet the standards exceeded criteria, you can download a certificate.

Telephones - the Digital Switchover
The UK’s telephone network is changing. Between now and 2025 most telephone providers will be moving their customers from old analogue landlines over to new upgraded landline services using digital technology.

This is a perfect time to assess your current internet services and upgrade should it be necessary.

Most calls made over the internet are free of charge.  The money you save could be used to enhance your current infrastructure.

Telecare & Intruder Alarms

The switchover has implications for the telecare and TEC sector, and the 2 million people who rely on those services in the UK. This means anyone with telecare services should check how the switchover will affect them, and what they need to do to be ready, so their care isn’t disrupted. It is advisable to contact your provider now to establish what preparations are required.

Internet & Wifi

Most digital technologies designed to save you time and money and help you to provide excellent person centred care, rely on good internet and Wi-Fi coverage.

Digital Social Care Records, Falls prevention technology and vital signs monitoring can save you money and alert you to changes in behaviour, alerting you to problems allowing for early intervention.

Completing our survey above will provide a report with useful tips on how you can improve things.

With superfast broadband now available in most areas, you may need to upgrade.

Once you have your internet up to speed, having full coverage, reliable Wi-Fi is becoming a necessity.



Digital Social Care Records (DSCR)

The Digitising Social Care Records Programme is aiming for 80% of all CQC-registered adult social care providers to have access to a digital social care record that can interoperate with a local Shared Care Record by March 2024.

It is estimated that using a DSCR saves each care provider approx. 20 minutes per shift.  Over 12 months this can be a significant saving, both in time and ultimately money.

The average cost of a DSCR is £2 per resident per week. Costs are calculated differently for domiciliary care.

Management and reporting is made much simpler with all information in one place.

The DSCR will become the platform that many more useful technologies will integrate with, such as Vital Signs Monitoring and Falls Prevention Technology.

There is currently a grant available to help you implement a DSCR

Falls Prevention & Vital Signs Monitoring Technology

There are many digital technologies available that can help to predict when a person is at risk of a fall. 

Many use Ai to learn normal behaviours and can alert you when there is a change.

Vital signs monitoring can also alert you to any changes enabling preventative care.

Many of these technologies can reduce the need for regular night time checks, allowing residents a more restful nights sleep and often reducing the number of staff required at night.



Data Protection & Cyber Security

As we store more sensitive information digitally, we do have a responsibility to protect that information from loss or misuse.

There are many simple steps you can take to secure your systems.  A firewall, virus protection, password protection on devices and training your staff how to stay safe online.

Completing the Data Security Protection Toolkit (DSPT) is the NHS funded toolkit provided specifically for Social Care to help you put the correct procedures in place.

DSPT is valued by the CQC.  It is also your gateway to NHS Mail, a secure email service to help you communicate with other healthcare professionals.



See our Resources page to help you improve your Digital Maturity.

IT terminology can sometimes be difficult to understand.  

Therefore we have put together this 'GLOSSARY' to help you navigate different technologies and the difference between each.