The Programme is supported by a benefits realisation strategy that identifies, measures, tracks, and reports programme benefits. These will be reported on at regular intervals during the Programme.
The three key benefits which will be tracked and reported on by the programme include:
- Increasing access to health and care information and resources to support health and wellbeing;
- People feel more confident using digital services to enhance health and wellbeing; and
- People can take an active role in managing their health and wellbeing, including use of self-help tools.
Monitoring and reporting activity across the grant-funded projects is capturing quantitative and qualitative data on impact. Projects also complete individual impact surveys with people who are being supported to understand digital skills and confidence and the health and wellbeing impacts of digital inclusion.
We will also work with an external evaluation partner during 2024 and early 2025 to assess the impact of the Programme from three distinct perspectives:
- People impact - The benefits of being digitally included for individuals and how this supports their health and wellbeing and access to services/supports; and impact on workforce digital skills and confidence.
- Policy and practice impacts - Supporting mental health and housing (and wider health and social care) to embed digital inclusion as part of working practice, services, and systems to support people who are at greater risk of exclusion.
- Economic benefits - Identifying the economic value of digitally including individuals to support their community connections and overall health and wellbeing and the resulting impacts on health and social care services.