The Digital Social Care Programmes and Scottish Care partner, Nicola Cooper, provides a vital link into the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) within Scottish Care.
Thought Leadership
Key Objectives
Scottish Care is a respected Thought Leader in human rights based social care. The Technology and Digital Innovation portfolio draws on an experienced wider team and membership, amplifying sectoral insight and opinion, and evolving a knowledge base in digital, data and technology in social care.
Planned activities/outputs
- AI and Robotics: Explore the role and potential applications for an AI and robotics enabled ‘technology workforce’ in social care, and the consequences for human rights based relational care.
- Sector Support: Support for the independent social care sector to articulate and prioritise needs around digital, data and technology, demonstrating alignment with the wider health and social care ecosystem.
- Digital and Data Capability: Support for workforce competence, and for organisations to build a talent pipeline and prepare for future roles e.g. Care Connector, Care Navigator, Care Co-pilot.
- Ethical Design: Demonstrate and promote capability in ethical and inclusive design practice, widening use of participatory design and Scottish Approach to Service Design (SAtSD).
- Data Innovation: Demonstrate and foster understanding an use of appropriate evaluation frameworks like Theory of Change, Social Value, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and Technology, People, Organisations and Macroenvironment (TPOM).
- Cross-sector initiatives: Support initiatives demonstrating the potential in systems and data interoperability and technology-enabled service redesign.
- Impact Evidence: Demonstrate the impact of activities and partnerships using Matter of Focus Theory of Change and HACT Social Value Model.
Future Workforce
Key Objectives
Continue to test and learn from the implementation of Care Technologist/Connector/Navigator roles in Scotland and beyond. Seek opportunities to showcase the impacts made with the Care Technologist work to date.
Planned activities/outputs
- Embedding Care Technologist Role: Support the integration of the Care Technologist role and/or approach within social care in Scotland.
- Learning System/Network Establishment: Create a learning system/knowledge network for Care Technologists and social care professionals in similar roles with different job titles.
- Resource Development: Develop resources to strengthen and support the Care Technologist role and its spread.
Latest Update
- HACT Evaluation Social Value Report: Published the report titled ‘Making the case for the Care Technologist role and measuring the impact of improved digital care’. HACT Report.
- TECH Housing, Care Technologist Programme: Support with Social Tariff landscape reviews.
- Ethical Commissioning and procurement: Exploration of this as an enabler of the spread of the Care Tech role and model across Scotland.
- Ecosystem mapping: Exploration of models developed by Cofink and the possibilities for Care Tech future state modelling.
- Future Skills, The Glasgow School of Art: Engaged in discussions on how we might collaborate in support of the Care Tech approach and learning.
Scottish Care Data Programme
Key Objectives
Contribute to the understanding of the complexity of data in the social care and health context. Based on practice-based examples, evidence, and analysis, contribute to national programmes of work, presenting solution-focused recommendations. Data issues such as access, fragmentation, and duplication are significant barriers to digital transformation within social care and health.
Planned activities/outputs
- Engagement and Co-design: Collaborate with independent sector providers to increase awareness of existing data and visualize current and future state data sharing needs through data dialogues and co-design workshops.
- Data Mapping and Analysis: Conduct interviews, surveys, and co-design activities with stakeholders to map and analyse sector data.
- Recommendations for Data Management: Work collaboratively to recommend strategies for better managing data returns and reducing data collection variance by understanding current communication practices through interviews and focus groups.
- Building Confidence in Data Use: Enhance the sector’s ability to gather, use, and share data safely and sustainably by engaging with SSSC and other partners.
Latest Update
Key engagements and conversations have been taking place as these programmes of work develop in order to identify priority areas such as; Interoperability of data, access and visibility of relevant data as well as capability. Planning sessions will take place over Autumn/Winter 2024 to refine these further.
Care Technologist Programme
More in-depth information on the Care Technologist Role and work to date, alongside evaluation reports, can be found here.