June 2025

Welcome to the latest update from the Digitising Social Care (DiSC) team. We’re funded by the government to help adult social care providers make the most of digital technology, wherever they are on their digital journey. 

Facial Analysis app helps care staff identify and reduce pain

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A new AI-driven pain assessment app will help care staff in identifying a person’s pain levels and improve care for more than 1,400 residents in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK). Following an initial pilot project in Central Bedfordshire which supported 465 individuals, further funding was received from the Digitising Social Care (DiSC) Programme’s Adult Social Care Technology Fund to support a further 994 people across the area. Read more.

Missed our bitesize sessions at The Care Show? Watch them online!

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Digitising Social Care ran a series of bitesize talks this year at the Care Show 30 April – 1 May 2025 at ExCeL London. They focused on our current and future work in digital transformation in adult social care.

They are now available online to watch. View them on our website.

Digitising Social Care: End of Programme Reflections webinar recording

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It has been four years since the DiSC programme was set up. Last month some of our colleagues delivered a webinar to showcase what the programme has achieved (nearly 80% of CQC registered care organisations are now using a Digital Social Care Record!) They also discussed what's next for the Digitising Social Care programme.

You can now watch the recording online.

Level 5 Leadership qualification

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In 2021 69% of registered managers said they did not receive the digital skills training they needed during their initial training.

To fill this gap, the Department for Health and Social Care commissioned Skills for Care to develop a Level 5 Digital Leadership specification. Find out more about it and how to apply.

Tommy Henderson-Reay, Social Worker and Programme Manager (DiSC) and Millie Walker, Adult Social Care Policy Lead - Digital Skills and Workforce (DHSC) also gave a talk at The Care Show about this new qualification – watch the recording.

Digital helping to improve care services across Dorset

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Dozens of care providers across Dorset are providing even more effective services for their residents after embracing digital technology.

They have received funding from the national Digitising Social Care programme to digitise social care records, receive digital training and install acoustic monitors to enhance residents’ safety.

Funding was also used to help create the region’s first network of digital champions in the care sector. Read more.

Dates for your diary

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Remember to check the events section on our website regularly for more training and development opportunities.

Events

9 July 2025, 2pm - 2.30pm, Getting the most out of NHS.net Connect (NHSmail) for Adult Social Care Digital Care Hub are hosting a webinar on NHS.net Connect including its evolving features and how it supports safe, joined-up care. Sign up.

Stay in touch

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Follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook and bookmark our DiSC website where you'll find lots of useful information and resources to support your journey to digital ways of working!

If you are a social care provider you can contact the Digitising Social Care team at england.adultsocialcare@nhs.net with any questions and we'll help point you in the right direction.