Menu
Change in social care rarely happens at the flick of a switch. It’s usually the steady, determined work of countless people – care workers, providers, policymakers, and innovators – all pulling in the same direction. So when government announced that 80% of care providers are now using digital social care records, it marked more than a statistical milestone. It signalled a real shift in how care is delivered, understood and valued.
Digital care records aren’t simply electronic versions of paper files. They fundamentally reshape how information is captured, shared and used. When done well, they make life easier for staff and improve the experience of people receiving care.
Care workers can access accurate, up-to-date information instantly – reducing errors, avoiding duplicated tasks, and ensuring that everyone involved has the same picture at the same time. This is especially important where multiple teams support the same person across health and social care.
Digital systems cut down administrative burdens. Instead of deciphering handwriting or trawling through folders, staff can record information at the point of care and return their time and attention to where it belongs: supporting residents.
Patterns and changes in health are spotted more quickly when data is consistent and centralised. Digital records support early intervention and preventative care – a principle echoed in the wider NHS ambition to move “from analogue to digital and from sickness to prevention.”
Many digital systems allow individuals – and sometimes families – to view information, track progress, and make more informed choices. NCF’s Adult Social Care Testbed Programme found that people wanted to feel connected and in control, and saw technology as a bridge to greater involvement in decisions affecting their daily lives.
As more healthcare tasks are delivered in community settings, digital record-keeping becomes a crucial tool for integrated care. It helps adult social care take its rightful place as an equal partner alongside the NHS in delivering joined-up support.
BCOP introduced digital care records across its nursing homes in 2020/21, and the benefits have been felt every single day since. While we still hold dear the values of personal connection, careful observation and continuity, moving from paper to digital has enhanced these foundations rather than replaced them.
One of the most noticeable improvements is the ability to see changes in real time. If a resident needs repositioning, begins resting differently, or is due to attend a health appointment, this is logged immediately. Staff coming onto the next shift receive alerts as soon as they log in, meaning they are:
It’s a small change in process, but a big step in assurance.
Digital records have also transformed how we work with those who act on a resident’s behalf. If someone lacks capacity to consent to an element of their care, their Power of Attorney or next of kin can be contacted swiftly and securely, with documented consent recorded immediately.
For many families, the digital system offers a window into their loved one’s day. Not every family can visit daily, and knowing what activities someone has enjoyed, whether they ate well, or even how they seemed in themselves provides a meaningful point of connection.
One wife shared this recent reflection on her husband’s care at Neville Williams House:
“My husband has been treated with great kindness by the staff, as have I. They are always willing to communicate about him. I particularly appreciate the 'Portal'. I can use this on my phone or iPad to see his routines, how well he is eating and drinking and even his mood – all in real-time. This is particularly reassuring on the days that I am unable to visit him.”
It is hard to imagine a paper system offering that level of insight or reassurance.
The National Care Forum has welcomed this progress, recognising it as evidence of what is possible when government and the sector work together with intent. Their Adult Social Care Testbed in Liverpool – involving providers, researchers, people with lived experience and technical specialists – has shown that digital adoption is most successful when it is grounded in real-world needs and meaningful partnerships.
As NCF put it, “Partnership between government and social care and support providers is the spark that will ignite the flame of digital potential for the sector.”
And they are right. Digital transformation isn’t a box-ticking exercise. It’s a cultural shift that opens the door to better outcomes, stronger collaboration and more personalised support.
Providers engaging in the Testbed work reported that they often felt “neglected” in national innovation efforts and lacked long-term investment to fully embrace digital tools.
They also identified the essential need for:
Technology alone won’t change the sector – people will. And those people need backing.
Reaching the 80% mark is a moment to pause and appreciate how far the sector has come. Many providers have introduced digital systems while navigating workforce pressures, financial uncertainty, and increasing complexity of care. That deserves recognition.
But it is also a stepping-stone. The next phase will be about making digital tools smarter, more interoperable, and more person-centred. As the NCF has consistently emphasised, adult social care must remain at the heart of national plans for digital transformation – not an afterthought.
A digital future for social care isn’t about replacing the human touch. It’s about strengthening it. When information flows freely, when staff feel supported, and when individuals feel seen and heard, everyone benefits.
And that’s a milestone well worth celebrating.