How to access funding for digitalising care records

As many care providers are aware, the Adult Social Care Transformation Fund is supporting the Government aim of having all (but at least 80%) of CQC registered adult social care providers to use digitised care records by March 2024. 

Digital transformation can dramatically improve the quality and safety of care. Point of care information can be safely and securely stored online to keep all staff aware of the care needs of the people they support and give the senior team full oversight of the people they support in their service. This ensures people receive the right care, at the right time, and care teams have access to the information they need. NHS Transformation Directorate is providing £25 million of funding this year as part of a 3-year programme to enable Integrated Care Systems (ICS’) to scale up use of digital social care records, alongside other promising evidence-based technologies centred around outcomes such as falls. 

For care providers still using paper-based care records, this initiative provides a helping hand with starting the journey to digital care records. Taking a care provider from paper to digital may seem a daunting and expensive task but with the ICS funding taking the brunt of the year one cost, there is no better time to make the switch to digital. The funding has been distributed to the 42 ICS’ across England for them to allocate the funding to adult social care providers to support them with adopting digital care records. CQC registered care providers can apply for grant funding from their local ICS which typically will pay for 50% of their annual licence fee for a DSCR. While there is no deadline for funding, there is a risk of the funding pot running out before every care provider has a chance to apply for funding, so now is the time for action. 

Nourish was selected by NHSE as one of the first Assured Suppliers for this national funding programme. We have a dedicated ICS team that works with each ICS programme lead and can help you to navigate the process of applying for ICS funding, help you complete the necessary documents to secure the maximum funding available and give you advice on what you can expect from the ICS. Each ICS has a different process so the information may seem confusing if you are trying to research the funding and processes you need to follow. By utilising our relationship and knowledge of each ICS, we will be able to support you in the process to access ICS funding and make the switch to digital. Our relationship with the 42 ICS’ means we are aware of the funding being offered to each care provider, and what the process of applying is. We have helped many care services apply for funding – we’ll put you in touch with the right person from your ICS. 

As a care provider, your journey to digital may prompt lots of questions initially. Our experience in working alongside care services, coupled with our ICS relationships, gives us the knowledge and expertise to make your transition as pain free as possible. Nourish is a market leader for supporting services on their digital transformation journey. Our team is made up of people with backgrounds in health and social care who have experience and knowledge of the struggles and challenges faced by care providers.  

With digital care planning, you are able to effectively pull reports and spot trends that would be otherwise difficult to evidence. Digital care planning has additional benefits such as reducing the physical footprint of records, stationery costs and clinical risk. As well as all this there are operational efficiencies such as reducing time spent on night visits and keeping track of occupancy. Having access to wider NHS systems is now also a reality with integrations such as GP Connect and local Shared Care Records, empowering carers to be part of the wider circle of care. To see the full benefits of Nourish, click here.

If you’d like to speak to one of our team about what Nourish can do to help you deliver better care, click here to book a demo.