Becoming a fully digitised care provider
What it means to be a fully digitised care provider, the benefits, and how this links to Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings and inspections.
Applies to England
You are a fully digitised care provider if you’re registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and you:
- use an assured digital social care record (DSCR) solution
- meet the ‘standards met’ level on the data security and protection toolkit (DSPT)
Benefits of being fully digitised
Being fully digitised helps you to:
- keep accurate, secure records
- meet regulatory standards
- spend less time on manual tasks
- improve care quality and safety
- access core GP information
In the future it will also help you to access essential real-time information from across health and care settings.
How we know if you’re fully digitised
We’ll use information you already give us to check whether you’re fully digitised. This includes the:
- monthly Capacity Tracker, which tells us which DSCR solution you use for care planning
- annual DSPT, which confirms whether you’ve achieved ‘standards met’
Note, being fully digitised does not include using digital systems for rotas and medication.
Further steps towards becoming fully digitised
As well as the above, you could:
- integrate additional digital tools such as electronic medical administration record (eMAR) systems, remote monitoring and falls prevention technologies to enhance efficiency and outcomes
- invest in staff digital skills to maximise the benefits of technology
If you’re not fully digitised yet
We want to support you to make this change. There are no penalties for not being fully digitised right now.
However, we expect more people will look for care providers who are fully digitised in future, including:
- commissioners when awarding contracts
- CQC when they carry out inspections
- people choosing care services
Support available to become fully digitised
Your integrated care board or local authority may have specific support available. You can also access free support through the Better Security, Better Care programme, which provides:
- expert guidance and templates
- webinars and online resources
- one-to-one support sessions
- help completing your DSPT assessment
Being fully digitised and CQC ratings
Being fully digitised can help you show how you meet the standards set out in the CQC assessment framework. DSCRs make it easier to keep accurate, up-to-date information, share information securely and show good governance.
For example, DSCRs can help you show that your care is:
- safe, because having accurate, up-to-date records helps prevent errors
- effective, because digital systems support better information sharing with healthcare professionals
- well led, because good data security and using technology effectively shows strong governance
- responsive, because quick access to information helps you respond to people’s changing needs
Not being fully digitised will not automatically lower your CQC rating. But, if paper-based systems limit your ability to provide or show evidence of safe, effective care, this could affect inspection outcomes.
Being a fully digitised home care provider
If you’re fully digitised, your staff can access your DSCR solution securely while they’re working in people’s homes. This lets them:
- record visits and care in real time
- see up-to-date information about the people they support
- access care plans and risk assessments on the go
- communicate with colleagues and managers more effectively
DSCR solutions work on mobile devices, so your staff can access information wherever they’re providing care. This helps to ensure that people get consistent, accurate care, even when different staff visit.