News
Social Care Digital Innovation Programme 2019-21: Open for applications
Over the last two years NHS Digital has funded 31 councils to provide digital solutions to social care challenges. Councils can now apply for the third wave of the LGA-managed programme with the closing date for applications on Thursday 7 March 2019.
Ten authorities will receive up to £30,000 to design an innovative and new digital solution to address a specific issue, with eight receiving up to a further £90,000 to support its implementation. The funding will run over two years.
Find out more and apply for funding
You can also join the LGA 'show and tell' (see below) on Monday 11 February 2019 to find out more about this opportunity.
Invitation to LGA 'show and tell'
Earlier in 2018 the LGA published a short prospectus on our offer to councils about projects that are supporting innovation and transformation in social care. In our blog at the end of last year titled ‘Working in the open: Reflections on 2018 and plans for 2019’ we wrote about what we are learning from these projects.
On Monday 11 February 2019 from 10-11am we are holding a live 'show and tell’ event where you can find out more about the projects that are underway and find out about some of the things happening in 2019/20.
It’s not too late to register for this webinar.
Details for joining the livestream will be sent to registrants later this week.
Interoperability, information sharing and data standards in local government
The LGA is currently working with a number of councils as part of the Local Health and Care Record Exemplar programme. This is aimed at improving record sharing across health and social care using open standards.
The LGA has commissioned Socitm to undertake a 12-week discovery to understand council experiences around interoperability with social care systems and opportunities to use commonly agreed standards to support data sharing.
A summary of the project can be found here.
Councils can get involved by emailing us at socialcaredigital@local.gov.uk
-
Join the Local Government Network: If you are a council involved in the Local Health and Care Record Exemplar programme you are welcome to join the Local Government Network.
-
Participate in the discovery: Socitm will be making contact with some councils directly but if you are interested in being involved in 1:1 discussions with Socitm then please let us know.
-
Share your datasets: If you are a council already sharing social care information (adults and/or children’s) through local shared records we are keen to hear from you and understand what information is being shared.
LGA responds to NHS Long Term Plan
The NHS Long-Term Plan was published in January 2019. It announces how the £20.5 billion budget settlement for the NHS will be spent.
The LGA has responded to the NHS Long Term Plan
The Plan includes a number of commitments in relation to technology – the majority of which were captured within chapter 5. Read a summary of these specific commitments.
You can find out more about these commitments in the NHS Digital Transformation Bulletin.
LGA commissioning and market shaping case studies
The LGA has published a series of case studies to support councils in their commissioning and market shaping role.
There are a range of case studies including the latest from Liverpool which has worked with its homecare providers to support the adoption of technology to help improve outcomes. Since 2016 the initiative has also helped Liverpool increase the size of its homecare market and led to the uptake of new digital ways of working across the community.
Care Provider Alliance: New ways of working in adult social care
The guide includes new ways for services to work together locally, digital approaches, innovation in care practice and a look forward to the use of robotics and artificial intelligence.
Cyber security funding for connected devices
InnovateUK is providing up to £6 million to invest in organisations with ideas that address industry focused cyber security challenges.
This funding which forms part of the UK Research and Innovation Strategic Priorities Fund is specifically on addressing cyber security associated with connected devices in homes and workplaces. It is part of the Government approach to tackling cyber security challenges announced here.
With the increasing connectivity that support people at home this is area is particularly relevant for social care.
The funding itself can only be provided to UK businesses but this can be a project that is in collaboration with public sector organisations. The competition opens on 18 February 2019 and deadline for applications is on 1 May 2019.
Find out more about this programme
Data Security and Protection Toolkit – 31 March 2019
The Data Security and Protection Toolkit replaced the IG Toolkit in April 2018.
If councils are receiving demographics data from NHS Digital they will need to ensure that they have completed and submitted the toolkit by 31 March 2019.
Councils can register for the toolkit here. Please note that the scope is only the processing of health and adult social care data so this only needs to be completed from that perspective (rather than the council as a whole).
Access help and support from NHS Digital on completing the toolkit.
Free training days for elected members on data and digital transformation
The LGA is running three masterclass training days on data and digital transformation for elected members in March. These will be relevant to elected members who are working on, and keen to maximise, the opportunities that data and digital present.
The training is free but places are limited. More details can be found on our events pages.
User research course for councils at GDS Academy
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has partnered with the Government Digital Service Academy to support councils in undertaking user research.
Spaces are available for sessions in Manchester on 12-13 February 2019 or in London from 4-5 March 2019.
Councils can send up to two people (depending on how many training credits they have remaining) and the course is available on a first come, first served basis to staff in councils that have signed the Local Digital Declaration.
To explore accessing this opportunity you will need to contact your council training representative.
Find out more about the training offer.
NHS England national and regional digital roundup
NHS England regional teams have published their regional digital bulletins. Read the latest cascades for the North of England.
Local Digital Collaboration regional roadshows
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Local Digital Collaboration Unit had a busy 2018, launching the Local Digital Declaration and allocating funding to 16 projects through the Local Digital Fund. In early 2019, it is hosting a series of collaboration roadshows for local authority service and transformation teams, visiting:
Each roadshow will be an “unconference” where you can pitch the issues you’d like to discuss with other local authority staff and suppliers on the digital transformation journey. It’s a chance to meet people who are facing similar local government problems to you, creating the opportunity to begin fixing them together.
To keep up to date with the Local Digital Team, you can find them on Twitter @LDgovUK or you can register for their newsletter.
Service Design in Government
6-8 March 2018 | Edinburgh
The sixth Service Design in Government conference is for anyone involved in service design and commissioning services across the public sector.
Nudge for Social Good – Using Behavioural Insights in Local Government
12 March 2019 | London
This LGA event will look at how councils are using behavioural insight tools and techniques to encourage individuals to make small changes in society to reduce demand on local public services. This is the second annual behavioural insights conference held by the LGA with the aim of sharing findings from projects and providing practical lessons for councils.
Digital Health Rewired
25 - 26 March 2019 | Kensington Olympia, London
This new two-day conference and one-day exhibition focuses on integrating health and care through the use of technology.
UK Authority Digital Health and Social Care
17 May 2019 | London
This event will focus on integrating health and social care and using technology to support people to remain safe, well and connected in their own homes.
The King's Fund Digital Health and Care Congress 2019
22-23 May 2018 | London (paid event)
This annual two-day event brings together NHS and social care professionals interested in how data and technology can improve the health and wellbeing of patients and the quality and efficiency of services.
|
