NHSX to launch new framework for digital social care records

NHSX is working on a new framework to support the implementation of digital social care records.

The Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) is due to launch in April 2021 and will give social care providers a list of supplier solutions capable of delivering the records.

Chosen suppliers will be assured as “fully compliant with the relevant interoperability, data and cyber security standards”, according to a blog post from the organisation.

The system aims to help providers select the right solution for their organisation, alongside support from NHSX.

Natalie James, programme manager at NHSX, said: “There is a huge appetite across the social care sector to engage with digital transformation.  The adoption of a digital social care record will support social care providers to capture real-time information, view relevant information from the NHS record and enable more effective quality management.

“The universal adoption of digital social care record solutions, across the social care sector, has the potential to transform care outcomes. It’s the platform on which other remote care tools can integrate.

“It’s a new source of data for shared care records, to enable more sophisticated population health management and a greater personalisation of care planning that focuses on the individual.”

The DPS is to be set up following NHSX’s Data Strategy for Health and Social Care, published in November 2020, which set out commitments for all social care providers to have access to a digital social care record that can interoperate with a local Shared Care Record by 2024.

The ‘busting bureaucracy’ mission was established to capitalise on “good practice” responses to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As part of the work the Department of Health and Social Care will consult on legislative changes for data collection to “harness beneficial changes as a result of Covid-19 process changes”.

NHSX will also convene a new Data Alliance Partnership, bringing together key bodies such as the Care Quality Commission, NHS Business Services Authority, Public Health England and NICE, with an aim to establish principles on data collection, sharing and use.