Innovating for independence – Key takeaways from Labour Party Conference discussion on the role of technology in adult social care
Leaders in adult social care met to discuss the role of technology in addressing the urgent crisis in adult social care at the Labour Party Conference on Monday. ‘Innovating for independence: a win-win for health and social care’ was hosted by Reform, the the leading public services think tank.
The expert panel was made up of Kate Lee, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society; Melanie Williams, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services; Nick Weston, Chief Commercial Officer of Lilli, and MP for Shipley, Anna Dixon, former Chief Executive of the Centre for Ageing Better.
The lively discussion focussed on how the system can support people to live more independent lives, while addressing the workforce crisis, as well as how we can successfully scale innovations that are delivering better care outcomes across the country.
Here are five key takeaways from the discussion...
1. A reform of care is critical to the Labour government’s ambition for growth
16% of unpaid carers drop out of the workforce due to the demands of providing care. With the government’s laser-focus on growth and productivity, they must consider the impact of a sector in need on the wider economy – and what they can do to support them to stay in the workforce.
Harnessing the benefits of digital, data and AI can also help the government to drive their mission-based agenda for proactive and preventative care, supporting people to get the care they need closer to home to enable them to live more independently.
2. We need to think about everyone innovation impats – including the workforce
Service users who draw on care are at the heart of this debate and innovation must always centre these individuals and their families and friends who engage with the tech. However, those that commission and develop technologies must also consider the workforce who will use the solutions in their roles.
At the coal face of the crisis, they are already overwhelmed, so innovations must make their lives easier – and enable productivity gains – to be truly valuable to the sector.
3. Capital investment and results are essential for scalability
There are strong examples across the country of where innovation is supporting people to live independently now, as well as helping councils to make significant savings in their adult social care budgets – for example within Medway Council, who are using Lilli to right-size packages of care.
However, to realise the benefit of innovations that can drive savings on a national level rather than just in small pockets, the new government must put forward capital investment to mobilise its roll out in the ‘cash starved’ sector. If they do this, the innovation will often prove to pay for itself.
4. Technology should complement, not replace human care
‘Technology has to be part of the approach, not the approach’ was a message that was emphasised loud and clear during the discussion at the Labour conference, with leaders stressing the importance of technology not serving to further isolate those receiving care.
However, while it isn’t a silver bullet for all the challenges the sector faces, with an ageing population with increasingly complex needs, it must form part of the solution.
5. There are huge opportunities through the integrated care systems
Since the roll out of the integrated care systems, a large variation has emerged in their approach to commissioning joined up health and care services. However, there are technologies being implemented today that provide a ‘win, win’ for health and care – providing a digital dividend to the NHS as well as councils.
For instance, monitoring technologies exist in social care that can identify health issues early, such as a UTI, and reduce the burden on primary and secondary care, while also helping to get people in care out of hospital quicker. There is an opportunity for more system-wide, joined up commissioning to improve people’s experience of health and care.