Guest article: Technology and its role in attracting staff to adult social care
Access to training and being able to work full-time have been flagged as key factors when it comes to keeping people working in the sector. Gavin Bashar, UK Managing Director at Tunstall Healthcare, discusses how technology can be used to free up the workforce’s time and provide reasons for training and career development.
Skills for Care has published its annual report; State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England. Although there appear to have been some improvements between April 2022 and March 2023, the report has highlighted that 390,000 people have left their jobs, with around one third leaving the social care sector altogether.
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Education and training: Embedding technology into adult social care services can deliver a new approach to care provision which can expand the workforce’s skillset. Providing education and training opportunities to learn more about technology will engage the workforce at an early stage, encourage a cultural shift and give them opportunities to upskill.
Gavin Bashar, UK Managing Director at Tunstall Healthcare -
Increased productivity: One of the principal reasons for investing in technology is that staff time can be optimised, which can encourage productivity. The use of data and proactive approaches via digital solutions can give the workforce more opportunities to engage with the people they care for and alleviate a pressurised working environment as they’ll have peace of mind that they’ll be alerted if an emergency event takes place.
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Health and care integration: When deployed correctly, digital solutions can generate a joined up and collaborative approach between health, housing and social care services. This can deliver a greater level of insight that professionals have into the behaviour, health and wellbeing of the people they care for which can encourage greater engagement from citizens with the protection of their own health, and build on relationships between citizens and professionals. This can also improve collaboration and communication between different services, clinicians and professionals which has direct benefit on service users.
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Technology as front and centre: Adult social care providers should be encouraged to consider technology as being front and centre of any strategy for change. It is likely to provide the best route over time to enhance the capacity of adult social care. For the benefits to be fully realised, it is important that technology suppliers and social care providers collaborate effectively and co-creatively with the workforce, to ensure that we fully understand the ultimate aim in using technology.
One of our most effective tools in caring for vulnerable people who use adult social care services is the workforce’s insight and it’s vital that we retain and attract new talent to harness this effectively.
This will in turn ensure we have enough people to give us the insight we need to provide effective care. Embedding technology into care services will give social care staff a new layer of opportunities to learn new skills and revolutionise the care provision that they’re able to deliver.
