Care leaders will be trained to use the latest cutting-edge technology to improve patient care, free up staff time and help people live independently in their own homes for longer. In a bid to shift adult social care from analogue to digital as part of the Plan for Change, the Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, has announced a new qualification that will equip care leaders with the skills to use and rapidly deploy technology across care homes and other settings.
The training will focus on tools which have been shown to improve the quality of care and reduce pressure on staff. This includes motion sensors that can detect and alert staff when a patient has had a fall; video telecare to allow remote appointments with doctors and carers to reduce the need to travel; and artificial intelligence which can automate routine tasks like note taking or predict when a patient might need additional care.
Care technologies like these will help people to receive the best possible care in the community and prevent avoidable trips to the hospital, reducing pressure on the NHS. It supports the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to make health and social care fit for the future.
Wes Streeting said: "We will harness the full potential of cutting-edge technology to transform social care, helping people to live independently in their own homes and improving the quality of care. By investing in skills training for care workers, introducing a Fair Pay Agreement, and providing more opportunities for career progression, we will help retain the incredible professionals we need. Our Plan for Change will make sure we have the people and the skills needed to build a National Care Service."
Speaking at Unison’s 2025 National Health Care Conference, the Health and Social Care Secretary also outlined a series of wider measures to boost the recruitment and retention of care staff. The plans will professionalise the adult social care workforce and help staff progress in their careers, leading to better pay and recognition.
This includes:
- Setting up new job roles - like deputy managers, registered managers, personal assistants and a new enhanced care worker role - in recognition of increasingly complex care requirements. It will mean their skills will be recognised across the health service, so that GPs, doctors and other health professionals understand their expertise.
- £12 million to fund courses and qualifications for carers to develop new skills, build expertise and advance in their careers.
Baroness Louise Casey will also begin her independent commission into adult social care, which will look at both the recruitment and retention of the workforce.
