Digital tools are increasingly vital to support social care providers, improve care and help people to live fulfilled lives.   

The government has extended their target of 80% of CQC registered providers using digital social care records from their Assured Suppliers List (ASL) to March 2025. At Nourish Care, we’re at the forefront of this movement, spearheading partnership working to transform the way social care technology companies collaborate.   

The first step was replacing paper records. The government extended both the time frame for care providers to utilise the available digitisation funding, and the standards software suppliers have to meet to become members of their ASL. There are many more innovative tools available to help you deliver person-centred care. Many providers already use technology that prevents falls, supports pain management or simplifies medication records, alongside their digital social care records. 

But this can lead to multiple sign-ins for your team which complicates rather than simplifies your processes. If you’re using different systems, it’s important that they can communicate with each other and share data. It means your team always has the most accurate and up-to-date information about the people you support.   

This is where digital integration comes in. At Nourish, we’re accelerating the digital transformation journey by working together with other experts to push the boundaries of what’s possible with health and social care technology.   

Integrated technology simply means the different tools you’re using are joined up and coordinated. This avoids duplication of effort from having to input data into other systems. It also centralises information, preventing the siloing of information about the people who draw upon your support.

Integrating technologies together can revolutionise the way you deliver care. By connecting different systems and sharing information automatically, you can capture data easily on the go. This improves the quality of care, saves time and allows you to tailor care to each person’s life and needs. 

Using Nourish alongside other platforms means that data must only be entered into one system as it automatically feeds into others. This syncing of information minimises the risk of errors, reduces administrative burden and allows care teams to spend more time on face-to-face care.    

At Nourish, we believe in the power of integration and collaboration. That’s why we’ve partnered with the NHS, care authorities, change management solutions, and other leaders in the care sector to shape both our product and the future of digitally enabled healthcare.  

Our Nourish Partner Programme can help with: 

“Our family of partners really understand the health and care sector and are carefully selected. Depending on the specific needs of your organisation, we can support you to choose the partners most suited to your individual needs. We’re working tirelessly together to strive for better automation that becomes part of everyday care.” 

Denise Tack, Director of Partner and Business Engagement at Nourish Care 

Nourish integrates with established NHS systems, like GP Connect, which gives care teams insight into a person’s GP records and medical notes in real time. This empowers care teams to make better, more informed decisions and provide safer and more effective care.   

When using digital tools together, it can provide crucial information about where improvements can be made. For example, if you’re looking to implement falls management technology, integrations can link valuable information with Nourish to give care professionals access to someone’s history of falls. This means you can develop care plans and strategies to avoid falls in the future.    

Let Nourish be your guide as you navigate the digital possibilities in your organisation. Together, we’re creating a more connected, efficient and compassionate experience for everyone. Find out more about how Nourish can enhance the care you provide by booking a personalised demo with our team.   

With cyber-crime on the rise and new threats constantly emerging, it can seem difficult to manage cyber risks. Both ransomware and cyber-extortion can access and hold company data, usually with the intent of making money off the company from which it was stolen.  

Take a look at the image below to see the key differences between ransomware and cyber-extortion: 

Ransomware is a type of software designed to cause harm to a computer, server, or network, and is used by cybercriminals to obtain data for financial gain. The attacker will demand payment from the victim to restore access to the information held at ransom. Payment can be any amount of currency even crypto currency. 

One way is phishing. This is a technique for attempting to access sensitive data. Attackers may do this by sending convincing emails that look like legitimate businesses or people to encourage you to open harmful links. If the person receiving the email thinks the email is genuine, they may fall victim to this, the harmful software is downloaded and executed on their computer. The attacker can then access sensitive data.  

“Phishing is the main delivery method for ransomware. A 2022 study of 1400 organisations found that of the 26% that had experienced a ‘significant’ increase in the number of email threats received in the last year, 88% were victimised by ransomware. Compared with the 65% that experienced ransomware without such an increase in the number of email threats, we can see the dangerous link between these two attack types.”  

The Latest Phishing Statistics, AAG

By following the simple mnemonic ‘SLAM’, you can help protect your organisation from an email phishing attack: 

S – Sender of the email  

L – Links in the email body 

A – Attachments to the email 

M – Message for the communication 

“An estimated 3.4 billion spam emails are sent every day. Over 48% of emails sent in 2022 were spam.”

The Latest Phishing Statistics, AAG

Take a look at the image below to view some ways to spot a phishing email. Read more about how to protect your organisation from phishing emails here. 

Our ISO27001 certification enables us to become risk-aware as we are required to thoroughly consider risks and have stringent plans in place to mitigate them. Our primary aim is to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data at all times. By remaining informed about any new changes to cyber security and making good use of any additional technical or security measures, we can reduce the likelihood of these risks occurring.   

“Cyber attacks and phishing attempts are prevalent and constantly evolving in an attempt to catch people out. At Nourish we remain risk-aware and have processes in place to reduce the likelihood of these risks occurring. We encourage our customers and partners to talk to us about keeping data safe and utilising tools such as the DSPT.”  

Jess Osmond, Head of Legal and Compliance

By using a business continuity plan Nourish aims to take actions to mitigate effects of any unforeseen or unexpected actions, including a cyber or ransomware attack. We encourage all organisations to implement their own business continuity plan and we can help with this with our advice and business continuity guidance for customer’s template. 

You can read more about Nourish’s security management here. 

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare and social services, the way we manage and maintain care records has a profound impact on the quality of care provided. For many years, paper-based records were the norm in social care settings, but this traditional approach came with its fair share of challenges and limitations. In this blog, we will explore the pains of using paper and why transitioning to digital solutions is the way forward. 

Using paper to record care allows for inefficiency. Documenting care notes by hand is incredibly time consuming and means there is a delay in updating records for the people you support. In a fast-paced environment, having access to real-time information is paramount. The delay caused by paper can have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the people you support as changes to their needs may be critical and time sensitive. This risk of outdated or incomplete information can compromise the quality of care.  

By using a digital care management system, your care teams can record care notes on the go and senior members of the team can be kept in the loop and take action where necessary, ensuring the people you support are receiving the right care at the right time. With full oversight of your service in real-time that can be accessed anywhere and anytime, nothing will be missed! 

Human error is much more likely when using paper to record care. Handwriting may be illegible, and documents can be misplaced or misfiled which can lead to inaccuracies in your data. These errors can have serious consequences for the people you support.  

A digital care management system not only allows for legible records all in one place but also has Speech-to-text functionality that removes the need to type notes, you will be reducing errors and unnecessary stress so there’s no need to worry about spelling mistakes, grammar or punctuation. 

Paper records are vulnerable to physical damage and loss, putting sensitive information at risk.  

At Nourish, we take data privacy and security seriously. Our platform is ISO 27001 accredited, Cyber Essentials Plus certified and GDPR compliant. Our servers also meet high security standards required by the NHS and we undergo regular security audits to ensure the highest standards of data protection. In addition, in the Nourish platform we have implemented access controls to ensure only authorised users can access data. 

With paper-records, there is only one copy for the entirety of the care team to work from. If both a carer and a registered manager wish to see the care plan at the same time, this creates some difficulty in the realm of hindering collaboration within care teams and slowing down the decision-making process. 

By using a digital care management system, records are stored in a secure cloud that can be viewed by multiple members of the team at the same time with real time updates allowing for the most appropriate care to be delivered to the people you support.  

Physical paper records require space to be stored accurately and according to care regulator guidelines. Physical records also require constant use of paper and take up a significant amount of space as well as the need to be archived for a certain amount of time as per regulator’s guidelines. The CQC’s latest guidance point towards their stance on sustainability, hinting at care provider’s needing to be environmentally conscious in order to achieve a Good rating.  

Using a digital care management system reduces the need for paperwork and is an easy way to become more sustainable. Care records can be viewed from one central location which means if there are multiple locations in one group, there is a reduced need to travel between services, another step towards becoming environmentally friendly. 

The care industry is evolving, and so are the regulations that govern it. Keeping up with the shifting landscape while relying on paper records can be a compliance tightrope walk.  

Digital care records align seamlessly with regulatory changes. Inspectors increasingly expect the precision and accessibility that digital records offer. Embracing our platform can help you sail through inspections with confidence. 

Effective communication and collaboration are the lifeblood of a well-functioning care team. Paper records often isolate vital information within handwritten notes, creating barriers to collaboration. 

Our platform is designed to break down these walls, fostering seamless information sharing among care teams. Say goodbye to disjointed handovers and hello to improved teamwork and person-centred care. 

Extracting meaningful insights from stacks of paper records can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.  

Our digital platform equips you with powerful analytics tools that transform data into actionable insights. With our platform, you can effortlessly generate reports and make data-driven decisions that enhance care quality and outcomes. 

There’s a wealth of information you need to know about an individual you are supporting. Whether it’s medication management, pain management, incident management or workforce management it can be extremely hard to join the dots when you still have paper care records.  

With a digital care records platform, not only can you streamline your processes, but it also acts as a central hub, connecting with other powerful systems where information is shared between them, providing care teams with rich and up-to-date information at their fingertips. 

The difficulties that come with using paper for digital social care records are evident in the inefficiency, inaccuracy, limited accessibility, and sustainability concerns associated with traditional methods. Embracing digital solutions not only addresses these issues but also enhances the overall quality of care provided. The transition to digital social care records is a step towards a more efficient, accurate, and sustainable future in social care settings. 

Find out more about the benefits of Nourish by contacting our team for a personalised demonstration of our platform.  

As a care provider, it can be difficult to keep track of all the information about the people you support and the care that they receive. Paper-based records can be lost or damaged, and it can be time consuming to sort through them to find the information that you need. That’s where digital care planning software comes in. By using a digital care plan software to manage your records, you can gain better oversight into your care service, improve your efficiency, and provide better care for the people you support. 

Using a digital platform provides you with a centralised care management system to manage and access the people you support’s records, care plans, medication records, and other critical information in one place. This allows for real-time oversight of what is happening in your service, as care staff can record updates on care plans and health status at the point of care. Additionally, a digital platform can provide you with insights and reports on your service’s performance, such as tracking medication administration and completion of care plans. By having this oversight, you can identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions about how to allocate resources and improve care delivery.  

One of the biggest benefits of using a care planning software is that you can access the information you need anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re in the office, on the go, or working from home, you can log into the platform and access the records you need. This can be especially helpful if you have multiple locations or if you have staff who work remotely. 

Managing paper-based records can be time consuming and prone to errors. With a digital platform, you can streamline your workflow and reduce the time it takes to manage records. You can quickly input and update information, generate reports, and track progress. This can help you save time and resources and improve the quality of care you provide. 

By using digital care planning, you can ensure that your staff have the information they need to provide the best possible care. They can access information of those supported quickly and easily, and they can input information in real-time. This can help to ensure that all staff are on the same page and are providing consistent care. A digital platform can also send alerts and warnings for a variety of circumstances, for example when medication has not been administered or when a care plan needs reviewing, this ensures that nothing falls through the cracks. 

A digital social care records platform can help you to stay compliant with regulatory requirements. You can track compliance in real-time and generate reports as needed. This can help you to avoid penalties and ensure that you’re providing high-quality care that meets regulatory standards. 

Keeping paper-based records secure can be a challenge. Records can be lost or stolen and must be kept in a locked room. With a digital platform, you can ensure that your records are secure and protected while recording care on the go. You can control access to the platform and track who has uploaded the records. Our industry-leading device management ensures that Nourish is only accessed on authorised devices, giving you that extra layer of security.  

If you’re looking for a way to improve your care service, a digital social care records platform can be a great solution. It can help you to gain better oversight into your service, improve your efficiency, and provide better care to the people you support. With the right platform, you can streamline your workflow, improve compliance, and enhance security. 

Book a personalised demo with our team to find out how going digital can give you better oversight into your care service 

You may be interested in:

How to better manage falls in your care service

7 simple steps to digitalising your care records

5 reasons why you should be using a digital care planning platform

As many care providers are aware, the Adult Social Care Transformation Fund is supporting the Government aim of having all (but at least 80%) of CQC registered adult social care providers to use digitised care records by March 2024.

Digital transformation can dramatically improve the quality and safety of care. Point of care information can be safely and securely stored online to keep all staff aware of the care needs of the people they support and give the senior team full oversight of every home in their service. This ensures people receive the right care, at the right time, and care teams have access to the information they need.

The NHS Transformation Directorate is providing £25 million of funding this year as part of a 3-year programme to enable Integrated Care Systems (ICS’) to scale up use of digital social care records, alongside other promising evidence-based technologies centred around outcomes such as falls.

For care providers with services spanning across the country, this initiative provides a helping hand with starting the journey to digital care records. Taking a care provider with multiple services from paper to digital is no easy feat and undoubtedly a big task but with the ICS funding taking the brunt of the year one cost, there is no better time to make the switch to digital.

The funding has been distributed to the 42 ICS’ across England for them to allocate the funding to adult social care providers to support them with adopting digital care records. Registered care providers can apply for grant funding from their local ICS which typically will pay for 50% of their annual licence fee for a DSCR.

With services across multiple ICS regions, gaining funding from each ICS is absolutely possible and Nourish have the tools to support you from start to finish. While there is no deadline for funding, there is a risk of the funding pot running out before every care provider has a chance to apply for funding, so now is the time for action.

Nourish was selected by NHSE as one of the first Assured Suppliers for this national funding programme. We have a dedicated ICS team that works with each ICS programme lead and can help you to navigate the process of applying for ICS funding, help you complete the necessary documents to secure the maximum funding available and give you advice on what you can expect from each ICS. If your care service spans multiple ICS’, the information is likely to be conflicting, confusing even, as each ICS has a different process.

By utilising our relationship and knowledge of each ICS, we will be able to support you in the process to access ICS funding across multiple regions and make the switch to digital. Our relationship with the 42 ICS’ means we are aware of the funding being offered to each care provider, and what the process of applying is as each ICS has a different way of working.

Find out why now is exactly the right time to make the switch– and it’s more than just the March 2024 digital deadline.

With the government set digital deadline of March 2024 now less than a year away, the deadline requires at least 80% of care providers to be using a digital platform for their care records, so now more than ever it is crucial to begin the switch to digital care planning.

For care providers still using paper-based care records, there is funding available to provide a helping hand with starting the journey to digital care records. Taking a care provider from paper to digital may seem a daunting and expensive task but with the ICS funding taking the brunt of the year one cost, there is no better time to make the switch to digital. The funding has been distributed to the 42 ICS’ across England for them to allocate the funding to adult social care providers to support them with adopting digital care records. CQC registered care providers can apply for grant funding from their local ICS which typically will pay for 50% of their annual licence fee for a DSCR. While there is no deadline for funding, there is a risk of the funding pot running out before every care provider has a chance to apply for funding, so now is the time for action. 

Nourish is a market leader for supporting services on their digital transformation journey. We have a dedicated ICS team that works with each funding ICS programme lead and we can help you to navigate the process of applying for NHSE ICS funding.

Continuing with paper care plans comes with risks. With paper care plans, paperwork can go missing meaning vital information about the people you support could be lost, reducing the effectiveness of the care they receive. Paper care plans also make sharing information among the care teams trickier and time consuming and can mean essential information can be missed if not handed over correctly and efficiently.

Using paper for care plans and to record care can make it more challenging to analyse the care delivered and spot trends in the behaviour or health of the people you support. With multiple staff members and records on paper, spotting a link in the notes is harder to do. By using digital, you are able to use the reporting and dashboard functionality and see trends in the care notes, enabling you and your care teams to take action.

CQC’s new strategy outlined in 2021 discusses the impact technology has on making rapid improvements in health and social care. The strategy lays out CQC’s plans to encourage innovation and a digital way of working throughout care services. As CQC and the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledge the impact technology has on care services and the outcomes of the people they support, there may come a time where not using digital may affect the CQC rating care services receive.

Using a digital care planning platform allows for more accurate on the go recording of care, transforming your care plans into detailed and accurate accounts of the care delivered to the people you support. Recording notes on the go saves time and ensures that every single member of the care team has the most up to date information in the palm of their hands.

If you have multiple locations across your care service, using a digital platform gives you a full overview of every single location in your service without having to visit each one. If the locations are based around the country, time is instantly saved. There are many more benefits of going digital which you can read about here.

So, you’ve decided to take your care planning to the next level and implement digital care planning across your care service – what happens next and how do you start the process of digitalising your care records?

The first step in your digital transformation journey is to start researching the digital care records platforms available to you. The best place to start is by looking at the NHS Transformation Directorate’s Digital Social Care Records Assured Supplier List.

There is currently an Adult Social Care Transformation Fund that typically covers 50% of your first-year costs for an Assured Supplier digital care records platform. This will often additionally include financial support for your teams to receive training as well as devices.

It’s key to also look out for what cyber security accreditations platforms have such as ISO20071 and Cyber Essentials Plus. These accreditations will give you an idea of which platforms have an extra layer of security to give you peace of mind.

Prioritise selecting a user-friendly platform that meets your care service’s specific needs. Look for a system that is easy to navigate, customisable, and provides real-time data to help your staff make informed decisions. The Nourish platform is designed with the user in mind and is simple, clear and easy to navigate. Key features within the app ensure that recording of information on the go is as straightforward and accurate as possible.  

Define the features that are important and essential to your care service and find which platform providers are able to offer you this. Take a look at our Digital Care Planning Platform Checklist which includes key things your service needs to consider when looking for a platform to suit your needs.

Once you’ve pulled together a list of digital care planning providers that you think could be suitable for your services, the next step is to attend demonstrations of their platform. Before you head into the demonstrations, ensure you have all the questions you want to ask about the features that are important to you. You should also ensure that you have the correct team available to see the platform and provide a different opinion. A demonstration from Nourish will show a day in the life of a Nourish user and this will give you a real feel of the platform, what it can do, how easy it is to use, how your care teams will use it and ultimately if it will work for your service. You can book a demo of the Nourish platform here.

Which platform really caught your eye in the demonstration? When it comes to making a decision on which platform to use, will you require a tender or a presentation in addition to the demonstration to address topics not brought up in the demo? You may think of more questions after your demonstration that are vital to your organisation’s process for choosing a platform.

Ensure you have a criteria of what you require from a platform and make your decision based on which platform fits your criteria. Whichever platform you decide to implement, ensure it is able to meet your requirements before moving ahead. Once a decision has been made, the rollout process will begin.

Once you’ve decided on which platform you will be using for your digital care planning, the next step is organising devices. Do you want to use the devices recommended by the provider or do you want to source your own? If you go down the route of purchasing your own devices, ensure that the device is compatible with the platform. Using the platform provider’s devices comes with its own benefits of data security and device management from the platform.

Many care services are just starting out in their digital journey and need to install WiFi before implementing a digital care planning platform. If your care services are situated in an area where the connectivity drops out, ensure the platform you choose will still work even with the WiFi down – logging care notes at the time the care is delivered and uploading them once the WiFi reconnects. Nourish users benefit from Offline Access, ensuring care is logged and evidenced at the correct time, regardless of internet stability.

Once you’ve got the platform and devices organised, your next step is training for you and your care teams at the appropriate level. Find out if your chosen digital care planning platform has a training package to suit your needs. With Nourish, you can either go for the full training package, onsite or remote, with a dedicated trainer or for a Train the Trainer package where you train a specific set of staff and then they train the rest of your care teams. Nourish also offers a quick onboarding training tool that deploys a training carousel to all users the first time they log onto the Nourish app. 

Ensure the platform you have chosen offers training to suit your needs and that the most tech savvy and passionate colleagues are involved in the training sessions to support your onboarding journey. Using your most tech savvy team members will ensure they have the skills to support other staff members who may have technical queries. You may decide to officially appoint a champion to support this as encouraging a change in practice and culture is not always smooth sailing so having members of the team champion this change will benefit your onboarding in the long run. Ensure your staff know how to contact support should they need any assistance.  

Starting out with your digital care records platform will begin with the care plans of the people you support. With a platform like Nourish, you are able to choose a Library that fits your care type that comes with interactions, assessments, care plan templates and more for managing specific pathways, conditions, frailties, needs and day-to-day operational requirements for the care types you support. You can also configure and customise Nourish in a way that replicates the forms and assessments crucial to your care services’ operational needs and that looks familiar to your care teams.

By using the care plan templates, you can start building the care plans of the people you support immediately.

With care plans ready and your staff trained to be experts in your chosen digital records platform, the next step is to hit the ground running and start using the platform to its full potential. 

Once the system is implemented, monitor and evaluate its performance regularly. Assess the quality of the data being inputted, the accuracy of the records, and staff satisfaction with the platform. Use this feedback to make improvements and ensure that the platform is meeting your care service’s specific needs. 

Transitioning to a digital social care records system can be a challenging process, particularly if you have a small care service. However, with careful planning, training, and ongoing support, using a digital social care records system often has an improvement in the quality of care provided to the people you support, and an increase in the efficiency and effectiveness of your care delivery. 

Though implementation is the final step, there is more to come with digital care planning. As technology advances and best practice ideals improve, Nourish is constantly updated and improved and new partners are added to our suite of integration partners.

We all understand the importance of valuing and respecting those we care for, when we speak about how you can truly deliver dignity in care, it might be hard to conjure up an exact idea of what that really means or looks like. Luckily Dignity in Care has come up with the 10 Dignity Do’s – an easy list that describes the values and actions of a high-quality care service that respects and upholds people’s dignity to the highest standard.

A Dignity Champion is a person who believes that being treated with dignity is a basic human right, not an optional extra. They believe that care provision must be: compassionate, person-centred, efficient and effective, and are willing to take action in order to achieve this.

“I have handed out Dignity in Care 10 Point ‘Dignity Do’s’ Cards to all staff in my care home – each time we have a team meeting we focus on one of the 10 Dignity Do’s and discuss what we can do to meet that challenge. Each meeting results in us making changes to the way we provide care.”

– A Dignity Care Champion

Dignity Champions are those in a care organisation that champion and uphold the 10 Dignity Do’s, as well as advocate and share the importance of dignity in any form of care. This includes:

You can find out more about becoming a dignity champion and the 10 Dignity Do’s by visiting Dignity in Care’s becoming a champion or register page. Another helpful resource is the Dignity Champion’s Toolkit for Action, which includes actionable insights, ideas and advice for people in a range of different care roles to help make a difference and bring dignity to care.

There are many ways that the Dignity Do’s can help care groups, teams and organisations improve their level of care and adapt to offer a continuously improving level of service. Championing the Dignity Do’s is only the start, we believe that in order to provide the highest quality care, moving to digital care planning enables you to create personalised care plans, record care accurately at the time of providing care and understand and act on trends about those you care for. By using digital, you can be much more efficient and spend more time providing person-centred, quality care.

To find out how care software and technology can be used to enhance your care service, or help you to better care for those you support, book a demo or get in touch with the team.

As many care providers are aware, the Adult Social Care Transformation Fund is supporting the Government aim of having all (but at least 80%) of CQC registered adult social care providers to use digitised care records by March 2024. 

Digital transformation can dramatically improve the quality and safety of care. Point of care information can be safely and securely stored online to keep all staff aware of the care needs of the people they support and give the senior team full oversight of the people they support in their service. This ensures people receive the right care, at the right time, and care teams have access to the information they need. NHS Transformation Directorate is providing £25 million of funding this year as part of a 3-year programme to enable Integrated Care Systems (ICS’) to scale up use of digital social care records, alongside other promising evidence-based technologies centred around outcomes such as falls. 

For care providers still using paper-based care records, this initiative provides a helping hand with starting the journey to digital care records. Taking a care provider from paper to digital may seem a daunting and expensive task but with the ICS funding taking the brunt of the year one cost, there is no better time to make the switch to digital. The funding has been distributed to the 42 ICS’ across England for them to allocate the funding to adult social care providers to support them with adopting digital care records. CQC registered care providers can apply for grant funding from their local ICS which typically will pay for 50% of their annual licence fee for a DSCR. While there is no deadline for funding, there is a risk of the funding pot running out before every care provider has a chance to apply for funding, so now is the time for action. 

Nourish was selected by NHSE as one of the first Assured Suppliers for this national funding programme. We have a dedicated ICS team that works with each ICS programme lead and can help you to navigate the process of applying for ICS funding, help you complete the necessary documents to secure the maximum funding available and give you advice on what you can expect from the ICS. Each ICS has a different process so the information may seem confusing if you are trying to research the funding and processes you need to follow. By utilising our relationship and knowledge of each ICS, we will be able to support you in the process to access ICS funding and make the switch to digital. Our relationship with the 42 ICS’ means we are aware of the funding being offered to each care provider, and what the process of applying is. We have helped many care services apply for funding – we’ll put you in touch with the right person from your ICS. 

As a care provider, your journey to digital may prompt lots of questions initially. Our experience in working alongside care services, coupled with our ICS relationships, gives us the knowledge and expertise to make your transition as pain free as possible. Nourish is a market leader for supporting services on their digital transformation journey. Our team is made up of people with backgrounds in health and social care who have experience and knowledge of the struggles and challenges faced by care providers.  

With digital care planning, you are able to effectively pull reports and spot trends that would be otherwise difficult to evidence. Digital care planning has additional benefits such as reducing the physical footprint of records, stationery costs and clinical risk. As well as all this there are operational efficiencies such as reducing time spent on night visits and keeping track of occupancy. Having access to wider NHS systems is now also a reality with integrations such as GP Connect and local Shared Care Records, empowering carers to be part of the wider circle of care. To see the full benefits of Nourish, click here.

If you’d like to speak to one of our team about what Nourish can do to help you deliver better care, click here to book a demo.

The Project Management Institute says that 50% of all projects fail. A successful digital transformation project that gives you the tools and stepping stones to get your care services up and running with digital care planning will not fail. So, what does a successful digital transformation project look like?

Deciding to make the switch to digital is a project that involves various stages. Where digital care planning sits in your digital strategy will be entirely dependent on how technological your care services are already. Some services may already be using an eMAR or an app for pain management while others are yet to install internet into their location.

Choosing a suitable digital care planning platform for your health and social care service in itself encompasses many areas. Is it suitable for your care type, is it flexible and adaptable to your needs, is it easy to use and visually appealing, does it have the highest security credentials? But what about the implementation itself? Does the digital care management platform supplier offer dedicated Project Managers to assist with your digital transformation journey? If you have over a certain number of services and beds, a project management team from the platform is essential in assisting you and ensuring a smooth roll out the platform to your services.

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), 50% of all projects fail. A successful digital transformation project that gives you the tools and stepping stones to get your care services up and running with digital care planning will not fail. So, what does a successful digital transformation project look like? How can you make it a manageable task? What questions should you ask the project management team?

According to the PMI, 29% of projects fail due to poorly defined opportunities and risks and an inadequate vision or goal. A good digital transformation project will have clear expectations and set targets, goals, milestones and expectations as you implement your digital strategy into your care services. Ensuring you have a clear outline of all the steps you will be taking in the project will give oversight into what is going to happen and when as the project progresses.

To ensure that the project progresses at a rate that doesn’t become overwhelming, a successful project will be gated in the sense that you can only progress once certain milestones have been met. This will make the task more manageable.

“We were concerned about migrating to a new system because we didn’t know how our colleagues would cope with change. Nourish was excellent, they put a bespoke training package in place for us and took the time to walk us through each step of the journey from setup to implementation.” Golden Care

A successful digital transformation project will not just make rolling out the platform manageable but will build a centre of excellence within your care service. Providing you with the knowledge to become self-sufficient in the platform will give you the opportunity to become confident and comfortable in the platform and digital care planning as a whole. Such knowledge will also provide you and your team with the autonomy to help align the platform with your policies and procedures, so it suits the needs of the care services in your remit.

When starting your digital transformation project, it is vital to encourage involvement from your passionate and most tech savvy colleagues to help support the rollout. Encouraging change in practice and culture is not always smooth sailing so having members of the team champion this change will benefit the rollout in the long run. To ensure a successful transition over to digital it is essential to appoint champions who will be advocates for your chosen platform within your organisation.

While it is often assumed that there will be a hesitancy in the use of digital by some care staff who are less confident with technology, research shows that respondents shared consistent descriptions of a high level of acceptance. A study into Nourish and Care Worker Engagement by Graham Brittain MBA from Plymouth University, found the acceptance of the care planning technology was facilitated by both the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of the system. Interviewees frequently cited ease of use in their responses and this was a common ‘particularly liked’ factor that emerged from the survey.

Choosing the order in which you roll out the platform to your services is crucial. It is important to think about leadership, staff engagement, current agency usage and enthusiasm when selecting your services for the first phase of rollouts. This is because they will lead by example for the services that follow. By rolling out the platform in this way, you are able to define what best practice means in your group and then spread that out across all your services.

A successful digital transformation project will have clear milestones and a platform provider team that supports you and your teams to become experts in the platform on the start of your journey to digital transformation.