Supporting people drawing on social care to make informed choices about digital security

The BSBC programme supports the adult social care sector with resources and assistance to help care providers complete the Data Security & Protection Toolkit (DSPT).

The DSPT is a free, online self-assessment for health and care providers to evaluate and improve their data and cyber security.

It's an ambitious programme with the aim that all CQC registered adult social care services will have completed the DSPT to 'standards met'.

The programme is delivered by a diverse group of care sector organisations, including many local care associations, with colleagues from the NHS, ADASS and local councils also involved.

Better Security, Better Care is led by a programme board whose members are NHSX, NHS Digital, NHS England and Improvement, the Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and, Digital Social Care on behalf of care providers.

Reflecting the increased importance of the secure sharing of information between health and care services, the programme wishes to better engage with people drawing on social care to support them to make informed choices about choosing digitally secure care providers.

The project We are providing grant funding for a discrete piece of work to identify and understand the needs of people drawing on social care in relation to digital security.

This project will focus on identifying how to engage with people who draw on social care and their families/people important to them, and to determine their understanding of digital security when accessing care services.

The aim is to establish if and how a better understanding of digital maturity and data and cyber security would enable them to make more informed choices about the care providers they choose.