Digital social care records (DSCRs) are software solutions for recording a person’s care information. They replace paper records.
These solutions are sometimes called electronic or digital care plans, care records or care management systems.
DSCRs do not normally include rostering or electronic medication administration records (eMAR), but you may be able to find a solution that also offers these features.
Using DSCRs will allow you to share up-to-date information more easily and securely, and reduce time spent on administrative tasks. This improves the safety and quality of your care records, helping you to provide person-centred care.
This guidance will help you to find and choose a DSCR solution and prepare your organisation for the change.
Making the case for DSCRs
The first step in setting up a DSCR is to identify why the change is needed.
You may need to put together a case to share the reasons for the change with other members of your organisation.
When making the case for change, consider:
Digitising your care records may involve a big culture change in your organisation. Bring people along with you on the journey by identifying the benefits DSCRs will have for them.
For example, implementing digital care records could allow you to:
- free up time so that staff can spend more time providing care - DSCRs can free up over 20 minutes per care worker per shift, by enabling faster handovers
- save on long-term costs of printing and storing paper records or maintaining multiple systems
- share information with people who use your services and (where relevant) their families more easily
- share more comprehensive information about a person receiving care with clinicians
- better protect sensitive data
- avoid duplication and wasted effort caused by having multiple systems
- provide information to commissioners and regulators more easily, including how you are meeting CQC quality standards
- access and record notes from anywhere so staff can use them on the move
- review and analyse trends - both for the organisation and the people receiving care
- integrate and share data with other health systems, such as the NHS GP Connect system
Choosing the right solution
Once you have decided to start using DSCRs, you will need to find the right software solution for your organisation. There are many different options available, so it’s important to take time to consider your needs thoroughly.
Involving people in your decision
Identify who you need to involve in the decision-making process.
The people you support and the staff who will use the DSCR should be central to your decision. They will help you to understand what the solution needs to do, and they’re more likely to adopt new ways of working if they have been involved at an early stage.
You may want to involve:
- staff and management teams
- the people you support and their families
- local authority commissioners
- the governing board
- clinical and allied health professionals you work with
- consultants you work with
Excerpt from the official page. The original is authoritative. Continue reading at UK DHSC ↗