A new guide has been launched to help Councils and social care providers avoid common pitfalls when introducing new and emerging technology into adult social care.
The guide sets out recommendations for Councils and social care providers looking to implement new and emerging technology, including AI and other data-intensive forms of technology. It is produced by the University of Birmingham and RAND Europe, through the BRACE Rapid Evaluation Centre, and is co-badged by Digital Social Care and social care partners within the NHS England Transformation Directorate.
The booklet distils findings from a BRACE study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, which looked at decision making and implementation processes for home sensors with AI capabilities, which had been piloted across different social care sites in England.
These sensors are used to collect data on regular habits such as kettle use, flushing the toilet, getting out of bed, and opening the door. This is then used to build a picture of people’s usual routines and flag when a significant change takes place which can be a sign of deteriorating health or well-being.
Despite this potentially powerful use of AI technology, the study found that there were issues with implementation and decision making which kept the technology from meeting expectations in terms of having a positive impact on care.
Jon Glasby, Professor of Health and Social Care at the University of Birmingham said: "Technology could have the potential to transform the way we deliver social care, but so many attempts to introduce new technology seem to over-promise and under-deliver. This could be for many different reasons, including a lack of understanding or fear of technology, unrealistic expectations about what technology can achieve, or underestimating the importance of social and cultural change alongside technological solutions."
