The National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCASC): Strategic digital innovation in social care

Creating solutions

With the use of digital tools and technology becoming more commonplace within the social care sector, development and implementation must be strategic and principled. Technology itself is not a panacea; its value is directly tied to how well it is embedded in systems, cultures and relationships. If it is removed from the realities of people’s experiences, it risks solving the wrong problems or creating new ones.

That’s why co-production must be at the heart of digital innovation. Creating solutions in equal partnership with people who draw on care and support, carers, families and the workforce means they reflect care as it is experienced—not how it is planned—and are driven by more than top-down targets.

Local innovation

Examples are emerging all over the country that demonstrate how digital innovation can be harnessed to address specific challenges in social care. Many of the Department of Health and Social Care’s projects supported by SCIE through the Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF), for example, have the potential to drive productivity through early-support schemes and preventative systems, using digital tools to innovate in hospital discharge, carer-identification and support for unpaid carers.

For instance, in Peterborough, the Bridgit AI chatbot has been introduced to support carers, offering a one-stop platform for information, advice and links to relevant organisations. Developed by the Caring Together Charity in partnership with local councils, the platform provides carers with instant answers to their questions and personalised guidance. In Kent, Kent County Council have joined up with Kirklees Council to co-produce a digital self-assessment tool, enabling carers to identify needs and connect to support at their own pace.

The National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCASC) 2025

We’ll be discussing these and other ARF projects in more detail at NCASC—alongside the wider work we’ve been doing with local authorities to explore and embed digital innovation across adult and children’s services and the findings from our new report, ‘Shaping change together: co-producing innovation in social care‘. The report, launched on Monday 24 November, has been informed by a national survey undertaken as part of Co-production Week 2025.

We are excited to host an exclusive reception and panel discussion on the future of tech-enabled social care with leader in lifestyle monitoring technology, Lilli. The session will share insights from Bromley’s digital transformation programme, including productivity and efficiency gains, and from Lilli’s work with Medway to support more people to live safely and independently at home. There’ll be a strong balance between national learning, local context and lived experience—supporting debate and peer learning among council leaders, practitioners and people who draw on care.

Alongside our focus on digital innovation, we will provide a wealth of evidence-based resources and practical information around best practice.  For example, we will host a workshop designed to help local authorities and partners ensure the best possible outcomes for children and young people when using the Mental Capacity Act:

Thursday 27 November, 09:30 – Getting the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty right for children and young people 

Use of the Mental Capacity Act for children and young people has grown over the last 12 years and is now a significant feature of children’s services practice. The workshop will take an in-depth look at how we can best adapt our systems to uphold the rights of children and young people, exploring how practice and our workers are most effectively supported. 

We’re looking forward to connecting, sharing ideas and learning together. If you would like advice, guidance or simply an exploratory chat on digital innovation or other challenges you face and how we can help support you, please do contact us or come and speak to us at our Exhibition Stand C30.