Specialist support to cross the digital finish line

Dedicated support for social care providers to switch to digital social care record has made an enormous difference, according to registered managers and the East of England. 

One specialist provider relationship manager and her team working for Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System has helped more than 200 adult social care providers with everything from applying for funding to choosing and selecting the most appropriate suppliers. 

As part of the Digitising Social Care programme’s ‘Clock is ticking’ campaign, which highlights the limited time left to apply for funding to set up digital social care records, providers have been sharing their feedback on the support they have received. 

“Gina gives hope to social care leaders and teams like ours” says Ngozi Igwe, registered manager at Alpha Care Plus Home Care Services in Ipswich. 

Gina Trimble meets both social care providers and suppliers of digital social care records so is ideally placed to advise on the right solutions and systems for particular settings and organisations. Gina says she loves working with adult social care providers to make the switch to digital social care records as smooth and painless as possible, whether that’s supporting on funding applications or help to reassure staff that the change will be worthwhile. 

“It is very reassuring to know that Gina and her team are always there if we are stuck and need help. This has been a very exciting process” says Helen Fairweather, CEO, Headway Suffolk, which has recently implemented a new digital social care record solution, following support from Gina.   

Other providers in the region have contacted the Integrated Care System to share their experience, with many citing the help they received as crucial to their success in selecting and implementing new digital solutions. 

“I would like to thank you for your unwavering support and encouragement to all service providers like us,” says Conrado Andres, business manager at Assured Optimal Care in Bury St Edmunds, “Thank you for always taking my calls to answer all my queries and even helping me complete the grant funding application form. You know the hardships of newly startup domiciliary care like us and you even go above and beyond in your work by offering appropriate networking and support from organisations like Skills for Care.” 

One care manager, who is new to her social care management role, said the support she received made an enormous difference. 

“It can be difficult at times” admits Tammy Marshall, care manager at Winchester House residential home in Essex, “but the sincere help and support you showed me was really appreciated.” 

Providers who have already implemented a digital social care record solution are now seeing a huge range of benefits in how they operate, from time savings and greater efficiency through to better collaboration with relatives and huge decreases in the volume of paper being used.  

The clock is ticking to access funding. It won’t be around forever, but there’s a local team ready to help you. 

Find out more about funding, support and how to contact your local ICS team.