A DSCR can save your staff valuable time wasted on routine administrative tasks as it makes information readily available at the point of care. Having a DSCR in place can also support improvements in the safety and quality of care which is centred around the individual.

Having a DSCR will enable future connectivity to your local Shared Care Record (ShCR) resulting in joined up health and social care.

Still not made the move to DSCR?

Listen to our webinar DSCR What’s in it for me? and get a first-hand perspective from other West Midlands Care Providers who have made the move and have shared their experiences with us...

Here's a video from Richmond Court Care Home in Dudley on their experiences of going 'digital'



Care 2 U, based in Walsall, here...

Following the publication of CQCs guidance on digital social care records and their importance in achieving good outcomes for people, this video has been produced which brought together senior leaders from Digitising social care and colleagues from the CQC to discuss it in detail. Mark Topps, a registered manager and co-presenter at Caring View facilitated the conversation to delve into what it all means for providers. This is the highlight film.

If you are interested to learn about your eligibility, what funding is available, and how you could be supported through the selection and purchasing process, click on the relevent ICS button at the base of the page to find out more.

There may be additional funding available for Sensor Based Falls Detection and Prevention Technology (SBFDT) to identify and prevent falls for those at risk, and for piloting other technology for use within care provider settings care technologies (TEC). Click on the relevant ICS button at the end of the page to find out more

Having Digital Social Care Records will transform the way you provide care but it does mean that your data protection policies and procedures need to be robust

One of the ways you can do this is by completing the Data Security Protection Toolkit (DSPT)

The Data Security and Protection Tool Kit (DSPT) is an Online Assessment which all Care Providers who work with and access NHS patient data and systems (including NHS Mail) must complete annually.

It is a condition of accessing the DIgital Transformation Fund that you have successfully completed the DSPT to Standards Met level

The tool kit covers such areas as your privacy and data protection policies, how you store and backup data, how you secure mobile devices, business continuity in the event of a cyber incident and how you manage your IT security and support.

Successful completion of the DSPT is also a requirement to access NHS Mail and  Proxy Access,

The West Midlands Care Association is part of a FREE national program - Better Security Better Care - to assist all CQC registered care providers with this.

To find our what you need to do next, just click on the button below.



In order to access the funding you must purchase a software solution from the assured solutions list

Assured solutions have undergone a rigorous tendering and selection process to ensure they are suitable for care providers’ needs. They have reached a minimum level of capability and meet appropriate standards on interoperability, cyber security, and accessibility.

Most suppliers offer additional services around patient empowerment, system optimisation and assurance, medicines management and workforce solutions, if needed.  

Click below to see a pop up of the current assured solutions list

There is a very helpful tool on the Digital Social Care website that allows you to compare the different systems. you can find it here

Also check out:

Guidance on writing a specification and Guidance on buying a Digital Social Care record

Funding can be used towards implementation costs: software, training, and licences in the first year only.

The funding cannot be used for any Infrastructure, connectivity*, and devices unless they are required to support the implementation of your chosen DSCR

Indicative costs are that for an average sized care provider location (with 25 service users) a DSCR would cost around £4,000 per annum with initial training and implementation costs of £3,000. 

The actual funding available differs depending on which ICB you are located in. For more details click on the links below to contact the relevent ICB

*some areas may have other funds or initiatives to support connectivity issues.

In an area with low broadband speeds?

Use the governments postal code search tool, to see if you can gain access to funding vouchers to support improving broadband connectivity here