New research from Care England, the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford, Serene Care and Digital Care Hub has found that AI is already being used across social care, including for care planning, medication management, recruitment and falls prevention.
The qualitative study, based on a survey of 26 care leaders and 20 interviews, found that most respondents using AI felt confident doing so, but identified a lack of regulatory clarity, formal training and consistent support as key challenges.
Respondents also raised concerns around data privacy, inaccurate or incomplete AI-generated outputs, additional administrative burdens and the risk of losing the “human touch” in care. Most survey respondents had received no formal training on adopting AI.
The research calls for a more supportive, transparent and collaborative approach from commissioners and regulators, alongside funding and guidance for AI and digital training.
