The National Care Forum (NCF) – the leading association for not-for-profit social care is delighted to announce the national rollout of its Care Technologist Training Programme with initial courses currently available to book from July to October 2026.
The Care Technologist is a new kind of professional in adult social care— using technology to help people live independently, make choices, and stay connected. The Skills for Care Workforce Strategy has identified the need to support the roll out of the Care Technologist, and it will shortly be added as new role category in the Care Workforce Pathway.
The development of the Care Technologist training has been funded by The Rayne Foundation and has been co-designed with people who draw on services and those working in care and support. The training keeps the focus firmly on the person being supported and their priorities and aspirations. Care Technologists who have completed the training programme provide ongoing support to people, putting them in the driving seat about decisions on the use of technology to support them to be better connected, have more control and promote/maintain their independence. Care Technologists provide ongoing support to people through the introduction and adoption of technology into their lives.
During the training programme, participants will receive tuition to help them understand the new role and how it supports a more preventative and personalised approach. They will also learn how to work alongside people drawing on care and support to identify their goals and then match the right digital technologies to the person’s needs, preferences and outcomes. In a further module they will get to know a wide variety of care technologies enabling them to make the right choices depending on the person’s specific requirements.
Of crucial importance in the training programme is the module on data protection, consent and information governance to ensure Care Technologists introduce technology safely, transparently and with integrity. The final module covers leadership and impact and will guide participants through strategies that will help them become digital champions, create culture change in their organisations and evaluate the impact of technology on people’s lives, care quality and workforce outcomes. On completion of the programme, participants can join the Care Technologist Community of Practice, also delivered by NCF, which enables them to continue to meet regularly with other Care Technologists to share good practice and to keep up to date on new and emerging Care Technology solutions.
Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of NCF said: “The Care Technologist Training Programme equips care and support professionals with the skills and confidence to bring technology into the day-today delivery of care in ways that are co-designed with the person they are supporting. This puts the person receiving care and support in the driving seat. We’re delighted to be rolling out this exciting opportunity for our brilliant care professionals to provide care that is completely person-led while equipping them with the digital skills to help them keep pace with the rapid advancements of digital technology.
“The Care Technologist training curriculum has been built by a community of experts who brought insight and expertise. We are particularly grateful to have worked collaboratively with colleagues in Scottish Care who started this movement, and for all those who joined our discovery sessions, and were part of the original pilots. These contributions have enabled NCF’s digital training colleagues, Lynne Horton and Heather Taylor, to create a truly co-designed programme that both addresses people’s requirements now, and the increasingly complex needs we will see in the future.”
Michaela Green, Registered Manager at Specialist Care Services who took part in the pilot phase of the training course said: “The highlight of the programme was the diversity of care backgrounds among the participants. Our tutors, Heather Taylor and Lynne Horton from the NCF, were a truly inspirational and knowledgeable duo. They didn’t just provide technical clarity; they gave us the confidence to lead. The course also allowed us to build a supportive network of leaders to share knowledge and peer support.”
The Care Technologist Training Programme is now available to book with course dates starting on 9th July. Visit NCF’s website to find out more and reserve places.
