Jane Brightman, Director of Workforce Development, discusses what the care sector needs beyond digital skills alone to support the digital advancement of social care.
Digital change is moving fast in adult social care, and while developing digital skills is vital for people working in care, it takes more than digital skills alone for transformation to succeed.
Yes, our workforce needs confidence in using technology, managing data and staying safe online—but digital transformation succeeds only when the right skills sit alongside the right values, support and culture. What truly matters is how digital tools are embedded into person‑centred practice—because in our sector, technology must be an enabler to serve people, not the other way round.
At Skills for Care, we’ve spent years working with providers, managers, people drawing on care and sector partners to understand what effective digital working really looks like. Our Digital Skills Framework sets out seven areas—from technical confidence to ethical use of technology—that every worker can build on. But it also reminds us that capability is shaped by culture: the benefits of technology develop best in environments that value learning, collaboration and reflective practice.
Values first: keeping care at the heart of digital transformation
Across our guidance and development programmes, we consistently emphasise that digital approaches must uphold dignity, independence, choice and control. This is especially true as AI-enabled tools become more utilised in the sector. In our discussions with the sector, leaders who are moving AI ways of working forward always highlight a shared principle: AI should support, not compromise, the fundamental values of care. Even where tools can help draft notes, assist communication or provide smart monitoring, they must always be used with human oversight and clear ethical guardrails.
Embedding technology ethically requires more than technical know-how: it demands professional judgement, empathy, transparency and respect for people’s rights. These values guide how people working in care interpret data, make decisions, and communicate with individuals and families in a digital context.
Building confidence through supportive leadership
Digital transformation is relational, not just technical. Our work on digital leadership reinforces that confident, informed leaders are essential to creating the conditions where digital skills can thrive.
The Level 5 Award in Understanding Digital Leadership in Adult Social Care intends to support adult social care leaders and managers to have greater confidence and capability to lead the use of technology in the delivery of care, and to improve the quality of life and outcomes for people who draw on care and support.
Digital leaders must model curiosity, encourage reflective learning and help teams connect technology with the values of quality care. Without this leadership, digital tools risk being seen as imposed burdens rather than meaningful aids.
The behaviours that make digital working successful
The practical behaviours we see in digitally confident teams are just as important as the formal skills. For example, our Digital Skills Framework highlights the importance of communicating effectively through technology, using data responsibly and staying safe online. These behaviours—being transparent, checking information, considering risks, and seeking support when unsure—are essential everyday habits that build trust and reliability in digital care.
We also know that digital confidence grows when staff have access to ongoing learning, peer support, and time to practice. Digital competence can’t be a one-off achievement. To put it simply, it needs to be embedded into everyday working.
Supporting ethical and responsible use of AI
As AI becomes more common in social care, we are clear that the sector must shape its use—not the other way around. AI should amplify human insight, not replace it.
This means workers need confidence in interpreting and challenging AI outputs, understanding limitations and applying critical thinking—skills that sit firmly alongside compassion, communication and person‑centred decision‑making.
Our upcoming AI and the future of social work – one-day summit, in partnership with Social Work England, will explore the question: “How can we harness the power of artificial intelligence to enhance – not replace – the human relationships, ethical judgment, and professional standards at the heart of social work?”
A digital future built on people, not just technology
Digital transformation is not simply about equipping the workforce with new technical abilities. It’s about strengthening the values, behaviours and support systems that enable digital tools to enhance—not dilute—the things that matter most in social care: relationships, trust and quality of life.
As we continue to develop resources, frameworks and learning opportunities, our core message remains the same: digital skills are essential, but they are only one part of what the sector needs. With the right leadership, values, behaviours and culture, we can ensure digital ways of working truly help people live with dignity, choice and independence. That is the digital future we are working toward, together.
Further reading:
- Skills for Care – Digital Skills Framework
Available at skillsforcare.org.uk (search “Digital Skills Framework”). - Skills for Care – Level 5 Award in Understanding Digital Leadership in Adult Social Care
Qualification specification available at skillsforcare.org.uk. - Skills for Care – AI and the Future of Social Work: A One-Day Summit
Event information available at skillsforcare.org.uk.
