WHAT'S NEW? DIGITAL CARE HUB EXPANDS SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL CARE PROVIDERS


Digital Care Hub has strengthened its support for adult social care providers with new resources, webinars, and e-learning opportunities. The expansion builds on the success of the Better Security, Better Care programme, which has significantly improved data security and cyber resilience across the sector.


Major progress in cyber security and data protection Since Better Security, Better Care’s launch, the percentage of social care providers completing and publishing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) has increased from under 15% in April 2021 to over 76% by August 2024. An independent evaluation by Cordis Bright attributes this success to strong collaboration between a central team and 28 local support organisations.


The average cost of a cyber incident with a material impact on social care providers was £9,528, significantly higher than the £3,540 average for other small businesses. The programme’s support has mitigated these risks, saving an estimated £15.5m in avoided costs associated with data breaches and cyber incidents. The return on investment in the programme – which is fully-funded by Government – is estimated to be £2.71 for every £1 spent, based on the programme having a medium level of impact on the sector.


Call to maintain momentum Michelle Corrigan, Programme Director at Digital Care Hub, said: “It’s vital that we keep this momentum going to ensure care providers remain protected against evolving cyber threats. We are now focused on providing practical support to help them implement good cyber security.”


Echoing these sentiments, Ethan Gray, Cyber Policy Lead at the Department of Health and Social Care, commented: “This programme has delivered substantial improvements in data protection and cyber security, laying a strong foundation for digital transformation. The government aims for all care providers to be digitised by the end of this parliament. Building on this programme’s success, we will work to shape a secure digital future for the care sector.”


New e-learning programme for data protection leads Digital Care Hub has launched a new e-learning programme


for data security and protection leads in small and medium- sized care organisations.


Those with responsibility for data security and protection can be in a range of roles. For example, they may be a registered manager, office manager, senior administrator, company owner or the responsibility may be shared across two roles.


This e-learning will support leads to be able to keep data safe and know what basic cyber security steps to take to reduce threats to data security. It will also demonstrate that they have met the training requirements within the Data Security and Protection Toolkit.


Cyber Resilient Care support for small providers Small care providers with up to 50 staff can now access free expert support to assess and improve their cyber resilience. Thanks to funding from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and Innovate UK’s Cyber Local programme, Digital Care Hub is working with their local support organisations and the police-led Cyber Resilience Centres to offer specialist assistance in the South West, West Midlands, and North West.


Running from January to March 2025, the support includes:


• Cyber workshops – Interactive sessions tailored to adult social care.


• Cyber vulnerability assessments – Scans of internal and external IT systems, security settings, and devices.


• Cyber-attack simulations – Webinars focusing on phishing and ransomware attacks.


• Cyber Game (launching 4 March 2025) – A new interactive experience where participants navigate a simulated cyber- attack in a care service, making critical decisions in real time.


Webinars Forthcoming Digital Care Hub webinars, include: launch of the Cyber Game; making the most of Microsoft; cyber- attack simulations; and completing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit.


www.digitalcarehub.co.uk


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www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


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