Care technology and your organisation
› Technology & Digital Innovation › Care Technology
Care technology can benefit service users and staff, your organisation and the community.
How Scottish Care can help
We have worked with partners across Scotland to establish care technologist roles. We are always happy to share our knowledge and experience.
The benefits of care technology
Introducing care technology roles has great benefits for staff, service users and your organisation.
For your staff
Creating roles like care technologist can:
- offer staff a way to progress in the care sector
- attract new staff to the care sector
- recognise staff who already work with service users to provide digital solutions
For your service users and community
Care technologists link people and technology. Individual support plans can help service users who would be digitally excluded.
Small changes can have a big impact for service users. Digital solutions can help people feel less isolated or provide the support they need to stay in their own homes.
All of this can relieve pressure on health services by supporting earlier discharge and reducing pressure on the residential care sector.
For your organisation
The care sector faces serious challenges. People-led care technology can support the sector by:
- attracting new staff and retaining existing staff
- opening new sources of funding
- increasing the long-term viability of care sector organisations
As part of our research into the care technologist role, Scottish Care found that:
- every £1 spent on care tech created a social return on investment of £4.50 (costs included staff and the price of technology)
The care sector can suffer from both low profitability and productivity. Care technology is a key way of reducing costs and increasing productivity.
Care technology guiding principles
Our care tech principles are a great starting point when considering the potential of care tech for your organisation.
- Collaborate and empower – work with people to co-design solutions that meet their needs
- Person-led – focus on relationships, empathy and trust are key
- Safety and real-world relevance – technology should enhance safety and not disrupt daily life
- Design for usability and accessibility – digital solutions should be reliable and adaptable
- Foster digital confidence and inclusion – gradually build capability and trust
- Sustainability – build a skilled and future-ready digital care workforce
