Innovation
at Scottish Care

Scottish Care recognises that technology and digital have an increasingly important role in everyday life and social care. Our vision for technology and digital in social care aims to inspire dialogue and collaborative critique across the sector and with wider partners as we evolve ambitions and pathways in this work. We articulate and publish vision papers that focus on human-rights frameworks, relationships and partnership, emphasising how technology and digital can support people, families, professionals and wider systems to benefit. Thought leadership from the Innovation Hub also highlights principles, ethical considerations and strategic context that guide innovation and informed engagement with emerging opportunities.

The Innovation Hub curates a range of programmes and projects that promote practical use of technology and digital tools across the independent sector. A key example is the Digital Approaches in Care Homes programme, which guides and coordinates support to help care homes maximise the benefits of digital technology. Its three pillars — Digital Foundations, Digital Services, and Digital Leadership & Skills — focus on connectivity, devices, data and digital confidence for both staff and people accessing care. These projects help providers translate strategic ambition into everyday practice that improves confidence, independence and wellbeing in care settings.

The Innovation Hub supports active engagement with members and partners to explore new technological possibilities and future workforce roles. We engage regularly with members on digital topics to inform our wider work and support partnerships with industry and academia. Earlier collaborations, such as the work with The Glasgow School of Art, helped identify future roles like Care Navigator, Care Connector and Care Technologist, which reflect critical thinking about how people and technology interact in relational, person-centred care. Engagement also contributes to projects such as digital care planning data sharing and future workforce exploration, enabling learning and collaboration across sectors.