ASC Digital Expertise and Sector Engagement Provision
The Department of Health and Social Care seeks to fund an external, sector‑based organisation to support with the promotion, and implementation, of adult social care (ASC) technology policy commitments. The grant, valued at £100,000, will cover the period from June 15, 2025 to March 31, 2027. The funded organisation will be expected to demonstrate substantial experience in delivering digital and data expertise within the adult social care sector. This includes a strong track record in effective stakeholder engagement, including digital engagement and communication, as well as experience in the development of practical guidance and resources.
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Contents
Summary
The grant has a maximum value of £100,000, covering work from 15th June, 2026 to 31st March, 2027. It will support cross-programme activities, involving both the policy (DHSC) and delivery (NHSE) functions within the team.
The funded organisation will promote and encourage the digital transformation of ASC providers and those working in care. This supports public commitments that were announced by Ministers in January 2025:
· Set new national standards and trusted guidance on the best technology in care, so that people receiving care, their families and care providers can confidently buy what works and get the safest, most effective tech into their homes or services.
· Join up health and care services by enabling health and care staff to access real time social care, GP and hospital data, including by joining up digital systems with a shared platform.
· Ensure that all care providers to be fully digitised, and for staff to have access to essential medical information.
We are therefore aiming to fund an organisation who can promote, embed and test ASC technology policy thinking within the sector. The funded organisation will deliver specialist digital engagement with care providers to promote our work and provide them with advice and support on topics that will support care providers to meet our ambition that the sector is ‘fully digitised’ by the end of the current Parliament. As part of this work, we would also like the organisation to draft and update guidance materials to help care providers adopt and implement digital technologies in line with national priorities.
The funded organisation will be expected to be a subject matter expert on digital and data in adult social care, and bring delivery expertise in the following areas:
Sector engagement, consultation and communications on digital and data, including running webinars and campaigns
Development of clear, accessible guidance and case studies for care providers
Supporting adoption of digital tools, such as assured Digital Social Care Records (DSCRs) and GP Connect
Researching needs of key user groups within adult social care
Outline opportunities for emerging technologies in care, including artificial intelligence (AI), and options for managing any risks they present
Eligibility
We are seeking interested not-for-profit organisations who work within the adult social care sector. As the responsibility for adult social care is devolved, we are only welcoming bids from organisations based in England.
This grant cannot be delivered regionally or locally. Only responses from organisations that can deliver across England will be considered.
The intended grant would be made under Section 149 of the Health & Social Care Act 2008. Applicants will need to be eligible to apply under the conditions outlined in Sections 149 and 150 of that legislation.
Objectives
The grant will fund an organisation to produce a set of deliverables that support the aims of the ASC Tech Policy team. These outputs will enable more effective engagement across the care sector, accelerate the adoption of digital tools, and contribute meaningfully to the three health mission shifts.
The key objectives are as follows:
Fully digitised and joining up data
Sector‑wide engagement and awareness activity that strengthens understanding of the vision for a fully digitised ASC sector
Activities that develop, refine or share supportive materials to help providers progress their digital maturity
Initiatives that encourage provider confidence and capability in using national digital tools and services
Communications or outreach efforts that highlight digital priorities such as DSCR adoption and its relationship to wider interoperability ambitions
Activities that surface or share practical learning to support DSCR implementation across the sector (e.g., case studies)
Connectivity and digital switchover
Engagement and awareness‑building activities focused on the digital switchover and its implications
Updates to guidance on connectivity, digital infrastructure, or secure communication tools such as NHSmail
Collaborative approaches to communications that support consistent sector messaging on connectivity and digital resilience
Insight‑gathering or exploratory work examining sector needs around infrastructure, data usage and connectivity
Digital skills and workforce
Engagement with care providers and workforce groups to explore digital skills needs linked to changing roles and responsibilities
Activities that raise visibility of, or facilitate access to, digital skills development opportunities across the sector
Mechanisms for structured reflection and feedback to inform updates to digital skills frameworks and related materials
Flexible engagement opportunities enabling discussion on specific areas of digital skills development
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Activities that support understanding, reflection and informed discussion about the opportunities and risks associated with AI in ASC (e.g., guidance, blogs, case studies)
SeaCAT
Evidence and Evaluation
Activities that promote learning and share insights generated through the ASCTF pilots
Contributions that support ongoing development of evidence expectations or standards for digital technologies in ASC
Implementation Guidance
Activities that raise awareness of, or expand access to, implementation guidance, helping the workforce to use digital tools confidently and effectively
Dates
We expect the outcome of this competition to be provided during the week commencing 15th June, 2026.
How to apply
Applicants should complete the next stage through Find A Grant.
The application should be completed by 29th May 2026.
Supporting information
The Digitising Social Care website is the official site for NHS England and DHSC guidance, information and advice on making the most of digital technologies. It supports care providers in England on how to make the most of digital innovation to drive better, safer care. The information currently found on the site was developed during the last Parliament.
In January 2025, the DHSC announced plans to launch an independent commission into adult social care as part of the Government’s first critical steps towards delivering a National Care Service. Alongside the commission led by Baroness Louise Casey, the announcement set out a series of short-term reforms to support the adult social care sector.