Supporting adult social care providers with the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT).

The Better Security, Better Care programme is funded by NHSX and led by a group of Programme Partners including, on behalf of Digital Social Care and the Care Provider Alliance, the Registered Nursing Home Association (RNHA).

The programme will support adult social care providers to complete the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT). The toolkit allows care providers to self-assess their policies and procedures and arrangements for data and cyber security.

There are more details at https://www.digitalsocialcare.co.uk/data-security-protecting-my-information/better-security-better-care/

The aim, where possible, is to offer grant funding to local care sector organisations so that they can support care providers in their areas, backed up by national activity and resources. In some other areas, support may be provided by projects led by the NHS or local councils.

The work to put local support in place across England is going well. The Programme Partners recognise, however, that the next few months will be an uncertain period, and it is possible that additional capacity may be needed.

For this reason, the Programme Partners would be interested to hear from organisations that might be able to provide additional DSPT support to adult social care providers during the period January to June 2021. Examples of the kind of support that could be needed include:

• Working with local councils, NHS organisations and care sector organisations to encourage take up.

• Delivering interactive online workshops for small groups of adult social care providers.

• Sessions of 1:1 support to individual care providers delivered remotely.

It should be noted that:

• The programme may or may not need additional capacity of this kind.

• The procurement route would be determined by the volume of activity required, and by the time available.

• Any organisation appointed through this process would need to be in a position to start quickly.

• The kind of support that might be needed is not of a highly technical nature, and that the daily or sessional rates available will reflect that.

At this stage we are simply collating a list of organisations to whom more details could be sent if the need to procure additional support of this kind arises. If you would like to be included on this list, please send an email to [email protected] by 10am on Monday 30th November 2020.

Please could you include in your email a brief overview of your organisation and of how you feel you might be able to offer support if the need arises, keeping to a word limit of 250 words.

Please note that the information you provide will be shared with the Programme Partners, listed below; and with the RNHA's Programme Manager, who is Peter Cheer of Care Inc Ltd.

In addition to NHSX and the RNHA, the Programme Partners are NHS Digital, NHS England and Improvement, the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Service (ADASS).