Curam
AI-driven: Onboarding, vetting, matching, communications, deployment & safeguarding
How technology can revitalise the care sector in times of crisis
Social care in the UK is at breaking point, with 2.6 million people over the age of 50 unable to access care in England alone. Public spending last year exceeded £28 billion, while vacancies in the job market sat at 152,000, meaning people cannot get the vital care they need when they need it.
Social care currently operates on the traditional agency model, but this is no longer fit for purpose. Inefficiencies in the system make care expensive and slow to access, which is detrimental to health and a drain on public resources. In December 2023, a total of 12,203 people faced delayed discharge from hospitals as social care provisions were made, costing the NHS upwards of £483 per person per night.
The social care issue should be prioritised in upcoming general election campaigning, but the problem is deep-seated and revitalising how care is provided and accessed requires the whole industry to be modernised. While digital transformation has permeated other sectors, social care has remained largely untouched by its benefits, but this needs to change.
Choice and control
By using the agency model, patients have very little control over who comes into their homes and provides care, but technological innovation can change that. Rather than the luck of the carer draw, clients and their families can search for their perfect match based on location, specialist skills, experience and language. Using integrated video calling, clients and carers can speak directly before any arrangements are finalised to ensure they are the right fit for one another. Care is matched to unique needs and delivered by a handpicked carer.
AI in care
Artificial intelligence has huge potential to keep both carers and clients safe by powering onboarding, stringent identification vetting, deployment, payments and message safeguarding. AI flattens costs to keep fees to a minimum, meaning carers can earn above the agency average while clients pay below-average rates to receive high-quality care.
Emerging technology is becoming increasingly prevalent within predictive health and preventative care. It offers opportunity to all elements of healthcare, and as more departments within the wider industry harness AI’s power, the greater care’s potential for improvement. However, it is crucial to use technology to enhance the human touch of care rather than replace it.
Valuable care delivered by valued professionals
The provision of quality care relies on enough professionals carrying out this vital work. Technology gives carers better earning opportunities as they work for themselves and set their own pay rates. Furthermore, with free online training courses, carers can progress their careers, reach new earning potential and deliver outstanding care with passion, empathy and excellence.
These opportunities are attracting retired nurses and carers back to caring due to the increased earning and learning opportunities.
Building communities
Being a carer is a challenging role and having a dependent who needs a carer can also be difficult to manage at times. Modern platforms allow individual carers or recipients of care to build communities to foster knowledge, share resources and offer emotional support through connections that enhance the overall quality of care.
Technology can be used to keep everyone in a patient’s family updated on their care and reassure them that their loved one is well looked after. If a carer is away or unable to make a shift, they can call someone within their network who they trust to look after their client in the meantime, offering everyone peace of mind.
With greater training opportunities and a solid network of fellow carers and clients, Curam carers become Care Professionals, delivering exceptional care and acting as a staple in the local community.
Shaping the future of home social care
Putting technology into the heart of social care will be transformative when pursued at a national level as innovative solutions and tech platforms deliver cost saving at every stage and bridge the gap between need and availability. In the future, everyone will have access to quality social care from a carer they choose, and higher wages and greater career opportunities will make caring a more viable career option.
To find out more about the potential of technology in social care, speak to the Curam team at the TechUK stand at London Tech Week.
Author: Patrick Wallace, Director and Co-founder of Curam
techUK and TechSkills at London Tech Week
techUK is proud to once again be a strategic partner of London Tech Week. The event is a fantastic showcase for UK tech, and we’re pleased that techUK members and colleagues are represented on the agenda.
We are pleased to be working with 20 techUK members at London Tech Week to highlight the positive impact of the tech industry in the UK.
You can find more details on the author of this blog, below:
London Tech Week: Fringe events
techUK is leading several fringe events across the week on topics as varied as Justice and Emergency Services, Local Public Services, Digital ID, and international trade. Visit the pages below to register:
