May 11th 2023
Last month marked two years of Better Security, Better Care – the official free support programme for care services completing their Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT). The programme offers a wide range of support for care providers who are looking to check and improve their data and cyber security arrangements, including:
- National & local webinars
- Tailored sessions and direct support from Local Support Partners across England
- Template policies and guidance
- National helpline – 0208 133 3430
As national policy moves towards digital systems and wider information sharing, it’s important that care services know how to protect and safely share the data they hold. The DSPT is the official self-assessment toolkit to enable them to check their policies, procedures and practices.
In two years, the Better Security, Better Care programme has:
- Enabled 12,000 more care providers in England to use the DSPT. Over 16,000 care providers are DSPT compliant – that’s a four-fold increase from just 4,000 in 2021.
- 80% of residential care homes with nursing, and 70% of care homes without nursing are DSPT compliant.
- Homecare services have seen a 30% increase in DSPT compliance.
The Programme has achieved this through:
- 28 local support organisations
- Almost 2,300 webinars supporting care services to check and improve their data and cyber security arrangements.
- Over 3,700 interactive workshops helping care services to complete the DSPT.
- Almost 7,250 direct meetings with care services to answer queries and support their DSPT assessments.
Michelle Corrigan, Programme Director, said,
“National policy commitments geared towards the increased use of data and digital technology will help to support and improve care outcomes, but having good data and cyber security arrangements in place will be key to the safe and effective use of technology. Better Security, Better Care has supported thousands of care services over the past two years to protect their paper and digital information, and will continue to provide guidance and support to the sector.”
“Our next focus is on homecare providers and small organisations who might need more support to protect their data and cyber security arrangements. It doesn’t matter about service structure or size – the DSPT is for all care services, and whilst we’ve seen a big uptake in care homes, we’re focussing our efforts on improving uptake across domiciliary care settings.”
Access free support from the Better Security, Better Care programme.
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