Providing support to data security and digital training and skills development for the care sector

The BSBC programme supports the adult social care sector with resources and assistance to help care providers complete the Data Security & Protection Toolkit (DSPT). The DSPT is a free, online self-assessment for health and care providers to evaluate and improve their data and cyber security. It's an ambitious programme with the aim that all CQC registered adult social care services will have completed the DSPT to 'standards met'. The programme is delivered by a diverse group of care sector organisations, including many local care associations, with colleagues from the NHS, ADASS and local councils also involved.

Better Security, Better Care is led by a programme board whose members are NHSX, NHS Digital, NHS England and Improvement, the Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and, Digital Social Care on behalf of care providers.

Reflecting the increased importance of the secure sharing of information between health and care services, the programme is developing its approach to training and skills development for the sector.

We are providing grant funding for a discrete piece of work to identify the training needs of small & medium enterprise (SME) care providers. To explore the current training available on the market and the potential of a skills assessment and training package which meets the needs, in particular, of SME care providers and is compliant with the requirements of the DSPT. This work would also seek to identify how the market for delivering this could be further developed.