Voluntary sector collaboration launches project to support adult social care providers with data and cyber security
A new project that seeks to better understand the digital, data and technology issues faced by social care providers of services to working age adults and how best to support them implement safe data and cyber security practices has today been launched.
The project is led by the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) in partnership with the Association of Mental Health Providers (The Association).Through surveys, focus groups, and events, the project will analyse the preparedness, issues and obstacles facing disability and mental health organisations providing services to adults of working age in relation to data and cyber security and look to promote best practice and information sharing.
It will specifically engage with providers of services to people with a learning disability, those who are autistic and have physical or sensory impairments and with mental health* conditions, and will explore:
- the use of data security protection resources and the barriers to use,
- the obstacles to increasing the pace of digital social care and the support needed to progress,
- organisations data security and protection processes,
- Existing good practice.
Dr Rhidian Hughes, VODG chief executive, Kathy Roberts, Association of Mental Health Providers chief executive, said: “We welcome the investment in raising awareness of digital and cyber-security across the adult social care sector and this fresh focus on providers that support people of working age, including people with a learning disability and those that experience mental ill health.
“VODG and The Association look forward to working closely together to find solutions that will support providers to address their data any cyber security challenges and digital and tech capacity across the system.”
The project is part of a wider programme supporting the delivery of the National Cyber Security Strategy across adult social care services. The programme, which is led by Digital Social Care, the Local Government Association and the newly created NSHX, works to develop practical solutions to the data and cyber security challenges faced by adult social care providers in England.