Background

Following the phase of the Digitising Social Care programme, with a significant portion adult social care sector now digitised through DSCRs, the Social Care Interoperability Platform (SCIP) looks to build on that progress through focussing attention on national interoperability. 

As it stands, information gathering and sharing is still relatively limited and relies on care providers and DSCR solution suppliers creating and maintaining individual connections in a non-standardised way. This leads to: 

• A Fragmented Data Landscape - Information about individuals receiving care is scattered across multiple systems and locations, creating challenges in accessing comprehensive and accurate care records. 

• Impact on Care Quality - The lack of centralised information can result in incomplete or inconsistent care, potentially compromising the outcomes for the individual. 

• System Inefficiencies - Dispersed data leads to duplication of efforts, delays in decision-making, and increased administrative burdens, reducing overall system efficiency. 

The need for consistent standards has been identified at a national level, with a focus on data collection and data sharing, to support delivering consistent care across the country. This is achieved through SCIP via the creation of connections which ensure an individual’s health and care information is accurate and accessible aligning adult social care, from a technical perspective, with information stores and collections found elsewhere in the health and care system.  

Discovery has been undertaken to date with NHS England architects in conjunction with market engagement and early stakeholder interviews, which has informed the procurement of a SCIP delivery partner. This includes, assessing options for architectural approach, design principles, patterns, security and technical standards. It has also been considered what existing NHS components could and could not be reused as part of this development

Outline Plan

SCIP delivery partner to commence work July 2025, subject to procurement, work to be undertaken at pace to confirm the requirements for this opportunity item.  Further details to be shared once available.

Summary of Change

TBC

Full Specification

TBC

Assurance Approach

TBC