Event round-up: techUK & Skills for Care - Digital Transformation and AI in Local Authorities
Catch up on the techUK member showcases at Skills for Care’s local authority digital transformation event.
techUK were delighted to partner with Skills for Care in March 2025 for an online event focused on digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence in local authorities, with a focus on social care.
techUK members Sentinel Partners, Curam, and FarrPoint had the chance to showcase their work to an audience which comprised Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, social care commissioners and other local authority representatives. The three companies gave wide-ranging presentations demonstrating how utilising digital, data and technology are helping to address key challenges in social care settings.
Helena Zaum (CCO, Sentinel Partners) and Adam McCamley MBE (Senior Analyst-Intelligence and Analytics, Liverpool City Council) presented on how Liverpool Council are leveraging data to better identify and manage risk for unpaid carers in the region.
Helena and Adam outlined the journey towards creating a usable dataset which could act as a baseline of information for the Local Authority to use based on the number of “known” carers. This included cleansing, validating and matching the data to thousands of citizens and ensuring that the necessary information governance protocols were in place.
A scoring system and rules were developed based on the on the data and are used to understand the scale and nature of risk across unpaid carers. The ultimate ambition is to enable the correct resources- at the right time and place- to be deployed, and ultimately, reduce or delay growing care needs. Looking ahead, there are plans to enhance the risk profiling tool and to design a roadmap through which to identify unmet need. Additionally, a future goal is to incorporate more data complexity, including data held by other services such as primary care.
Benjamin Weatherall (Director, Curam) and Toks (a Personal Assistant who uses Curam’s platform) outlined how Curam are working to address the shortage of personal assistants in the social care sector. Curam’s digital platform allows personal assistants to be hired on a 24/7 basis and matches the unique needs of an individual requiring care with relevant personal assistants. To date over 10,000 personal assistants have been recruited through the platform, which also provides oversight of service user activity, contributing to cost and efficiency savings. Local Authorities are able to advertise care assistant posts directly to the platform.
Richard Parkinson (Director, FarrPoint) and Samantha Leonard (Project Manager, Digital Office for Scottish Local Government) presented on the Scottish Shared Telecare Alarm Receiving Centre. The solution is available for any Scottish telecare provider to use, with 19 of 32 Scottish Local Authorities are committed to using the platform as of 2025. The platform uses a common dataset plus common operational procedures such as common, reporting, training materials, as well as shared supplier management and incident resolution. Using the platform can reduce variation and complexity of operations, as well as make call efficiencies through shared overnight and specialist call handling.
Rachel Mason (National Co-Production Advisory Group) spoke about the value of having shared access to data, particularly around care costs and services within a local area. She also emphasised the importance of taking an outcome-based approach and ensuring that solutions are co-produced when considering using or procuring technology for care.
Jennifer Pearl (National Co-Production Advisory Group) spoke about her experience living with a spinal injury and how mainstream technologies (including a smart watch, robotic vacuum and lawn mower) have supported her to live independently and to be less reliant on care and support.
Katie Thorn (Project Lead, Digital Care Hub) outlined the Oxford Project on the Responsible use of Generative AI in Social Care which is supported by the Institute of Ethics in AI at Oxford University, Casson Consulting and the Digital Care Hub. The initiative has been running for approximately one year to date and includes representatives from 30 organisations including people who draw on care, care providers, local government representation, policymakers, and key national charities operating in the social care sector. The initiative is overseen by a Steering Committee, which techUK is represented on, and has focused on identifying and exploring the opportunities and challenges surrounding the use of generative AI tools within social care contexts.
Get in touch with techUK’s Health and Social Care Team below to find out more about techUK’s work supporting the use of digital, data and technology within the social care sector.
Robert Walker
Head of Health & Social Care, techUK
Robert Walker
Head of Health & Social Care, techUK
Robert joined techUK in October 2022, where he is now Programme Manager for Health and Social Care.
Robert previously worked at the Pension Protection Fund, within the policy and public affairs team. Prior to this, he worked at the Scottish Parliament, advising politicians and industry stakeholders on a wide range of issues, including rural crime and health policies.
Robert has a degree in Politics and International Relations (MA Hons) from the University of Aberdeen, with a particular focus on strategic studies and energy security. Outside of work he enjoys activities such as running, rugby, boxing and cooking!
Junior Programme Manager, Health and Care Team, techUK
Viola Pastorino
Junior Programme Manager, Health and Care Team, techUK
Viola Pastorino is a policy, governance, and strategic communication specialist.
She joined techUK as the Junior Programme Manager in the Health and Care Team in April 2024.
She has obtained a Bachelor of Sciences in Governance, Economics, and Development from Leiden University, and a Master's programme in Strategic Communications at King's College London. Her academic background, leading up to a dissertation on AI policy influence and hands-on campaign development, is complemented by practical experience in international PR and grassroots project management.
She is skilled in qualitative and quantitative analysis and comfortable communicating findings to varying stakeholders. Above all, she is deeply passionate about the intersection of technology and government, especially how technology and global discourse shape one another, the processes that lead to belief polarisation and radicalisation of communities, and crafting strategic narratives that steer public discourse.
Outside of work she loves reading, live music light operation, and diving.
Clara Hewitt
Programme Manager, Health and Social Care, techUK
Clara Hewitt
Programme Manager, Health and Social Care, techUK
Clara joined techUK in October 2023. She brings experience across a range of domestic and global health issues, with particular focus on digital health, HIV/AIDS and climate change and health.
Clara holds an MSc in Global Health and Development (University College London) and a BSc in Psychology (University of Birmingham).
Rachel Kennedy
Programme Manager Health and Social Care, techUK
Rachel Kennedy
Programme Manager Health and Social Care, techUK
Rachel joined techUK in December 2024, as a Programme Manager in the Health and Social Care team.
Prior to this, Rachel worked at a specialist health and social care public affairs agency, working with a range of organisations and trade bodies across the medical technology, pharmaceutical, digital health and social care sectors. As well as this, Rachel was part of the Secretariat for a number of health and care related All-Party Parliamentary Groups.
Rachel has a Masters in Global Governance and Diplomacy from the University of Leeds, as well as a first-class honours in Politics BA from Newcastle University.
Tracy Modha
Team Assistant - Markets, techUK
Tracy Modha
Team Assistant - Markets, techUK
Tracy supports several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Cyber Security, Defence, Health and Social Care, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.
Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!
Tracy has a great interest in tech. Gaming and computing have been a big part of her life, and now electric cars are an exciting look at the future. She has warmed to Alexa, even though it can sometimes be sassy!
techUK is helping its members navigate the complex space of digital health in the UK to ensure our NHS and social care sector is prepared for the challenges of the future. We help validate new ideas and build impactful strategies, ultimately ensuring that members are market-ready. Visit the programme page here.
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