Project to support social care providers with cyber security

The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) has launched a project to improve data and cybersecurity practices for adult social care providers. 

The new project, which has been created in partnership with the Association of Mental Health Providers (AMHP), seeks to better understand the digital, data and technology issues faced by service providers for working-age adults, in order to promote best practice around information sharing.

A spokesman for VODG said the project will utilise surveys, focus groups, and events to specifically engage with service providers who work with adults with learning disabilities, those who are autistic, have physical or sensory impairments or mental health conditions.

It 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 and existing good practice.

Dr Rhidian Hughes, VODG chief executive and Kathy Roberts, AMHP 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 AMHP look forward to working closely together to find solutions that will support providers to address any cybersecurity 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, a government-led approach to tackling and managing cyber threats in the UK. The strategy sets out how the country will aim to be one of the most secure places in the world to do business in cyberspace.

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 cybersecurity challenges faced by adult social care providers in England.

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