Explore

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The Explore pathway is for everyone working in health and social care, irrespective of role. This pathway introduces the fundamental concepts that underpin successful digital service delivery and transformative ways of working. 

Step 1 - Introducing Digital Capabilities
Watch 
To start exploring what digital capabilities are, watch this short video (2m 8s): 
 
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Question
Why do you think digital capabilities are important in health and social care? 
 
If you’re not sure, watch the video again and notice the digital benefits mentioned.
Step 2 - Developing Digital Capabilities
Task 
NHS Education for Scotland (NES) have created the Digital and Data Capability Framework to support the development of digital capabilities for everyone working in health and social care in Scotland. The framework identifies the skills, knowledge and behaviours that are essential for you to thrive in your role.
 
Have you had the opportunity to work through the Digital and Data Capability Framework?
  • If not, you can access the framework using the link below and work through it to assess your current capability levels and plan your next steps.
  • If you have, what are your outcomes? What are you doing to develop your capabilities?

Link: Digital and Data Capability Framework

Step 3 - National Approach

It is important that everyone across Scotland has a shared vision for digital in health and social care. This shared vision forms what we call the national approach. 

Read 
The Scottish Government and COSLA have developed a digital strategy to set out the national approach. Use the link below to open the strategy and read pages 5 - 9 (5-6 minute read) which cover the background, vision, aims and priorities:
 
 
Now you have read this, select one of the six priorities on page 9. We suggest choosing the one that feels most relevant to your role, team and organisation. 
 
Scroll to the pages listed below to read more about the priority you have chosen (3-7 minute read):
  • Digital access – page 11-13
  • Digital services – page 14 - 17
  • Digital foundations – page 18 - 20
  • Digital skills and leadership – page 21 - 22
  • Digital futures – page 23 - 24
  • Data-driven services and insights – page 25 - 26
Questions 

Reflecting on what you have read about the priority you chose, consider the following questions: 

  • How do the themes and ideas from this priority relate to your work and your own organisation? 
  • What do your team currently do to support this priority?
Strategy document front cover
Step 4 - Technology Enabled Care (NEW)
Question
What do you think is meant by the term 'Technology Enabled Care (TEC)'?
A photo of two women sat together using a tablet
Read

In this short article, you'll be introduced to Jennifer Pearl. Jennifer is a wheelchair user who has spent the past 13 years not only adapting to a new way of living but actively helping to shape tech systems and solutions for people like her. Find out what technology enabled care means to her and read about some of the innovations she is particularly excited about:

Link: Jennifer’s Experience at ITEC25 - A Voice of Lived Experience in Tech-Enabled Care - Digital Care Hub

Task

Do you have opportunities in your department or service to use TEC to improve outcomes for service users? If you do, find out what technology solutions are available by doing some online research or speaking to colleagues and other professionals both inside and outside your organisation. Consider how these solutions could be used to help the people you work with.

If you don't have opportunities to use TEC within your role, consider the key points Jennifer makes in this article. Why is technology so important? How can you ensure that services you deliver, or processes you are involved in, are designed with the user at the centre?

Step 5 - Digital Inclusion
Question
Imagine you have no digital skills at all. You don't know how to use or access devices, and don’t have the confidence to try things out. How would this impact on your day-to-day life? Think about all the ways you access technology within your daily routine, and how this would change if digital wasn't an option for you. 
Watch

In this short video (5m52s), Gail Porter spends a week offline and explores some of the challenges that come with this: 

A photo of a plug unplugged resting on a shelf
Question
Digital skills are just one aspect of digital inclusion. As well as skills and confidence, what else do you think a person needs in order to be digitally included in society? 
What next?

You have now completed the Explore pathway. 

 

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Use this Feedback Form to share any comments or questions you have about the pathway. You can also use this form if you spot that any of the links aren’t working, or the resources aren’t available.