Birmingham City Council demonstrates how technology can ease the burden of social care cut backs
Birmingham City Council’s long-term digital strategy is transforming the delivery of health and social care services. Peter Hay, Director for People at the Council, will host a free webinar later this month to explain how the Council is successfully challenging the traditional model of care delivery.
One of the first of its kind when it was initially launched, the ground breaking My Care in Birmingham website helps people find the right adult social care services, whenever and wherever they are needed most.
A suite of self-help tools is at the heart of the integrated adult social care solution, empowering people with information and advice on any aspect of social care. This allows them to assess their own care needs whilst planning for their future.
The development of a care eMarketplace on the website provides individuals with the opportunity to find and purchase goods and services from local public, private and third sector organisations.
With over 1,600 local providers advertising their products and services, which generates over 29,000 page views per month, the site now receives up to 13,000 visitors every month. What’s more, almost 500 people a month are now using the online services to assess and plan their own care.
Public sector employees who are involved in the delivery of social care are invited to take part in the free webinar on Wednesday 26th October. Participants will hear how digital technology can be used to transform the delivery of health and social care services, in order to support personalisation, choice and control as well as delivering greater efficiencies.
Peter Hay, Director for People at Birmingham City Council, explains: “We knew that the people who used our social care services in Birmingham were asking for more choice and control over the type of care they received, when they received it, who provided it and most importantly how it would be managed.
In response, My Care in Birmingham was developed using the Agilisys Care digital solution, which enables adults and those that provide care across the city to be able to quickly access accurate information and support that can help people to stay independent in a setting that is comfortable and safe to them.
By changing the way we support our people with their care, we’re able to give them more independence, choice and control in their lives.”
Pearl Roberts, Agilisys Care, added: “We are delighted to be supporting Peter Hay and the team at Birmingham City Council to deliver a digital social care experience, which offers citizens greater choice and control over their care arrangements. At the same time our technology platform enables Council employees to work across traditional boundaries, connecting and nurturing community partners, which relieves pressure on internal resources, delivers greater efficiency and helps reduce costs.”
Click here to register for the webinar and to understand how a collaborative e-Marketplace can support your organisation’s digital strategy and help to boost community and citizen engagement.
