WM-ADASS launched its Digital Network in July 2021. Membership includes adult social care digital leads from each of our 14 councils. Representatives from partner organisations like Partners in Care and Health and NHS England also attend.
In 2025/26 the Network agreed to prioritise:
- Artificial Intelligence including emerging technologies: focusing on supporting council’s find new ways and to do things differently with technology and share what works well.
- Technology Enabled Care development and delivery: supporting councils to shape technology service delivery and develop robust information, advice and guidance around its application.
Activity during the year included:
AI and emerging technologies: following on from the well-attended webinars on AI in social care held in January (AI is knocking at the front floor) and February (how AI is supporting adult social care for the better) the Network saw further presentations and discussion on a range of AI and other digital tools. These included automated voice technology (eg Magic Notes) as well as automated telephony, now being used to support return of equipment, social care reviews, and gathering of feedback from people about their experience of adult social care. The Digital Care Hub presented work with the Institute of Ethics and AI at Oxford University around the responsible use of generative AI, and in March 2026, the Network heard from the West Midlands 5G investment programme and pilot implementations of enabled technologies in Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton.
Caretech presentation on council websites: Network members undertook a review of all 14 of the region’s websites to evaluate how councils are presenting their caretech ‘offer’, ie everything from pendants and traditional telecare to home sensors, apps, and smart devices used to keep people safe and connected. The survey questionnaire and reviews were conducted by members of the Co-production Advisory Group working alongside the Network. The review concluded that:
- Councils still focus on reactive rather than preventative tech
- Advice provided on council websites around 'everyday tech’ people can buy and use themselves is patchy
- Many councils focus on providing information only about their own 'tech offer’
- Information can be poorly presented and hard to find
In another collaboration with the Co-production Advisory Group the Network contributed to production of the AI Playbook, published in January 2025 and launched at the West Midlands Employers’ Festival of AI.
The Network has also had regular updates on digital developments from member councils, Partners in Care and Health, NHS England, the Technology Service Association and other partners, and saw a number of tech supplier presentations.
This report from ADASS and TSA was presented to the Network in 2025/26
The Network has also had regular updates on digital developments from member councils, Partners in Care and Health, NHS England, the Technology Service Association and other partners, and saw a number of tech supplier presentations.
The Digital Switchover
In previous years the Digital Network has played a prominent role in raising awareness of the implications of the digital switchover for local authority adult social care teams and for people drawing on social care support.
A transcript of this video is available
About the network
The Network meets bi-monthly to support members with information, improvement and best practice sharing across the region.
The Network is sponsored by Rashpal Bishop, director of adult social care, Sandwell Council and chaired by Lizzie Edwards, assistant director: service delivery, adult social care directorate, Solihull MBC. The network is supported by WM ADASS Assistant Director, Abby Vella.
Video highlights from meeting of 14 December 2021:
Suffolk County Council launched its Cassius caretech programme in July 2021. Under the programme a range of digital devices and support is available to people with care needs. in the video, Sam Basett, who leads the programme, describes the Cassius delivery partnership (comprising Alcove, Rethink Partners and Provide) and how it was procured. He also discusses the importance of culture change to the success of the programme, and how that has been enabled as an integral part of the programme roll out.
A transcript of this video is available
Video highlights from meeting of 19 October 2021:
Analogue phone lines are being turned of across the UK, a process that will be complete by 2025. Areas where telephone exchanges have switched to digital could see failures in calls to Alarm Receiving Centres used by vulnerable people, and an associated rise in safeguarding issues. The video includes contributions from representatives of NHSX and the TSA. Its sets out things that can be done to mitigate these risks, but explains that this is work-in-progress.
A transcript of this video is available
Video highlights from meeting of 7 September 2021:
This includes inspiring stories of the lived experience of co-produced, tech-enabled support as told by Issac Samuels and Rachel Mason, both of whom are involved with The National Co-production Advisory Group.