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Digital potential tool summary: IT and infrastructure

In July 2025, we published a report about the digital maturity and literacy of social care in Wales.

The report contained the early findings of our digital potential tool and was based on the responses of 1,200 people from across 295 organisations between January and March 2025.

This is a summary of the report's findings and recommendations on the subject of IT and infrastructure.

Strengths

  • Having the technology that's needed: 87 per cent of staff say they have the technology they need and 84 per cent say it’s well maintained. 
  • Cybersecurity practices: 88 per cent of organisations have strong cybersecurity practices. 
  • Data management: 74 per cent of IT representatives say data management systems are good. 
  • GDPR training: 83 to 93 percent report that GDPR training is in place. 

Areas for development

  • Information sharing: Only 35 per cent of IT representatives strongly agree systems share information effectively.
  • Connectivity in community settings: This is inconsistent — especially in local authorities.
  • Choosing technology providers: Only eight per cent of local authority IT representatives feel confident selecting tech providers, compared to 44 per cent in other sectors.
  • High uncertainty in local authorities around HR systems, scheduling tools, and medication management: Only eight per cent of local authority IT representatives strongly agreed their HR systems were effective, compared to 30 per cent in other sectors.
  • Accessing data: Only 50 per cent of local authority IT representatives say staff can access the data they need and 42 per cent are unsure about data deletion. 

Local authorities have strong cybersecurity and data protection practices, but face challenges with system integration, procurement, and connectivity in care settings. 

 

Private and third-sector providers report better connectivity and autonomy in choosing technology solutions. 

Key comparisons

Our research has revealed some notable differences between the responses of local authority staff and those who work in the private or third sector.

  • Confidence selecting technology providers: Only eight per cent of local authority respondents said they strongly agreed that they feel confident selecting technology providers, compared to 44 per cent in the private and third sector.
  • Connectivity in communal spaces in care settings: Among local authorities, only 17 per cent agree that connectivity in communal spaces is reliable, compared to 67 per cent in private and third-sector providers.
  • Confidence in HR and scheduling systems: 42 to 58 per cent of local authority respondents were unsure how effectively their organisation used HR and scheduling systems, compared to four to 11 per cent in private and third-sector providers.
  • Confidence in medication management tools: 42 per cent at local authorities said they weren't sure if their organisation used digital tools for medication management, compared to just four per cent in private and third-sector providers.

Local authorities often face procurement rules, funding constraints, and compliance obligations, which can slow innovation. 

 

Private and third-sector providers may have more freedom to experiment and tailor systems to their needs. 

What the report recommends

The report recommends a number of steps that could be taken to help social care reach its digital potential.

Some of the recommendations that relate to IT and infrastructure are to:

Improve access to devices - click to expand

The report recommends national work with social care providers and commissioners to promote improved access to appropriate devices for staff and protected learning time to develop digital skills.

Strengthen digital strategic planning processes - click to expand

The report recommends supporting leaders to engage with staff to understand and prioritise digital innovation in their context to strengthen digital strategic planning processes. 

This should especially be the case for local authorities, which report the lowest confidence when it comes to digital innovation. 

Support should be tailored to different organisational contexts, recognising the different starting points and priorities across the sector.

Maintain and evolve the digital potential tool - click to expand

The report recommends that Social Care Wales and key partners involved in the tool commit to regular updates and improvements. 

This will help make sure the digital potential tool stays relevant and useful as the digital landscape evolves. 

Regular review cycles should be established, with input from users to make sure it continues to meet their changing needs.

Strengthen procurement - click to expand

The report recommends creating straightforward guidance to build confidence in buying digital technologies that truly work for people, while allowing room for safe innovation.

The recommendations are for the whole social care sector, so we’ll need to work together as national, regional and local partners to co-develop an action plan based on the findings.

When developing the action plan, we’ll need to think about who’s best placed to take the recommendations forward, what the recommendations mean in practice, what resources are needed and how they’ll be funded.

Find out more

You can find out more by visiting our summaries on skills and capabilities and leadership and strategy, or by reading the full report.

Use the digital potential tool

You can still use the tool to support your digital development.

If you’ve already completed it once, why not use it to track your digital development over time?

We emailed a link to everyone on our Register on 9 and 10 January 2025. If you haven’t received your link or can’t find it, please contact digital@socialcare.wales.