Developing digital frameworks for social care
In 2025, we commissioned research to support the development of two digital frameworks for social care:
- a ‘what good looks like' framework for digital maturity and literacy
- a digital competency framework for leadership.
We asked Basis to carry out this work based on what we’d learned from the digital potential tool and wider engagement with people across social care.
The first phase of the work focused on gathering evidence to inform the frameworks, rather than developing them.
What did we learn?
Some of the key findings were that:
- there's a need for clearer definitions of ‘digital literacy’, ‘digital maturity’ and ‘digital leadership’
- there's an appetite for practical tools such as checklists, short videos and case studies, rather than just documents that describe good practice in theory
- co-production will be important in making sure the frameworks are credible and widely adopted.
What were the recommendations?
The research produced a set of recommendations grouped into three themes:
Foundational
- Co-develop nationally agreed bilingual definitions of:
- digital
- digital maturity
- digital literacy
- digital leadership
- These definitions should be established before framework development begins.
Framework content, structure and usage
- Design the framework as a three-part interconnected system, covering maturity, literacy and leadership
- Focus on outcomes and behaviours, rather than theory alone
- Align infrastructure (equipment, connectivity and systems) with national standards and outcomes for people
- Include practical resources as key elements of the frameworks.
Framework design, build and access
- Embed co-production throughout the process
- Apply consistent design principles across the frameworks
- Integrate with the Insight Collective to create a centralised web resource
- Update the Digital Potential Tool to align with the frameworks
- Align with both the data and digital communities of practice
- Establish clear governance and ownership of the frameworks.
What happens next
We're working with partners to agree how best to take the recommendations forward.
We recently launched our Digital Community, which helps members build connections across organisations and disciplines, and share digital tools, resources and good practice with each other.