Supporting digital leadership in social care
In 2025, we commissioned work to design and evaluate a digital leadership support programme to help address a significant confidence gap in social care leadership.
Data shows that 25 per cent of local authority leaders rarely or never feel equipped to lead digital change.
As part of the initial phase of the work, the team at Mimulus HQ gathered evidence from across the sector and tested different learning approaches.
This work was designed to make sure future investment is based on real experiences and what leaders say they need.
What did we learn?
Mimulus HQ's research identified several barriers to digital transformation across the sector:
There's no shared understanding of what "digital" means
There's no agreed definition of digital, leading to different expectations and uncertainty.
Leaders are starting from different places
Participants had different levels of experience, seniority and digital confidence. This makes it difficult to offer a single learning programme that meets everyone's needs.
Time and capacity are major challenges
Heavy workloads affected participation, with attendance at scheduled sessions averaging 50 per cent.
Practical support works best
Participants consistently preferred learning they could apply in their day-to-day roles. They valued practical tools, examples and real-world guidance over theory.
The digital landscape feels fragmented
Many leaders expressed frustration about the number of overlapping digital programmes and workstreams, and a lack of national coordination.
What were the recommendations?
Mimulus HQ set out six recommendations for developing an effective digital leadership offer.
1. Link learning to a competency framework
The learning offer should be aligned to a formal digital leadership competency framework. This would help position digital leadership as an essential part of the role, rather than an optional area of development.
2. Make digital leadership part of core expectations
Social Care Wales should use its role as a regulator to embed digital competencies within relevant qualification frameworks.
3. Group learners by digital maturity
Future cohorts should bring together people with similar levels of digital confidence and shared learning goals. This would help keep content relevant and meaningful for everyone taking part.
4. Build on existing public service learning
Work with Welsh Government to adapt the Leading Modern Public Services programme for the social care sector, using relevant case studies and clearer, more accessible language.
5. Create a central resource hub
Establish a resource hub that gives leaders access to practical tools, templates and learning materials when they need them.
6. Create a leadership network within the digital community of practice
Develop a dedicated space for senior leaders within the existing Digital Community. This would allow leaders to connect with peers, share challenges and learn from each other's experiences.
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.