Five specialist companies have been selected to deliver the first national contract to help Scotland’s local authorities develop their digital care management systems.

 As part of the new social care case management solutions framework, the chosen digital health and care companies will provide tools and solutions to support frontline practice, self-management and shared decision-making for social care providers.

They will also be expected to offer individuals who have opted for self-directed support “greater digital control and choice in their care”.

The company selected for the framework completed a lengthy procurement and vetting process and have signed up to a set of standards and pricing agreements.

Under the arrangement – a joint initiative by the National Procurement Service, Scotland Excel and councils-backed digital office for Scottish local government – local authorities will be encouraged to approach those on the roster when looking to commission digital support and services.

The Chief Executive of Scotland Excel, Julie Welsh, says the framework offers support and assurance to councils and health and social care partnerships at an important time:

“Social care case management is vital part of care provision - ensuring councils and their health partners are able to deliver essential services to residents who need support.

“Scotland Excel will actively manage suppliers through the duration of the framework. This means that local authorities can be confident that they are receiving best value services and products.

“As well as front line staff being able to securely and safely access, update and share information, the solutions offered through the framework include self-directed support capability for citizens, to improve their ability to shape and control the services they receive.”

Chief Digital Officer for the Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, Martyn Wallace, says the Framework gives immediate access to help to roll out government and councils’ digital ambitions:

“In the past year, we have seen the important role that digital solutions play in enabling quick access to vital information on vulnerable people in our communities.  

“Suppliers within this framework will support us with being able to utilise available data sets to help with ongoing support and wellbeing to vulnerable people.

“It also aligns with the intended direction of the upcoming refreshed Scottish Digital Health and Care Strategy which has two specific themes around cloud and data, which should be considered in any solutions built for health and care across the public sector.”

The Framework companies, which are all small to medium enterprises, are Advanced Health and Care Limited; Azeus UK Limited; Liquidlogic Limited; OLM Systems Limited; and Servelec Social Care Limited.

The Framework will run until February 2025.

Scotland Excel and the Digital Office for Scottish Local Government believe some £28m will be spent on support through the Framework over the four years.

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