Care Technology

Care Technologists use technology to improve care and support, helping people live more independently while reducing risk and preventing harm.

The work can include identifying suitable technology, supporting installation and setup, teaching people and families how to use it, reviewing whether it continues to meet the person's needs, troubleshooting problems and keeping up with emerging care technologies.

Care Technology may include tools such as assistive technology, sensors, digital care records, medication-support technology, smart-home systems and other technology-enabled care solutions.

Care Technologists may work:

• in people's own homes;
• in residential care;
• in supported living;
• in day services;
• directly for a care provider;
• or within wider systems such as local authorities.

The role is not primarily about delivering personal care. However, understanding Adult Social Care and how people are supported is important because technology must enhance person-centred care, not replace it.

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What may already transfer from your care experience

If you already work in Adult Social Care, you may have several foundations that DHSC expects from a Care Technologist.

Person-centred assessment

You already understand that solutions should start with the individual rather than the equipment.

Experience in understanding:

• people's needs;
• preferences;
• abilities;
• risks;
• goals;
• communication needs;

can transfer directly into assessing which technology may be suitable.

Supporting independence

Care Technology is strongly focused on enabling people to do more for themselves.

Experience encouraging independence, choice and autonomy is therefore highly relevant.

Risk awareness

Your experience with:

• risk assessments;
• falls prevention;
• safeguarding;
• medication;
• changing needs;

can help you understand where technology could reduce risk or support safer independence.

Communication

Care Technologists need to explain technology to people who may have very different levels of confidence and digital literacy.

Care experience may already have taught you how to:

• simplify information;
• adapt communication;
• reassure people;
• listen;
• involve families;
• work with professionals.

Care planning and documentation

Understanding care plans, outcomes, record keeping and changes in people's needs transfers into assessing and reviewing technology-enabled support.

Multi-disciplinary working

Care Technologists may work with:

• care teams;
• families;
• social workers;
• commissioners;
• health professionals;
• technology suppliers.

Existing experience working across teams is therefore valuable.

Digital care experience

If you already use:

• electronic care plans;
• digital medication systems;
• tablets;
• monitoring technology;
• digital incident systems;
• electronic records;

you already have some exposure to the digital environment expected within this pathway.

DHSC's own progression example shows a support worker becoming the person colleagues relied on for digital devices and care-planning technology before moving into a dedicated Care Technologist role.

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This is where the pathway becomes more specialised.

Technology-enabled care knowledge

You may need to understand how different technology-enabled care and assistive technology solutions work and when they are appropriate.

This includes being able to:

• identify suitable technology;
• support installation;
• maintain or troubleshoot devices;
• monitor whether technology remains effective;
• recognise when specialist suppliers are needed.

Digital skills

DHSC links this pathway directly to the Adult Social Care Digital Skills Framework.

A Care Technologist should be confident using digital systems and applying digital technology within person-centred care.

This may include:

• digital care records;
• assistive technology;
• digital communication;
• connectivity;
• technology monitoring;
• data produced by care technology.

Technology assessment

You will need more than general care assessment skills.

You need to be able to assess:

What is this person's goal, what barrier are they experiencing, and could technology safely help?

That includes considering preferences, accessibility, confidence, risk and whether technology will genuinely improve the person's outcome.

Technical troubleshooting

You may need confidence investigating issues such as:

• devices not functioning;
• connectivity problems;
• system integration;
• remote access;
• equipment reliability.

You do not necessarily need to become an IT engineer, but you should understand how to investigate problems and when to escalate them.

Data protection, cybersecurity and ethics

This is a major part of the role.

You may need stronger knowledge of:

• confidentiality;
• secure digital communication;
• data protection;
• cybersecurity;
• ethical use of technology;
• ethical use of data;
• safe use of AI.

DHSC specifically highlights responsible and ethical use of technology and AI.

Understanding digital care records and data

You should understand how information generated by digital care systems is recorded, interpreted and used to improve care.

That includes maintaining good-quality data and using evidence to judge whether technology is working.

Research and evaluation

Technology changes quickly.

The role therefore requires the ability to research new solutions, assess effectiveness and keep up with innovation.

Health and social care systems

You may need stronger understanding of:

• commissioning;
• local care arrangements;
• procurement;
• grants or funding;
• how individuals can access technology;
• how different organisations work together.

Caseload and project management

Some roles may require you to manage multiple assessments, installations, follow-ups and records at the same time.

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A realistic transition from frontline care could look like this.

1. Become involved in digital systems where you already work

Look for opportunities to support:

• digital care planning;
• electronic medication systems;
• assistive technology;
• sensor systems;
• tablets or communication devices;
• digital record keeping.

Become curious about why the technology is being used and whether it improves the person's outcome.

2. Become the person who understands the technology

If your service introduces a new digital system, volunteer to:

• learn it thoroughly;
• support colleagues;
• troubleshoot basic problems;
• help people using the service understand it;
• contribute feedback.

DHSC's official Care Technologist persona follows a very similar route: a support worker developed strong digital-care experience, became a resource for colleagues, completed relevant learning and then moved into a dedicated technology role.

3. Strengthen your digital skills

Use the Adult Social Care Digital Skills Framework to assess yourself.

Focus particularly on:

• safe digital working;
• digital records;
• data;
• assistive technology;
• communication;
• cybersecurity.

4. Get experience with technology-enabled care

Try to gain exposure to systems such as:

• fall detectors;
• medication dispensers;
• smart-home technology;
• sensors;
• digital care records;
• monitoring systems;
• assistive communication technology.

The exact technologies will depend on your setting.

5. Develop assessment skills

Learn to connect technology with an individual's outcome.

For example:

The goal is not “install a sensor.”

The goal might be:

“Help this person continue living independently while reducing the risk associated with falls.”

Technology is the tool, not the outcome.

6. Complete relevant learning

DHSC identifies specific qualifications for people wanting to develop into Care Technology.

7. Look beyond care providers too

Unlike many pathways, Care Technologists may also work within organisations such as local authorities.

That means this pathway can provide routes into wider Adult Social Care systems while still using your frontline care knowledge.

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DHSC currently identifies the following qualifications and learning opportunities.

Level 2 Introduction to Assistive Technology in Health and Care

A useful starting qualification for understanding assistive technology and how it can support people.

Level 3 Using Assistive Technology in Health and Care

A more developed qualification for people using or implementing assistive technology within health and care.

Level 5 Award in Understanding Digital Leadership in Adult Social Care

Potentially useful for people progressing towards responsibility for digital transformation, implementation or leadership.

Level 5 Award in Managing Assistive Technology in Health and Care Environments

Relevant to more advanced responsibility for assistive technology.

DHSC also identifies:

Skills for Care Digital Leadership programme

and

Better Security, Better Care cyber e-learning from Digital Care Hub.

Depending on the setting, additional learning may also include safeguarding, dementia, autism, learning disability and other condition-specific knowledge.

DHSC also expects completion of Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism, at the appropriate tier for the setting.

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Progression

Care Technology can potentially develop in several directions because it sits at the intersection of:

Adult Social Care + technology + digital transformation + data + service improvement.

DHSC's official personas show two different entry routes.

One progresses broadly from:

Care Support Worker → Senior Support Worker → Care Technologist

after becoming increasingly involved in digital care systems and completing Assistive Technology and Digital Leadership learning.

Another starts in:

IT Support → digital-care projects → Care Technologist

after developing Adult Social Care knowledge alongside her technical background.

Care Technology can be entered from either side — care workers can develop technology expertise, and technology workers can develop care expertise.

For someone coming from frontline care, longer-term development could potentially include:

• Care Technologist
• Senior Care Technologist
• Assistive Technology specialist
• Technology-enabled Care specialist
• Digital Transformation roles
• Digital Implementation roles
• Digital Leadership
• technology/project roles within providers or local authorities.

The exact titles will vary because DHSC makes clear that role names differ between organisations.

Pay

Pay varies by employer, location, technical responsibility and level of seniority. Care Technology roles may exist within care providers, technology-enabled care services and local authorities, and job titles can vary considerably. Check current vacancies for up-to-date salary information.