Digital champions are individuals who work in the adult social care sector, who support and empower staff to use digital tools more effectively themselves and have increased confidence, understanding and motivation.
A digital champion is an individual, usually a volunteer, who promotes and shares their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm of digital technology with colleagues and / or people drawing on care and support. They’re the ‘go-to’ people for that topic and the first point-of-contact when colleagues require support. Digital champions are usually staff members, but can also be within the community and support from the outside-in.
It's important to note that the role of a digital champion will usually sit alongside an individual’s day job. For example, a registered manager with knowledge and passion in a particular area of digital, who takes on the responsibility of being the ‘go-to’ person, could be considered a digital champion.
Benefits of digital champions
- empower staff and people who draw on care and support to use digital tools more effectively themselves
- increase confidence, understanding and motivation
- share best practice with colleagues
- support their organisation to introduce new technology
- increase the overall digital skill pool.
Introducing digital champions into your organisation
As a leader, you need to make sure you’re confident in your approach and have some knowledge of the digital terms that you and your digital champions may encounter.
Your workforce need to know that introducing technology within the workplace is your priority and you need to develop a positive workforce culture for your digital champions to work in.
You’ll need to equip your champions with the following tools to fulfil this role:
Digital Skills Framework
The Digital Skills Framework is a resource to support adult social care workforce to develop their digital skills within the sector. It is free to access and is linked to current free training, case studies, videos and bite sized chunks of learning.
Digital leadership programme
The Digital leadership programme is a national development between Skills for Care and The National Care Forum for both new and experienced managers of adult social care services.
Digital Skills eLearning
These 7 modules are designed to provide in-depth knowledge and skills in championing the use of technology in the delivery care. Each module will look at a skills theme relating to the Digital Skills Framework.