January 22nd 2026
CTRL + Care is back for 2026, and the first episode of the year sets the tone for what’s ahead: big conversations about AI, workforce, cyber risk and the choices the sector needs to make as digital change accelerates.
Michelle and Katie ease into the new year with a wide-ranging roundup of stories shaping digital health and social care, mixing predictions, policy, and practical reflections on what really matters for care providers.
Predictions for the year ahead
The episode opens with a look at sector predictions for 2026, many of which centre on AI, technology adoption and ongoing workforce pressures. While new tools continue to emerge, Michelle and Katie return to a familiar theme: technology only works when it’s underpinned by good leadership and a healthy organisational culture.
They reflect on the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership, especially as digital tools become more embedded in everyday care. Supporting staff wellbeing, building sustainable career pathways, and keeping people at the centre of change will be just as important as any technical innovation this year.
Cyber security also remains firmly on the agenda. As care providers adopt more technology and use more data, the risk of serious incidents increases. The conversation highlights the need to strengthen cyber resilience now, rather than waiting for a major incident to force action.
Online safety and the darker side of AI
One of the most serious discussions in the episode focuses on online safety and the misuse of generative AI. Michelle and Katie discuss recent revelations about AI tools being used to create non-consensual images and the implications for safeguarding, regulation and public trust.
The conversation explores the role of the Online Safety Act, Ofcom’s investigation, and the wider cultural issues that allow online abuse to escalate. It’s a stark reminder that while AI can bring benefits, it also introduces new risks that require active oversight and accountability.
Why pooled budgets matter
Turning back to social care, the episode explores a growing push for pooled budgets and joint commissioning between health and care. Michelle reflects on how siloed funding leads to siloed outcomes, and why integration will remain limited without financial alignment.
The discussion links this to neighbourhood health models, prevention, and upstream care, highlighting the need for commissioning that reflects people’s lives rather than organisational boundaries. While complex, the move toward pooled budgets is framed as one of the most powerful levers for improving long-term outcomes.
Challenging assumptions about the care workforce
Another story looks at new research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which challenges a long-held assumption that care workers are leaving for retail or warehouse jobs. The data suggests this isn’t the case, prompting a bigger question: if staff aren’t leaving for higher-paid retail roles, what is driving them away?
Michelle and Katie reflect on the importance of using evidence, not assumptions, to shape workforce policy and advocacy. As workforce remains one of the biggest challenges facing the sector, having accurate data is essential for meaningful change.
A hopeful note to end the episode
The episode closes with a Cybersquirrels story that brings a more positive note: a new eco-friendly water purification technology developed by researchers in Texas and Korea that can break down “forever chemicals” in water supplies. It’s a reminder that tech, when used well, can genuinely improve lives and protect health.
If you’re looking for a thoughtful, practical start to the year, this episode of CTRL + Care offers a clear-eyed look at what 2026 might hold for digital health and social care, and the choices providers and leaders will need to make along the way.
Ctrl+Care podcast is published every Friday on YouTube and Spotify.
Episode 24 on YouTube and on Spotify
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