May 27th 2026
We have published a new policy briefing exploring the growing neighbourhood health agenda and what it could mean for adult social care providers, digital systems and data sharing.
The new briefing, Neighbourhood health and social care data: policy briefing, forms part of this month’s Digital Care in Focus theme on neighbourhood health and integration.
Neighbourhood health is becoming a major direction of travel across health and care policy in England, with increasing emphasis on delivering more joined-up support closer to home. As these models develop, digital systems, interoperability and secure information sharing are likely to become increasingly important across both health and social care.
Our briefing highlights the growing role of shared care records, digital social care records, structured data and role-based access to information in supporting more coordinated care. It also explores wider issues around governance, consent, cyber security and data protection.
However, the briefing also notes that many important questions remain unanswered. Local implementation is likely to vary considerably depending on existing partnerships, digital maturity, workforce capacity and funding pressures.
For adult social care providers, the implications could be significant. Providers may increasingly be expected to participate in integrated pathways, contribute to local data sharing arrangements and demonstrate strong data protection and cyber security arrangements.
The briefing also highlights the important role local and national care associations may need to play in representing provider perspectives within neighbourhood health discussions.
Many individual providers, particularly smaller organisations, may struggle to engage directly with integrated care structures, neighbourhood programmes or technical discussions about digital infrastructure and interoperability. Representative bodies may therefore have an increasingly important role in helping ensure adult social care voices are included in local and national decision-making.
Suggested areas for care association consideration include:
- representation within neighbourhood and integrated care governance structures
- workforce skills and confidence around digital tools and data sharing
- local interoperability priorities and supplier engagement
- cyber security resilience across care providers
- ensuring social care is treated as an equal partner within neighbourhood models.
Michelle Corrigan, Chief Executive of Digital Care Hub, said:
“Neighbourhood health has the potential to reshape how health and social care organisations work together. Decisions are already being made locally about digital systems, information sharing and integration priorities.
“This is an important moment for local and national care associations to help ensure adult social care voices are represented in neighbourhood health planning.”
Readers can also explore related webinars, articles and resources as part of our Digital Care in Focus theme on neighbourhood health and integration.
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