Data, digital and tech standards: briefing

A briefing for adult social care providers, sector leaders and technology suppliers in England on national data, digital and tech standards.

Published as part of our Digital Care in Focus: Data and tech Standards – September 2026.

Summary

National data and technology standards are becoming more important in adult social care, with a stronger legal framework now in place.
MODS is a requirement for assured digital social care record solutions, with 1 July 2026 as the key compliance date for assured suppliers.
Technology standards and evidence frameworks are also developing for care technologies, including TEC.
Providers should ask suppliers which standards apply to their products, what changes providers will see, and what support will be available for implementation.
The sector needs to shape future standards so they work in real care settings.

Why this matters now

Adult social care is using more digital systems and care technologies. National expectations are increasing around data quality, interoperability, information sharing, technology assurance and evidence.

The opportunity is safer, more joined-up care. The risk is standards being designed without enough input from providers, care workers and people drawing on care.

There is now a stronger legal duty around some information standards. Under changes to section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, public and private providers of health and adult social care services must comply with mandatory information standards that apply to them, rather than only having to “have regard” to them. Private health and adult social care providers may be subject to monitoring, enforcement action or financial penalties for non-compliance where a mandatory standard applies. This legal change came into force in August 2025. For MODS, the compliance date for assured digital social care record suppliers is 1 July 2026.

What are digital and data standards?

Standards are agreed specifications for recording, structuring, sharing or assuring information and technology.

In this briefing, it is helpful to separate two related strands: data and information standards, which focus on what care information is recorded, structured and shared; and technology standards, which focus on whether care technologies are safe, effective, usable and interoperable.

PRSB standards describe best practice, but also define minimum conformance through “must haves” covering data items and business rules. The PRSB conformance Quality Mark can only be awarded where this minimum level is met.

Implementation guidance identifies data items as mandatory, required or optional.

Key developments for adult social care

Standard, framework or workstream	What it covers	Why it matters	Get involved
Published NHS standards relevant to social care	Published NHS standards filtered for social care.	Helps providers and suppliers check which standards may already apply.	Monitor the published standards list and check for updates.
NHS England Data and Information Standards	Information standards published under section 250 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, where they apply to health and adult social care.	Since August 2025, the legal framework for relevant mandatory information standards has been strengthened. For MODS, the practical compliance date for assured DSCR suppliers is 1 July 2026.
Adult Social Care Standards Directory	Terminology and data standards for adult social care.	Helps the sector understand adult social care data standards.	Use the Adult Social Care Standards Directory and email [email protected] to report gaps or suggest standards.
Minimum Operational Data Standard (MODS)	Minimum baseline for direct care data in DSCRs.	Important for assured DSCR suppliers and providers using or buying assured DSCRs.	Feed implementation issues through suppliers, local digital leads, sector bodies or Digitising Social Care feedback routes.
PRSB record standards	Person-centred information standards, including About Me and Personalised Care and Support Plan.	Help systems capture and share information consistently and safely.	Join PRSB consultations and workshops through PRSB Getting involved.
PRSB Standards explained / conformance	Explains must-haves, implementation guidance and the PRSB Quality Mark.	Useful for understanding best practice, minimum conformance and what to ask suppliers.	Join the PRSB Professional Network to contribute to standards work.
National standards and trusted guidance for care technologies	Standards and guidance in development for care technologies.	Relevant to TEC, remote monitoring, falls technology, digital medication support and other tools.	Monitor DHSC/Atamis updates and feed examples through representative bodies and sector networks.
NICE Evidence Standards Framework for digital care technologies	Evidence framework being adapted for adult social care technologies.	Helps providers and commissioners understand what evidence to expect from suppliers.	To get involved or provide information to support the development of the framework contact: [email protected]
Telecare National Action Plan	National action plan for safe telecare during the digital phone switchover.	Important for providers and commissioners using telecare.	Use the Telecare National Action Plan to feed risks and examples through local authorities, suppliers, TEC networks and sector bodies.

What is MODS?

MODS is the Minimum Operational Data Standard for digital social care records. It sets a consistent baseline for recording direct care information.

1 July 2026 is the compliance date for suppliers on the NHS England Assured Solutions List for digital social care records. Providers using, or buying, an assured DSCR should ask suppliers to confirm MODS compliance, explain what changes providers will see, and signpost any implementation support.

See Appendix 1 for a summary of MODS.

Technology-enabled care and technology standards

Technology standards are separate from data standards. They focus on whether care technologies are safe, effective, usable, interoperable and suitable for real care settings.

Government is developing national standards and trusted guidance for care technologies, including TEC, remote monitoring, sensors, falls technology, virtual care, digital medication support and responder services.

NICE is also adapting its Evidence Standards Framework for digital health technologies for adult social care. This is not the same as MODS or PRSB information standards; it is about what evidence is needed to show that care technology is safe, effective, good value and suitable for adult social care.

The digital phone switchover remains a live telecare risk. Providers and commissioners need assurance that devices and services will work safely on digital networks.

What this means for providers

Providers should expect standards to affect procurement, implementation, staff training, workflows and system review.

Immediate priorities: map systems, ask suppliers about conformance, and prepare for changes to recording practice.

Potential opportunities

Less duplication.
Safer handovers and transfers of care.
Clearer procurement expectations.
Better data for improvement and reporting.
Stronger foundations for innovation.

Potential risks and challenges

Workflow or system changes.
Training and guidance needs.
Data quality gaps becoming visible.
Extra burden for smaller providers.
Standards not reflecting social care practice.

What this means for tech suppliers

Suppliers and developers will need to build products around relevant data, information and technology standards. This includes DSCR suppliers and suppliers of TEC, telecare, remote monitoring and other care technologies.

Providers and commissioners will increasingly expect evidence of minimum conformance, assurance, interoperability, safety, usability and value.

Questions providers should ask suppliers

Which PRSB, NHS, NICE or other standards apply?
Can you show evidence of conformance, assurance or a Quality Mark?
Which “must have” data items and business rules does your system support?
Are you compliant now? If not, when?
What changes will providers see?
Will staff need training or new guidance?
Will there be costs, migration work or data cleansing?
How will you support implementation?
How will information be shared with NHS, local authority and other care systems?
For TEC: what evidence shows the product is safe, reliable, usable and effective?
For telecare: how will services work safely during and after the digital phone switchover?
How are providers and people drawing on care involved in development?

How the care sector can shape the standards

The sector cannot influence the past, but it can shape what happens next. Standards should involve providers, care workers, registered managers, people drawing on care, unpaid carers, commissioners, local authorities, suppliers and representative bodies.

Useful routes: consultations, advisory groups, user testing, pilots, practice examples and feedback through sector networks.

Standards are welcome — but they must be shaped by the people who deliver care and draw on care.

Timetable and what to watch

When	What to watch	Provider action
Now	Standards and guidance are developing for data, digital records and care technologies.	Map systems and ask suppliers which standards apply.
August 2025	Legal change to section 250 came into force, strengthening the duty to comply with relevant mandatory information standards and introducing monitoring, enforcement and financial penalty risks where a mandatory standard applies.	Understand which mandatory information standards apply and ask suppliers how they are preparing for compliance.
1 July 2026	MODS compliance date for assured DSCR suppliers.	Confirm supplier compliance, implementation support and likely provider impact.
2026 onwards	Further technology standards, NICE evidence work and review activity expected.	Take part in consultations and share care-sector examples.
31 Jan 2027	Digital phone switchover - Telecare services must remain safe as phone networks move from analogue to digital.	Check supplier plans, risks and contingency arrangements.

Recommended actions for providers

Make a simple list of the digital systems and care technologies your organisation uses. Include care records, medicines systems, rostering, telecare, sensors, remote monitoring and any other tools used to support care. You can use Digital Care Hub’s template Digital Assets Register.
Ask each supplier which standards apply to their product. Ask them to explain this in plain English and to provide evidence of conformance, assurance or a Quality Mark where relevant.
If you use, or are buying, a digital social care record, ask whether it is on the Assured Solutions List and whether the supplier is compliant with MODS.
Look at how staff record information now. Check whether records are complete, consistent and easy for others to understand.
Ask staff where they may need training or clearer guidance. Focus on practical changes to everyday recording, sharing and using information.
Check any risks linked to telecare and technology-enabled care, especially the digital phone switchover. Ask suppliers how devices and services will continue to work safely.
Look out for consultations, pilots, workshops or user testing. Take part where you can, especially if you can share examples from day-to-day care.
Share practical examples of what works, what creates burden and what people drawing on care need. This will help future standards reflect real care settings.

Where providers can get support

Digital Care Hub — guidance, tools, events and networks on digital technology, data protection, cyber security, AI and TEC.
Digitising Social Care — national guidance on DSCRs, the Assured Solutions List, MODS and interoperability.
Digital Care Hub networks and groups — including the Digital Care Special Interest Group and Caldicott Guardian Network, where providers can discuss digital, data protection, information governance and cyber security issues with peers.
Care Provider Alliance and its members — national trade associations representing independent and voluntary adult social care providers.
Local care associations, local authorities, ICBs and regional digital leads — support with local implementation, shared care records, digital switchover planning and provider feedback.
Suppliers and peer networks — ask for standards roadmaps, evidence of conformance and implementation support.

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