Interoperability — the ability of systems to exchange, understand and use information — is becoming a central feature of health and care policy in England. For adult social care, it sits at the intersection of digital transformation, integrated care and information governance.
This briefing outlines the key national policies, standards and programmes shaping interoperability, considers what they mean in practice, and looks ahead to what is likely to happen next.
1. National strategy and ambition
Fit for the future: 10 Year Health Plan for England
This plan sets out the government’s long-term ambitions for a more digitally enabled and integrated system. It assumes that services will be connected and that information will move more easily across organisational boundaries to support coordinated care.
For adult social care, this reinforces expectations that systems will not operate in isolation from NHS partners.
Single Patient Record – NHS England
The Single Patient Record ambition describes a future in which people can access a secure, unified view of their health and care information through the NHS App, subject to parliamentary time.
Delivering that vision depends on structured, standards-based data exchange. If adult social care information is to contribute meaningfully, digital systems must be capable of connecting safely and consistently.
2. Shared care records and local implementation
Connecting Care Records Programme – NHS England
This programme has supported integrated care systems to connect shared care records across England and is expected to complete in March 2026.
Shared care records are currently the primary mechanism for bringing together information from multiple organisations for direct care. Most connect NHS organisations such as hospitals, community services and general practice. In some areas, local authority social care systems are also included. Integration with independent adult social care providers is developing and varies significantly between systems.
As the programme concludes, responsibility for maintaining and improving shared care records will sit increasingly with local systems.
The London Care Record offers a regional example of an emerging interoperable system. It brings together information from health and care partners across London to support coordinated care.
Its development illustrates that interoperability is built over time through sustained collaboration, shared governance and technical alignment. It also shows that inclusion of adult social care data requires practical agreements as well as technical capability.
3. Social Care Interoperability Platform – NHS England
NHS England is developing a Social Care Interoperability Platform intended to provide more consistent routes for digital social care records to connect with wider health and care systems. The aim is to reduce reliance on bespoke integrations and support scalable, standards-based connectivity.
This work is ongoing and forms part of a broader shift towards more systematic inclusion of adult social care within shared digital infrastructures.
4. Standards and technical foundations
Information standards – NHS Digital
This hub provides access to information standards notices and guidance that apply across health and adult social care IT systems and services.
Standards are fundamental to interoperability. Without shared definitions and structured data, systems may exchange information technically but struggle to interpret it consistently.
Digital Social Care Record: Minimum Operational Data Standard (MODS)
MODS defines a consistent baseline for capturing key social care information in structured formats.
For providers and suppliers, MODS offers a practical reference point for improving data consistency and preparing for wider interoperability.
Spine underpins national services supporting identity management and secure information exchange across the NHS. While most adult social care providers will not interact directly with Spine, it forms part of the infrastructure that enables wider connectivity.
5. Legal framework
Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 – Section 121
The Act strengthens the legal basis for mandating information standards across health and adult social care IT systems and services. It clarifies that standards can apply to systems and services, not just organisations.
Implementation is still evolving, but the Act provides a stronger regulatory framework for ensuring alignment with national standards. Over time, this is likely to influence procurement requirements, supplier accountability and system design.
6. What is happening next?
Several developments are likely over the next two to three years:
- Consolidation of shared care records locally: As the Connecting Care Records Programme concludes, integrated care systems will focus on improving governance, data quality and participation rather than simply expanding connectivity.
- Greater emphasis on standards compliance: The framework established under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 is expected to be reinforced through information standards notices and guidance, increasing clarity about expectations on suppliers and systems.
- Embedding MODS in practice: As digital social care record systems mature, greater alignment with MODS is likely to support more consistent data capture and make structured data exchange more achievable.
- Development of national interoperability infrastructure: The Social Care Interoperability Platform is expected to progress, aiming to provide more consistent connection routes between adult social care systems and shared health and care records.
- Closer scrutiny of role-based access and governance: As connectivity increases, systems will need to demonstrate robust controls ensuring that access to information remains proportionate and appropriate.
Interoperability is therefore shifting from pilot projects towards being treated as core infrastructure.
7. Practical implications for adult social care
Interoperability presents technical, organisational and cultural considerations.
Technically, systems must support compatible standards, secure interfaces and accurate identity matching. Organisationally, providers must engage with local shared care record governance arrangements. Culturally, staff need confidence that documentation shared across sectors will be understood appropriately.
Role-based access controls are essential to ensure that individuals only see information necessary for direct care. Transparency with people who draw on care about what information is shared and why remains central to maintaining trust.
Published 18 February 2026 as part of Digital Care in Focus: Interoperability
