October 9th 2025
Many care providers allow staff to use their own phones or tablets to access work information — from rota systems and communication apps to care records. This ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) approach can make life easier for staff and reduce costs for organisations. But it also comes with data protection and cyber security risks if not managed carefully.
That’s why the we are offering a fantastic opportunity for small and medium-sized care providers (with fewer than 250 employees) to get free, tailored support in developing or improving their BYOD policy. Apply here
This initiative is part of our work to understand how useful and effective our new Data Policy Builder tool is in helping providers develop effective, practical policies. The tool will officially launch at our webinar on Tuesday 14 October, and t his follow-up project will help us learn how well it supports providers in real-world settings.
What’s on offer
Our partners at The PSC will work closely with a small number of care providers over a six-week period to help them create and implement a strong, workable BYOD policy using the Data Policy Builder. It’s a supportive, hands-on experience designed to make a real difference to your organisation’s everyday digital practice.
Participating organisations will receive:
- Tailored support: Expert guidance to develop and implement a BYOD policy that fits your organisation’s size, structure and ways of working.
- Coaching and feedback: Two one-hour coaching sessions over Microsoft Teams, offering the chance to ask questions, test ideas and build confidence.
- On-site visit: A short visit to your service from members of The PSC team to see how your policy is being put into practice. They’ll also speak with a few members of staff who aren’t directly involved in policy development, to understand how the approach works in reality.
- Learning and reflection: Two short questionnaires (before and after using the tool) to help you reflect on what’s working well and where support is most useful.
It’s a great opportunity to get free, expert help in making sure your BYOD approach is secure, practical and clear for your team — while also shaping the future of free resources designed to help the whole sector.
Who we’re looking for
We want to hear from:
- Small and medium-sized care providers (with fewer than 250 employees) delivering any type of adult social care service.
- Organisations that currently allow staff to use their own personal devices for work purposes — for example, to access rotas, care planning apps or messaging systems.
- Services that either:
- Already have a BYOD policy in place but want to review and strengthen it, or
- Don’t yet have a policy and would like to develop one from scratch.
Whether you’re a care home, home care agency, supported living provider or community-based service, this support could help you ensure your approach to personal devices keeps data secure and staff confident.
Why it matters
Allowing staff to use their own devices can make digital systems easier to use — but it’s vital that sensitive information about the people you support stays protected. A clear BYOD policy helps everyone understand what’s allowed, what’s not, and how to stay safe online.
Taking part in this project will give you access to expert advice, ready-to-use templates, and a simple step-by-step process through the Data Policy Builder. It’s also a great way to involve your team in thinking about data protection and to build stronger digital habits across your organisation.
Get involved
Places are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
To put your organisation forward, please complete a short online form by 5pm on Friday 10 October:
Don’t miss out on this chance to get hands-on, free support — and help shape the future of how social care organisations build effective, safe data policies.
Image by Getty Images on Unsplash
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