Legal & HR
Embracing digital record-keeping
Digitalisation is becoming a fast-growing area in care, with providers adopting technology to help deliver the best possible care for clients - but its application can also be crucial in back-office record keeping and in better supporting staff.
Here, Cecily Lalloo, managing director of Embrace HR, independent HR specialist in care sector support, discusses how digital record-keeping can support providers in vital back office functions to ensure their processes are more streamlined than ever before.
Digitalisation is a huge shift for those of us working in health and social care.
While many are unlocking the benefits it can bring, for many others, the ‘unknown’ of adopting technology is forcing them to revise their traditional practice.
But with a Government target of 80 per cent of Care Quality Commission (CQC) accredited social care provid-ers adopting digital care records by 2024, the use of technology across the whole sector is very much in the spotlight.
While adapting to digitalisation is perhaps not a natural choice for everyone, particularly those who have been in this sector for a long time, the benefits are numerous. Indeed, many providers we work with are discovering new positives of adopting technology on a daily basis.
And in this fast-changing world, adopting digital can truly modernise operations for the benefit of the cur-rent and future workforce, ensuring real-time records are accessible by anyone who needs to access them, wherever they may be.
For health and social care providers, such digital record keeping can be used in a client’s care - to ensure an integrated approach with other parties involved in their care and therapy - as well as being a vital part of their internal systems of staff record-keeping.
The CQC identifies that digital record keeping is advantageous over paper-based records in that it helps providers to capture information more easily, supports staff to respond more quickly, and enables the sharing of information quickly, safely and secure.
Importantly, it highlights the fact that remote record-keeping can support staff - both care staff and those involved in back office functions - to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently than ever before.
We have supported many care companies who provide care staff to work with clients in their own home to use such technology to its best advantage.
While enabling an integrated approach between carers and others involved in a client’s care, from the provider’s perspective, the use of digital systems to help with staff provision has been invaluable. In ensuring timekeeping and setting up rotas, the remote access that digitalisation brings is a big asset.
Wherever a carer is - whether on shift or in preparation for that - they can ensure they remain on top of their commitments. Their timekeeping can also be monitored by HR, the case manager or team leader in an instantly-accessible way, which ensures the client is receiving care when they need to be.
It can also help with the planning of holidays and ensuring provision is made for times of absence. Digitalisation can help providers to identify shifts they need to be covered, and staff can book themselves onto those shifts remotely.
Most record-systems can also integrate with payroll, ensuring this up-to-date information around attendance is factored in to salaries and people are paid fairly for the work they have done.
Payscales are traditionally difficult to negotiate - with several different scales at play for day or night shifts, sleeping or waking nights, bank holidays and weekends - but digital systems can offer some assistance here.
In an increasingly digital society, where more people across all age groups are becoming adept with using smartphones and tablets than ever before, minimal training is needed, as most staff will already have knowledge of how to negotiate the technology - once they have learned how to use whichever record-keeping system the provider has chosen, the process should be a seamless one.
Choosing a system can be challenging, particularly for those providers who are less adept with how to negotiate technology.
The prospect of digital record keeping can be daunting, and we understand that adding all the many factors which have been kept as paper-based records for so long to a computerised system can be off-putting.
But we are hearing from our clients how valuable the switch has been in enabling them to keep the accurate and up-to-date records that are need-ed, particularly with the sector-wide focus on shifting to digitalisation.
Undoubtedly, the future of health and social care is digital.
And while it may be daunting, by embracing it now, you are helping to create a sustaina-ble future for your organisation, and begin a journey which your staff will join you on.
How the law can be a force for good for brain injury survivors
Jane Lynch, head of clinical negligence and complex injury and a specialist in brain injuries at law firm Prosperity Law Solicitors, discusses the importance of appointing a lawyer with specialism in handling brain injury claims to secure the best possible outcomes for clients
Please introduce us to Prosperity Law Solicitors
Prosperity Law is a young firm and has a wealth of experienced, high calibre, leading lawyers. The firm has grown rapidly and has offices in London, Manchester and Liverpool. We operate across the whole of England and Wales.
We offer a range of services including serious and complex injury claims, clinical negligence, personal injury, notary public, commercial, conveyancing, employment, family, trusts and wills.
We pride ourselves on focusing on our clients’ needs with empathy and compassion obtaining the best outcome, always seeking to exceed their expectations.
We proudly support numerous local and national charities, including Manchester Mind and Macmillan Cancer Support and we lead by example. In fact, our Managing Partner Edward Smethurst was awarded the Cancer Research UK Flame of Hope Award in 2020, in recognition of his fundraising activities.
Edward has raised, in total, over £250,000 for Cancer Research. He’s an incredible example for the firm.
How long have you worked in the specialist field of brain injury?
I have been a specialist in this area for over 27 years since I qualified in 1996.
I became a partner very early in my career in the City of London firm, Pritchard Englefield who had merged with Pannone & Partners regarded as pioneers in specialising in serious injury work and multi-party/disaster litigation. I have been working in the field of brain injury ever since.
My expertise includes working with birth injuries where babies have suffered brain injury as a result. I am accredited as a specialist by the Law Society.
I have shared my knowledge with the health sector as a medico-legal trainer for the NHS and private care providers. I have spoken at conferences worldwide and am highly regarded in my field.
I am the author of award winning series of medico-legal books written for health professions. I have written many articles for medical journals including neurological publications. and I also put helpful articles on our website.
What do you believe makes you stand out in this area?
My significant experience in head injuries sets us apart from competitors. I have achieved millions of pounds in compensation for serious brain injury claims for adults and children.
I have dealt with a wide range of brain injuries resulting in minor and catastrophic injuries as a result of accidents and medical mistakes. I also have particular expertise in birth injury claims resulting in brain injury often resulting in acquired cerebral palsy.
It is essential to put rehabilitation in place at the earliest opportunity to achieve the best outcome for clients. This may include a range of care packages including treatment, support, aids and equipment and adaptions to the home.
I am adept at identifying that symptoms can be masked sometimes unintentionally and dealing with this to ensure it does not impact on the clients’ needs and ultimate settlement.
Why would a client appoint you ahead of your competitors?
We are a niche practice specialising in serious brain injury. We offer a personal service unlike large firms who often delegate to junior staff under supervision.
Our senior experts handle the cases personally. They gain in-depth knowledge of the client, the circumstances and their needs.
I am regularly complemented by my clients for my thoroughness and diligence, never shying away from issues, taking time to explain complex medical and legal issues in a way that they understand.
I have genuine empathy for clients. I understand their needs, knowing what to say and what not to say. My clients describe me as ‘caring, approachable and empathetic, but fights her cases with tenacity’.
The legal process can be daunting for a client and their families. It is important to consider the impact this can have on the wider family and those supporting the client.
I strive to ensure they are being supported and reassure them the client is receiving the treatment and care they require whilst being clear about the legal process and hand holding them through it.
What is unique about a brain injury claim? Does it differ from a standard personal injury claim?
Brain injury claims are very different from other claims. It requires a very skilled solicitor to illicit the correct information.
Often clients present in a way where injury is not obvious. They will sometimes be adept at masking the consequences of a brain injury through valour, denial or embarrassment often claiming they can do something well when they cannot.
Even when they are assessed by an expert their presentation can be misleading. They can present well when they are viewed in a short assessment offering the most positive responses and usually when they are brighter such as at the beginning of the day. A very different picture would often emerge if they were tired at the end of a day, fatigue can have a major impact.
As an experienced brain injury specialist, I am aware of these inconsistencies and ensure the experts are fully informed of the real issues and measures are taken to ensure the full picture is taken into account.
Often those who have suffered a brain injury don’t look any different to how they looked before but the difference can be significant. It can often impact on cognitive ability, personality and mood changes and behaviour, including inhibitions.
Clients can have many difficulties including lack of concentration, memory loss, inability to organise and have difficulty communicating. There are other underlying issues which can impact such as fatigue, pain, vision issues and loss of taste and smell.
Some clients can develop mental health issues such as depression. Some clients function well day to day, whilst others may not function well and do not have capacity to manage their legal or financial affairs.
In these circumstances others will need to make decision on their behalf and assist them with the legal process. There may also be some involvement with Court of Protection.
If you would like advice, please contact Jane Lynch at Prosperity Law on 0151 909 9122 or email her at Jane@ProsperityLaw.com
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