Happy Festive Season from everyone at SCIE, and thank you for all you do to help improve social care! We look forward to continuing our vital work with the sector in 2026.

Local authority staff have a responsibility to assess older people who are deafblind as part of the Care Act 2014. SCIE is offering a specialist deafblind assessor training course in partnership with Hearing Impairment & Visual Impairment Support UK (Hi-VisUK). Find out more on our website.

📅SCIE will be running an advisory group for frontline workers and people with lived experience on 15 January 2026, 14:30-16:00. The purpose of this advisory group is to ensure our work around the Mental Health Act 2025 is credible, co-produced, and delivers practical, evidence-informed support📅

SCIE has undertaken an analysis of the Care Quality Commission assessment reports for 76 local authorities, published up to mid-October 2025. These assessments examine how councils are meeting their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. Find it here: www.scie.org.uk/app/uploads/...

SCIE’s mission is to support best practice, shape policy, and raise awareness of the importance of social care 💙 Find out more on our website: www.scie.org.uk/training/?fb...

Digital transformation can make a real difference in social care. Learn more about SCIE's work with the London Borough of Bromley here: socialcare.today/2025/11/26/f...

Are you caught up on our blog series on national standards of care? We brought the sector together to develop a framework for what national standards of care, which will underpin this government's National Care Service, should look and feel like. Check them out: www.scie.org.uk/blog-archive/

Social Care Future’s new report, ‘Growing a brighter future together: Suggestions to the Casey Commission on the future of adult social care’, brings together the ideas, priorities and lived expertise of more than 200 people who draw on social care, their families and allies. Find out more here.

Over the last three months, SCIE and The Access Group have brought people together to explore the definition and design of national standards of care. Our final roundtable pulled all of the conversations together. Learn more in this thought piece by George Appleton, SCIE's Head of External Affairs.

Since the formal conclusion of SCIE’s main ARF support to local authorities, a small number have continued to receive targeted guidance in a ‘scaling innovation’ project. 💡Learn more about this work in this blog by Lauren Westerman, Practice Development Consultant at SCIE.

Today, 5 December 2025, the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has responded to the announcement made by the Department of Health and Social Care that 80% of CQC-registered care providers now use digital social care record (DSRC) solutions.

At NCASC 2025 last week, SCIE highlighted the critical role co-produced digital innovation must play in the future of social care reform. Read our full statement, authored by our Chief Executive, Kathryn Marsden OBE, on our website.

SCIE will be running two advisory groups to ensure our work around the Mental Health Bill is credible, co-produced, and delivers practical, evidence-informed support. If you are interested in getting involved, please complete this form.

In this thought piece, Ian McCreath, Think Local, Act Personal (TLAP) Director, discusses the key insights and takeaways from the third roundtable in our four-part series with The Access Group on national care standards.

As social care leaders face significant cost pressures, digital innovation offers huge potential. For example, SCIE’s work with Bromley Council targets £2 million savings, with the use of Assistive Technology already reducing care costs by nearly 30%. www.scie.org.uk/app/uploads/...

That’s a wrap on #NCASC25 💙 A huge thank you to everyone who visited us at Exhibition Stand C30, joined our sessions, attended our networking events and shared their experiences across the conference.

Earlier this week, SCIE hosted its final roundtable building a shared vision of how national standards of care can deliver consistency, equity and quality across the country. The roundtable explored how national care standards can be implemented, evaluated, and continuously improved over time.

Good morning from the final day of #NCASC25 🌟 It’s been fantastic connecting with so many colleagues over the last two days to explore how digital innovation is shaping the future of social care. 🔗Find out more about what SCIE has been doing at NCASC here: scie.info/NCASCDay3

Join SCIE, Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) and the National Co-production Advisory Group (NCAG) at SCIE’s Exhibition Stand, C30, to learn more about the work we do and how we can support you💙 #NCASC25

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this morning’s workshop. It was fantastic to see so many colleagues sharing ideas, asking thoughtful questions, and showing real commitment to ensuring the best possible outcomes for children and young people💙. #NCASC25

Good morning from Day 2 of #NCASC25 🌟 📣We’re kicking off today with our interactive workshop: Getting the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty right for children and young people ⏰09:30 – 10.30 am 💬 If you’re attending, we’d love to hear your key reflections.

Insights and discussions from the first day of #NCASC25 have highlighted the significant potential of digital innovation in social care. We look forward to continuing these discussions over the next two days and exploring further ways technology can support meaningful change💡

Hello from #NCASC25 🌟 SCIE is excited to be here showcasing how digital innovation is helping to transform social care. 📹 Watch this video of our Chief Executive, Kathryn Marsden, to learn more about the work that we’re doing. 🔗: scie.info/SCIEAtNCASC

In the December issue of Care Management Matters, Kathryn Marsden OBE, Chief Executive of SCIE, looks back at 2025 on the progress, challenges and opportunities, including her wish list for the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget. www.caremanagementmatters.co.uk/feature/refl...

🌟 NCASC 2025 starts today! SCIE is heading to Bournemouth to share insights on digital innovation, co-production and good practice across social care. Find out more in this blog by our Chief Executive, Kathryn Marsden OBE.

SCIE has published a report that examines how people receiving social care, carers and families are involved in shaping social care services. Find it and our statement, authored by Kathryn Marsden OBE, Chief Executive, and Patrick Wood, Chair of SCIE’s Co-production Steering Group, on our website.

SCIE is delighted that our Director of Transformation and Improvement, Gerard Crofton-Martin, will chair Westminster Insight’s annual CQC Inspections Digital Conference next Thursday. This will be an important opportunity to learn from peers and stay informed about the next phase of CQC regulation.

“We have a responsibility as a sector to look beyond our immediate challenges and imagine what is possible.” Less than one week to go⏲️ SCIE will join other sector leaders at #NCASC25 to share insights and showcase examples of digital innovation.

We’re proud to be supporting #CarersRightsDay today. The theme this year is ‘Know your rights, use your rights’, and we are joining Carers UK and organisations from across the country in raising awareness of the entitlements and wider support available for unpaid carers💙.

Safeguarding Adults Week is an opportunity for organisations working in safeguarding to raise awareness of key issues. In this blog, Ellie Haworth, SCIE’s Head of Children’s Services Transformation and Improvement, explores the need for a coherent approach to transitional safeguarding.

Today marked the third of four roundtables SCIE, in partnership with The Access Group, is hosting to better define and understand national standards of care. Today's roundtable brought the sector together to discuss integration and system alignment.

📢 Attending NCASC 2025? Join SCIE and Lilli for an exclusive reception and panel discussion on the future of tech-enabled social care. 📣Preparing tech-enabled care for lift-off: empowering skilled teams with smart solutions 📅Thursday 27 November ⏰17:20 – 18.30

In this blog, Deborah Rozansky, SCIE Director of Policy, Research and Information and Martin Lowthian, The Access Group Quality and Compliance Specialist, discuss the key insights and takeaways from the second roundtable in our four-part series on national care standards

The number of children under deprivation of liberty orders has grown significantly. In this article for Children & Young People Now, Ellie Haworth, SCIE’s Head of Children’s Services Transformation and Improvement, explores what needs to change.

📣Join SCIE’s board: Chair Elect and Trustee opportunities📣 Find out more about the roles and how you can apply on our website.

Trustees’ Week is a time for us to celebrate the achievements of trustees across the UK⭐. We would like to sincerely thank our trustees for their time, expertise and unwavering commitment to SCIE and to social care excellence more broadly💙.

📣Getting the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty right for children and young people 📅Thursday 27 November ⏰09:30 – 10.30 am 📌BIC, Bournemouth This interactive session at #NCASC25 will include polls, Q&As and smaller group discussions. Find out more on our website🔗.

The UK Supreme Court was recently asked to reconsider what deprivation of liberty means. In this blog for The Open Justice Court of Protection Project, Claire Webster, Practice Development Consultant at SCIE, reflects on what this means for those working in health and social care.

Yesterday, in partnership with The Access Group, we convened the second roundtable in our four-part series focused on national standards of care. Thank you to all those who attended and contributed to a wonderful discussion.

Today, 31 October 2025, SCIE has welcomed the Government’s announcement that the first-ever full review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or the Timms Review, will be led by disabled people. Read our full statement, authored by our Chief Executive, Kathryn Marsden OBE, on our website.

We are proud to share that yesterday, SCIE Trustee, Isaac Samuels, received their Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) medal at a prestigious investiture ceremony.

Last week, SCIE and The Access Group hosted the first of four roundtables to help lead the sector towards a framework within which national care standards can be developed. This blog by Kathryn Marsden OBE and Anisa Byrne discusses the findings in detail and outlines the next steps.

Last week, SCIE’s Chief Executive, Kathryn Marsden OBE, delivered a keynote address at ‘North West Forward: stories of digital support for working age adults’. It explored the factors driving the need for innovation, barriers and how they can be overcome and the importance of co-production.

Today, 24 October, SCIE has responded to the Care Quality Commission’s annual report, ‘The state of health care and adult social care in England 2024/25.’ Read our full statement, authored by our Chief Executive, Kathryn Marsden OBE, on our website.

Transitional safeguarding: Strengthening practice across adolescence to adulthood. 📅Thursday 6 to Friday 7 November 2025 ⏰09:30 to 12:30 (GMT) each day 📌Online The course is aimed at practitioners who work with young people aged 14-25 years.

Yesterday, 21 October, SCIE responded to the new Carers UK report, ‘State of Caring 2025: The cost of caring – the impact of caring across carers’ lives.’ Read our full statement, authored by our Chief Executive, Kathryn Marsden OBE, on our website.

On Saturday 18 October, SCIE responded to news that the Government will launch a consultation on Liberty Protection Safeguards to improve safeguarding for vulnerable people. Read our full statement, authored by our Chief Executive, Kathryn Marsden OBE, on our website.

Today, SCIE and The Access Group are bringing together people who draw on care and support, sector leaders and practitioners for the first of our four roundtables to co-produce a framework for national standards of care.

Last week at the #CareShowBirmingham, our Chief Executive, Kathryn Marsden OBE, joined Jacqui Darlington, Deborah Rozansky, and Caroline Waugh for a panel discussion on ‘Successful co-production: practical approaches and success stories.’ Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed💙.

Today, 15 October 20205, SCIE has responded to the new Skills for Care publication, ‘The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England 2025’. Read our full statement, authored by our Chief Executive, Kathryn Marsden OBE, here.