Tech Care: Recent Episodes
Sanghamitra Chakravarty and Morten Mathiesen
In 2022, we joined forces with Sanghamitra Chakravarty to start the Tech Care Podcast. A podcast about our two passions: Social care and technology. Adopting technology and embarking on the digital journey is no longer a choice. It's a must. As part of the Institute of Health and Social Care Management's Social Care Innovators network Sangha and Morten explore a variety of topics with their guests.How can tech both be valuable for the operators and meaningful for its users? What does the rest of the world say? Will we be able to take learnings from other industries? How is the next big thing going to influence you?Sanghamitra Chakravarty and Morten Mathiesen are both social care tech start-up founders. Their guests are from every corner of social care.
Hossein Sharifi joined us for the 10th and also the final episode of Season 3!
Hold on, Hossein has more than 20 years care sector experience and is currently both the director of Careberry and Care & Carers. So, we arranged to meet him to hear more about his double role as both a supplier and a provider to social care.
In this episode, Hossein tells us about his recent Topol fellowship, what this means and how others could also benefit from this programme now being open for social care interests. Hossein also shares his main concerns and the challenges he experiences in dom care, besides the main differences compared to care homes from a tech point of view.
Tune in for Hossein’s answer to our previous guest’s question and for his prediction for 2023!
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback.
Tech Care!
Careberry: https://mycareberry.com/
Care & Carers: https://www.careandcarers.com/
Topol Digital Fellowship by the NHS: https://topol.hee.nhs.uk/digital-fellowships/
Jon Thue joined us for the 9th episode of Season 3!
Jon joined us straight from snowy Oslo, where he acts as CSO of Sensio delivering systems and platforms for fall prevention, nurse call systems and next gen alerts.
As Sensio are working in multiple European countries, Jon shares some of the trends and challenges he’s observing in the sector. We eagerly ask him about the differences between the Nordics and the UK and what new tech Sensio is focusing on.
Don’t miss out on Jon’s prediction for 2023, he’s on to something!
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback.
Tech Care!
Sensio: https://sensiocare.se/en
Jon Glasby joined us for the 8th episode of Season 3!
Jon Glasby is a qualified social worker by background, professor of Health and Social Care at the Birmingham University and Director of IMPACT (Improving Adult Care Together). In 2022, he was also a special adviser to the House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee.
With his wide range of research and publication experience about social care, Jon shares with us the biggest challenges and pitfalls of technology in the sector. He tells us about the importance of implementation and the clear expectations, goals of tech. Don’t miss out on Jon’s very specific and detailed answer for our previous guest’s question either.
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback.
Tech Care!
If I knew then what I know now - Guide: https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP70009.html
Research about using AI tech in social care: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2023/research-sets-out-improved-process-for-using-ai-technology-in-social-care
Jon’s researches, publications: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/social-policy/glasby-jon.aspx#staffdetails
Mark Brown joined us for the 7th episode of Season 3!
Mark is the founder and CEO of Psybersafe since he started his business in 2019. Psybersafe uses behavioural science expertise to deliver behaviour changing cyber security training that protects businesses and their employees.
With his background in psychology and organisational psychology, Mark knows exactly how and why we make tech mistakes. Listen in as he discusses the most common mistakes and fraud types, and shares his prediction for 2023. Don't miss out on learning how to stay safe online! Plus, stay tuned for Mark's question for our next guest.
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback.
Tech Care!
Francisco Florez-Revuelta joined us for the 6th episode of Season 3!Francisco joined us straight from the sunny Alicante, Spain. He is a professor of computer vision and technologies for active and healthy ageing at the University there. Francisco has more than 25 years of experience with computational intelligence and vision.
In today’s episode, we’ve discussed the legal and ethical challenges of video monitoring and surveillance with Francisco. He also shared his insights on cultural differences in monitoring approaches between Mediterranean countries and the UK. Our conversation covered the CQC’s report on surveillance and its potential benefits for care homes. Francisco also told us about a Pan-European project that he is working on with 200 other experts from 40 countries.
Francisco shares his prediction for 2023 regarding video monitoring and also asks an unusual question for next week’s guest.
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Tech Care!
Good Brother Project: https://goodbrother.eu/
CQC about surveillance: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/all-services/how-we-check-use-surveillance
Mindy Sawhney, Tarryn Gorre and Debbie Harris joined us for the 5th episode of Season 3!
Today is a special day when we celebrate International Women’s Day by featuring three inspirational women. Social care’s workforce is 80% powered by women and now we have the privilege of hearing from three remarkable female founders who are making a significant impact on the industry.
Mindy is the co-founder of carestockrooom.com, Tarryn is the founder and CEO of Kafoodle and Debbie is the founder and MD of Atumna. All of them have a unique story about how they joined social care. Throughout the episode, we dive into gender issues and explore the many ways in which women contribute to the industry.
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback.
Tech Care!
Care Stockroom: https://www.carestockroom.com/
Kafoodle: https://www.kafoodle.com/
Atumna: https://www.autumna.co.uk/
Charles Cross joined us for the 4th episode of Season 3!
Even though Charles is among the youngest COOs in social care, his care home experience is already vast and manifold.
His father founded Anglian Care in 2008 and Charles has worked for the family company the last 5 years in various roles. Beyond his personal story he shares his passion for team and operational development using technologies.
Charles is a pioneer of VR training in social care. We talk to him about the potential for the sector and how it’s already making an impact.
As in every episode of Season 3 we also ask him what’s the toughest part of his job and what his 2023 prediction for social care is.
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback.
Tech Care!
Anglian Care: https://angliancare.com/
Ben Allen joined us for the 3rd episode of Season 3!
When we meet Ben he’s got some exhausting and exciting weeks behind him. His company, Oomph! Wellness, has just merged with Person Centred Software. Two significant social tech companies joining forces to make the care sector’s life easier.
Ben shares the Oomph! story and how Covid nearly got the best of them. We ask him what’s next for 2023 and get some insights into both adventures and features planned for this year.
Join us to hear what how Ben answers our previous guests question to him: What the hardest part of your job?
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback.
Tech Care!
Adam Keane joined us for the 2nd episode of Season 3!
As a social tech founder of Altra, Adam’s story is deeply rooted in his own family’s care home. He has seen how things have developed since his childhood and throughout his many different (more or less) professional roles in the home.
In this episode, he shares his journey with Altra. What this word actually means in Irish, and how he came up with the business idea. We discusses the challenges for a start up and the importance of a good reputation to secure word-of-mouth marketing in social care.
Tune in to hear what Adam and Altra are doing to support care homes across Europe. What’s most important for a tech company in this sector and what’s next for Altra and social care in 2023.
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback.
Tech Care!
Hidden killer: Loneliness
https://www.bbc.com/news/education-12324231
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/features/feature-article/loneliness-the-silent-killer/
Altra: https://www.helloaltra.com/
New year and the new season of Tech Care is out!
Darren Evans joined us for the 1st episode of Season 3!
Having started his career as a military training instructor, then moved to banking and the communication industry, Darren ended up in social care, and like some many of us fell in love with the people game here. He has been in the sector for many years now, mainly focusing on the tech, he is now the CEO of After Cloud.
How a family tragedy turned into a business idea. We learn what After Cloud is and what they do? How memories contribute to the well-being of the care receiver. Certain taste, smell and music can immediately bring forth memories. Tune in to hear Darren’s thoughts on this and more.
Season 3 also brings a new tradition, where our guests reveal their major social care prediction for 2023 and ask a question that our next guest will answer.
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback.
Tech Care!
After Cloud: www.aftercloud.co.uk
We’re joined by Karolina Gerlich FRSA for the 7th episode of Season 2!Karolina has been the CEO of The Care Workers Charity for almost 2 years. She is a dedicated care professional and an advocate for the sector’s largest workforce. Always looking for ways to support and champion care work.
In this episode we ask Karolina a lot of questions to help us understand the current workforce pressure and the digital impact on work environments and more.
We also defy our own optimism and ask her to help us identify known barriers or any burden tech could bring forth.
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback!
Tech Care!
We’re joined by Dr Charles Armitage for the 6th episode of Season 2!
Dr Charles Armitage used to be a doctor. More specifically, a trauma surgeon until 2016. Here, Charles met Dan Blake and they started a project that grew to become their passion.
This project was Florence. The beginning of the business was tough - starting from scratch with only a Google sheet as their service. Today, Florence is the go-to marketplace for nurses and carers. Over 90,000 care professionals and 2,000 organisations strong. All with Charles at the realm as CEO.
In this episode, we talk about how Florence can help with the current workforce crisis, and how they raised £28m in funding to expand internationally. And about Florence Academy which is their e-learning platform to train new and current care workers. We also ask Charles how he sees the future for social care and what we can do to survive the current crises.
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback!
Tech Care!
We’re joined by Karla Zingel-Leal for the 5th episode of Season 2!
Karla is a senior lecturer at Oxford Brooks Business School with a domain that reaches far into the social care sector. Currently, Karla is researching home care providers in the UK. And abroad! The goal is to advance innovation and strengthen skills development for the sector that she fell in love with 6 years ago, and she now intends never to “leave” again.
In this episode, we talk about various models of care, old and new. And how their profiles match a diversity of professionals and individuals.
We also discuss how technology can contribute to the home care equation and how personalisation should apply.
Last but not least, Karla lifts the lid on her current project that takes her as far away as South Korea, and a very holistic care provision.
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback!
Tech Care!
The Nuffield Trust report: https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/research/new-horizons-what-can-england-learn-from-the-professionalisation-of-care-workers-in-other-countries
We’re joined by Professor Vic Rayner OBE for the 4th episode of Season 2!
Vic has been the CEO of National Care Forum for 6 years. She is a trustee of Hestia and The Care Workers Charity, and as part of several government and national specialist groups Vic focuses on the social care workforce, digital transformation, new models of care and regulation. For which she was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021.
In this episode, we talk about the present challenges for the care sector but also about the promising opportunities and what technology can do to help solve some of the issues.
Vic tells us about some of the projects that NCF are working on: The Hubble project, the Digital Leadership Programme, and more.
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Tech Care!
NCF projects: https://www.nationalcareforum.org.uk/projects/
In this episode, we’re joined by Emma Harding!
Emma is the perfect example when it comes to entrepreneur newcomers in social care. Having worked within the sector for nearly 20 years, she’s found just the niche for herself to explore, and to set up her own business.
5 years ago Emma decided to continue her path as a self-employed carer. Discovering all the pains and gains connected to this role, incl. the never ending paper work and business administration. And just like that, the concept of Pocket Carer was born.
Listen in to understand what it’s like to be a self employed carer. And what Emma has faced setting up her business, as she never intended to found a software company, but just wanted to make self-employed carers’ lives easier.
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback!
Tech Care!
Pocket Carer: https://pocketcarer.com/
We are joined by Donald Macaskill for the 2nd episode of season 2!
It’s fair to say that Donald Macaskill is an icon in the sector. Donald has been the CEO of Scottish Care since 2016 but his story with social care started earlier than that. Having been a consultant in the sector since 2003, Donald knows the sector inside out.
Donald played a crucial part in launching the “Human Rights Charter for Technology and Digital in Social Care” and a year later “A Vision for Technology and Digital in Social Care”.
Technology is a big conversation in the sector. Is it an enabler of better and more personal care? That’s the ideal but what about the drawbacks technology might bring? How it effects individual’s human rights?
It’s an important conversation to have and a nuanced perspective is needed. No silver bullets or quick fixes. Tune in to hear Donald’s thoughts on the Buurtzorg model, how society sees older age, and and how data can help change lives.
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Tech Care!
Donald’s weekly blog: https://scottishcare.org/blogs/
Human Rights Charter for Technology and Digital in Social Care: https://scottishcare.org/news-release-techrights-paper-launched-at-unique-scottish-care-event-2/
A Vision for Technology and Digital in Social Care: https://scottishcare.org/a-vision-for-technology-digital-in-social-care/
The Buurtzorg model: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X22000017
Tech Care is back from holiday!
New season, new stories but the same passion and love for social care and technology.
Jane Brightman is our first guest of Season 2!
Jane Brightman has 2 hearts, a green heart and a blue heart, social care and the NHS. Jane is a social care lifer having spent her whole career in the sector. She fell in love with the sector when she was 14 years old. That love remains and has grown even stronger. Currently, she is the Assistant Director of Programmes at the NHS England. Helping care providers to become more digital and to have a smooth transition from paper to digital. Jane was the initiator of ‘Outstanding Managers Network’ which just reached 7000 members. She also co-founded the ‘Social Care Innovators Network’ almost 2 years ago.
Just like during the previous season - If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback!
Tech Care!
Hexitime - https://hexitime.com/
Digital Social Care - https://www.digitalsocialcare.co.uk/
Can you believe it? It’s our 10th episode of Tech Care!
During Season 1, we’ve tried to gather many different people and perspectives for the sector’s journey with digital as its true grit companion. We’ve talked to people who test, develop, buy, use, and have to live with our digital choices. We’ve heard from the experts and the researchers and we’re taking this new fuel with us in our strivings to help the sector better understand and embrace the digital journey.
Episode 10 is packed with season highlights, and hopefully a lot of good reasons to go back to the first nine episodes.
Season 2 is launching in August. Until then … Tech Care.
Sangha & Morten
Professor Martin Green joined us for the 9th episode of Tech Care!Professor Green is the Care England Chief Executive since 2005. He is certainly impressive, so we may have let him off the hook too easily. Experienced, knowing and ambitious on behalf of the entire sector.
We talk to him about Care Home Open Week and what it means to care homes and society in general to bridge the gap between those that know ‘care’ and those that don’t. Professor Green talks about the current workforce crisis, and how technologies and innovation can help better circumstances for care companies, and more importantly secure the best possible outcomes for their residents.
You may have noticed that Sangha is in love with data. She asks Professor Green about the importance of data throughout the pandemic and he considers the operational side of the business, being efficient and on top of things. Interestingly, the Professor highlights the co-creation between suppliers and buyers as a road to be explored even more.
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Tech Care!
We are joined by Jay Dodhia and Mark Anslow for our 8th episode!This episode is a recap of the Oxford-style debate at Health Plus Care about digital as the best way forward for social care innovation.
Is technology really the answer to many of the challenges we currently experience in our sector? The debate focuses on this point, trying to add perspectives from the various stakeholders. Jay is the Co-Founder and CEO of Serene Care and “pro” technology, while Mark as the Operations Director of CarePlanner adds a bit of nuance to the debate.
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Tech Care!
Martin Farrow joined us for the 7th episode of Tech Care!
Martin Farrow is a real social care trooper. As passionate and enthusiastic as in his first days in the sector, or even more! Martin is an associate director at RedQuadrant to support local authorities and the NHS, and the chairman of SHC. A recently published author of his book called “The 3Ds: Leadership and the PI people” which is a reflection of his career in social care.
In this episode, he shares some of that story and challenges some of our inherent beliefs. Who’s actually social care’s “customer” and what can technology offer? What is the difference between transformation and a quick fix?
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Tech Care!
Martin’s book: The 3Ds: Leadership and PI people: Reflections on a career in care
https://www.amazon.co.uk/3Ds-Leadership-People-Reflections-Career/dp/B0B2MP1T8D
We are joined by Adam Hutchison and Jasmeet Rai for our 6th episode!Both of our guests are experienced care providers, and have a lot to say about the digital journey for a care home company. Jasmeet Rai is an Associate Director of RCH Care Homes and Adam Hutchison is the founder and CEO of Belmont Healthcare. Both are well-versed in social care matters, having experienced the challenges of rising costs, workforce issues and a lot more in these pandemic years.
In this episode, we talk to them about the changes happening right now in the sector, and certainly about their experiences forming a strategy for, and delivering on, outcomes. They are both into new technologies, and know from previous and current roles, how digital and tech can help streamline businesses.
On your toes, if you’re a supplier listening in. Adam and Jasmeet both share thoughts about customer support and what it would take to convince them. Or put them off. Great pieces of advice to get here.
As always, if you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback.
Tech Care!
Links to recommendations made during the episode:
Ted Talks: https://www.ted.com/talks/nadjia_yousif_why_you_should_treat_the_tech_you_use_at_work_like_a_colleague
Podcast by FemTech Focus: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5bhHYOensmgwsS5JsPTeie?si=NmJgyxW3STiEQ-q7V0VEDQ
Link for this year’s consultation of the people plan: https://ihm.org.uk/peopleplan/
The book: Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
Neil Eastwood joined us for the 5th episode of Tech Care!
Without a doubt, Neil Eastwood is a workforce guru in social care. He is the author of “Saving Social Care” and currently the founder and CEO of Care Friends - an employee referral app for social care.
In this episode, Neil is telling us about the current recruitment situation and how technology is helping providers stay afloat. We even got him to share some highs and lows from the start-up story and concept behind the “Care Friends” app. Launching mid pandemic!
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Tech Care!
We are joined by Sue Jones and Jane Townson for our 4th episode!Both of our guests have many years of experience in social care, especially in homecare. Currently, the homecare sector has the highest vacancy rate ever which makes everyday challenging. They shared their experience how technology and digital solutions can make this challenge easier.
Listen in if you would like to also hear about how Maslow’s hierarchy applies in social care, how personalisation works with technology and how publicly owned and privately owned facilities differ.
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Tech Care!
Caroline Green joined us for the 3rd episode of Tech Care!You do not want to be on the opposing side of a human rights discussion with our guest today. Caroline Green holds a PhD in Gerontology, an MA in Investigative Journalism and a MSC Human Rights.
All of this she puts into understanding and integrating human rights into health and social care development.
Which is just why we’ve asked her to join us, discussing how digital might both represent a challenge and an opportunity for her ambitions.
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Tech Care!
We are joined by Geraint Thomas for our 2nd episode!
Geraint had to drag himself through the banking industry before finding social care through volunteering in a care home.
As the Director of Guided Innovation Geraint has seen the changes technologies are bringing to social care, and knows the insides of every pain and benefit of the going digital process.
Listen in to understand more about the current digital landscape and find out how data will evoke an even greater change for social care.
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Tech Care!
We’re joined by Katie Thorn and Daniel Casson for our very first episode!
Now, if there are two people who really knows what’s going on in digital social care, these are your go-to people. Katie is a Project Lead for Digital Social Care and Daniel the Digital Development Adviser for Care England. Both have years of experience in the social care sector that they are sharing with us here.
Listen in to get an overview of the new Data Café launching next week. The role of innovation and technology in social care. And data!
Really, are we on the verge of a digital revolution?
If you like what you hear, do subscribe and don’t be afraid to send us feedback! Tech Care!
New podcast about social care and technology co-hosted by Sanghamitra Chakravarty and Morten Mathiesen. Join us from the 14th of May each Saturday. Tech Care!