Digital Social Care Records (DSCR) - Grant Funding

Essex is working alongside the Integrated Care Systems in our region and neighbouring local authorities in Southend, Thurrock, Hertfordshire and Suffolk to deliver funding to help providers adopt a Digital Social Care Record (DSCR).

Suffolk based providers should visit the Suffolk County Council provider contracts page to apply for funding. 

Hertfordshire based providers should visit the HCPA funding application pages to apply. 

Who's eligible?

Any provider based in Essex, including Southend and Thurrock, will be eligible to apply for funding administered by Essex County Council to go towards their costs implementing a DSCR, as long as they did not have a system in place before 1 April 2022. 

How much funding is available?

CQC registered providers are eligible to receive 50% of their costs to implement a DSCR system, up to a maximum of £10,000.

This may reduce as a result of potential changes to the programme made by NHS England. Any applications made before changes are implemented, will still be eligible for the £10,000 cap. 

You can use funding for:

• Annual/monthly/up front system costs
• Training packages
• Equipment such as smartphones and tablets
• Staff time (for training and transferring paper records to the digital system)

Funding can only be used to implement a system from the NHS Assured Supplier List.

Providers will also need to be working towards meeting standards on the Data Security and Protection Toolkit. Free personalised support is available for providers from the Hertfordshire Care Providers Association, help with NHS mail is also available from Suffolk Care Association.

This funding is available per CQC location and we require applications by Friday 15th March. 

How to apply

If you would like to express an interest in receiving funding, please download the application form. You will need to have chosen a supplier and provide evidence of your expenditure.

The presentation from the Essex Cares Association event in November 2022 covers further information on DSCR grant funding. 

If you have any queries, please email dscr@essex.gov.uk. 

If you would like some help completing the application form, please feel free to book a teams call with a member of the dscr team. 

To apply for funding, download the application form and return to dscr@essex.gov.uk.