Health and social care providers face growing challenges in delivering and managing care effectively, particularly as the demand for quality services increases. Many care providers struggle with outdated systems, fragmented communication, and limited data sharing, all of which can compromise care coordination and patient safety. Additionally, resistance to change among staff, manual administrative tasks, and the financial burden of adopting new technologies often hinder the transition to more efficient, digital-based solutions. These barriers are significant and essential to overcome, as the healthcare sector becomes increasingly complex and data-driven.
Beyond overcoming these challenges, social care software supports health and social care services by focusing on personalised care and adapting to patients’ evolving needs. This article will explore the top health and social care software, their key features, and how to choose the right one.
What is Social Care Software?
Social care software is used by care providers to coordinate and deliver personalised, efficient, and secure care. It enables them to manage care plans, track individual needs, document progress, medication management, compliance tracking, etc. These are especially valuable for care providers in residential, domiciliary, or community care settings. Social care management software enables care workers to access and update patient records in real-time. With a user-friendly interface, it simplifies access to important data, ensuring that care is consistent and aligned with an individual’s preferences.
Top 5 Social Care Software for Care Providers
Here are our top 5 picks for health and social care software.
1. GoAudits Social Care Management Software
GoAudits is a simple and affordable social care management software for inspections, quality control, and compliance, tailored for health and social care providers. They use GoAudits to streamline internal audits, manage tasks, improve operational standards and prepare for CQC inspections. Accessible via the web and on Android and iOS devices, the GoAudits care audit app allows teams to capture data on the go, document issues, improve efficiency, and gain real-time visibility.
With insightful automatic reporting and advanced analytics, GoAusits is not only ideal for health and social care providers but also for other healthcare settings, including nursing homes, home care services, hospitals, long-term care facilities, etc.
Key features of GoAudits Social Care Management Software:
- Conduct audits and inspections up to 5 times faster on any device, online or offline, with a user-friendly mobile app.
- Generate professional, branded reports instantly after each audit, eliminating manual report writing.
- Assign corrective actions, set due dates, track completion status, and get overdue task reports for improved accountability.
- Set up workflows and rules for report distribution, approvals, tasks, and reminders, to involve the right people at the right time.
- Gain real-time insights into your operations and inspection data with interactive dashboards that display patterns, key metrics, progress, and trends.
- Access a wide range of customisable pre-built checklists not only for different healthcare settings but also for various industries.
- Facilitate communication between field teams and management with real-time reporting and task management.
- Ensure compliance with industry regulations and internal standards.
- GoAudits mobile app is available in six different languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Turkish, and Mandarin Chinese.
2. The Access Group
The Access Group offers a suite of social care software solutions that enable local authorities to manage adult and children’s services, finances, and case management. It prioritises preventative measures and provides a holistic view of individuals and their families.
Key features of The Access Group Social Care Software:
- Get greater control and visibility over third-party delivered services.
- Record, track, and analyse care provided to children and adults.
- Perform data analysis and share information and access across multiple systems.
- Meet and satisfy necessary legislative requirements.
- Enhance the efficiency of service commissioning.
- Choose forms and workflows that meet specific requirements.
3. OLM Adult Social Care Software
OLM Systems provides cloud-based software specifically designed to support adult social care services. Its flagship product, ECLIPSE, is a person-centred platform that facilitates communication and collaboration between social workers, service users, and other stakeholders.
Key features of OLM Adult Social Care Software:
- Streamline case management processes.
- Manage finances, budgets, and invoices.
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities.
- Service users can access their records, communicate with social workers, and participate in their care planning.
4. OneAdvanced Social Care Software
OneAdvanced social care software is designed to help organisations streamline operations, improve efficiency, and enhance the quality of care they deliver. It offers a wide range of features and functionalities, catering to the needs of various care providers.
Key features of OneAdvanced Social Care Software:
- Manage all aspects, from care delivery and financial management to staff scheduling and compliance.
- Streamline care delivery processes, manage client records, and ensure compliance.
- Gain real-time insights into key performance indicators and track progress.
- Access client information, record care activities, and communicate with colleagues.
5. System C Adult Social Care Software
System C adult social care software is a comprehensive solution designed to support social workers, professionals in partner agencies, adults with care needs, and their representatives. With a wide range of features to manage various aspects of adult social care, it’s customisable to meet specific needs and preferences.
Key features of System C Adult Social Care Software:
- Manage contacts, referrals, assessments, personal budgets, care and support planning, and service commissioning.
- Access information on behalf of individuals.
- Streamlines processes and reduces administrative burden.
- Enables better resource allocation and utilisation.
- Facilitates communication between social workers, individuals, and other stakeholders.
Free & Customisable Checklists for Care Providers
GoAudits offers a range of customisable checklists that care providers can use to streamline processes, improve care quality, and ensure compliance.
- CQC Inspection Audit
- CQC Dental Inspection Checklist
- CQC Registered Manager Checklist
- MAR/EMAR Audit Checklist
- Care Home Audit Checklist
- Care Home General Observation
- Daily Care Home Audit Checklist
- Care Home Cleaning Checklist – Daily
- Care Home Internal Audit Checklist
- Dignity in Care Audit Checklist
- Patient Care Checklist
- Care Home Feedback Form
- PPE in Care Homes Checklist
- Care Home Safety Checklist
In addition to the above checklists for care providers, we also have an extensive library of checklists for different healthcare settings.
Types of Software for Health & Social Care Providers
Social care software comprises a wide range of tools and software that health and social care providers may require to enhance service delivery, improve patient outcomes, and ensure compliance.
Below, we have listed the different types of software health and social care providers need to manage different aspects of operations, from patient care to administrative tasks.
- Care Management Software
It centralises care plans, assessments, and client interactions, making it easy for healthcare and social care providers to track and manage individual care. It supports care planning, scheduling, and notes, helping organisations deliver personalised, consistent care.
- Case Management Software
Built for managing complex cases, it provides tools for tracking client interactions, services, and outcomes. It is crucial for organisations that need to coordinate services across multiple departments or external providers, especially for complex cases in behavioural health or social services.
- Electronic Health Records (EHR)
EHR software provides a digital record of patient health information, enabling efficient documentation, tracking, and updating of medical history. Beyond record-keeping, EHR software integrates with labs and diagnostic tools, allowing for a holistic view of patient health and facilitating better clinical decisions.
- Client Management Software
It offers a streamlined approach to managing client data, documentation, and interactions. It is designed to optimise client intake, updates, and overall relationship management, particularly for social care providers looking to improve client engagement and outcomes.
- Compliance & Incident Management Software
Compliance management software helps ensure adherence to healthcare regulations and standards by automating record-keeping, audits, and reporting. Compliance management software tracks critical data related to care quality, patients and other regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of compliance-related issues.
Designed to log and track incidents, incident reporting & management software is crucial for maintaining safety and accountability. It allows health and social care providers to document events, assign follow-up actions, and analyse patterns to prevent future incidents, supporting a safer environment for clients and staff.
- Home Care Software
It helps agencies in managing in-home care by scheduling visits, managing caregivers, and documenting care activities. Home care software often includes mobile access, allowing caregivers to update patient information in real-time, improving transparency and accuracy in service delivery.
Home Health Software is similar to home care software but focuses on clinical care provided in the home, such as wound care and monitoring vital signs. Home health software includes features for electronic visit verification (EVV), documentation, and billing, all of which improve service quality and reduce administrative workload.
- Telehealth Software
It facilitates virtual healthcare by connecting patients and providers via video, chat, and other remote methods. Telehealth software has become indispensable for improving access to care, allowing for consultations, monitoring, and even therapy sessions from any location.
- Medication Management Software
It helps healthcare providers manage prescriptions, monitor patient adherence, and ensure safety by preventing medication errors. Medication management software is essential for facilities handling multiple medications, as it reduces the risk of incorrect dosages and interactions.
- Practice Management Software
It supports the administrative side of health and social care practices. It covers scheduling, billing, insurance claims, and general practice management. By automating these tasks, practice management software helps improve operational efficiency and allows providers to focus more on patient care.
Key Features to Look for in Health and Social Care Software
When selecting health and social care software, you want to ensure it includes essential features that enhance care delivery, compliance, and efficiency. Here’s a closer look at some key features that can make a significant impact:
- Mobile App with Offline Functionality
Social care software with a mobile app that works offline allows care teams to access records and input data without a network connection. This ensures that remote or in-home care providers can capture accurate information in real-time and synchronise it once they reconnect.
- Customisable Checklists
Customisable checklists are vital for adapting to the unique needs of each patient or service user, as well as to comply with various health regulations. Social care software allows users to create and adjust checklists based on specific requirements, ensuring that all care tasks, observations, and compliance checks are consistently addressed.
- Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA)
CAPA features enable care organisations to identify, document, and address issues as they arise. It allows for a structured response to any problems, minimising risks by creating preventive strategies and corrective measures. It ensures compliance and quality management by enabling timely interventions and continuous improvement in care services.
- Tasks and Workflow Automation
Automation streamlines routine tasks, reduces manual errors, and enhances care efficiency. By automating workflows such as task assignments, reminders, and data entry, the software for social care helps reduce administrative burdens and allows caregivers to focus more on patient interactions.
- Instant Report Generation
Social care management software with in-depth reporting capabilities allows users to quickly generate detailed insights on patient care, compliance status, or operational efficiency. Instant reports also enable staff to address issues promptly, ensuring higher standards of care and greater transparency.
- Real-Time Data Analytics
Care providers can analyse the data they’ve collected, and make informed and data-driven decisions to improve care quality. Health and social care software can also support personalised care by identifying patterns in patient needs or staff performance, allowing organisations to fine-tune their services effectively.
👉 GoAudits offers a tailored solution for health and social care services that includes all the key features and functionalities above.
Read our blog to find out how GoAudits can help care providers improve the quality of care and ensure compliance with the CQC single assessment framework (SAF).
How Care Providers Can Choose the Right Social Care Software
Here’s a structured approach to help care providers make the right choice:
- Identify Your Organisation’s Needs
Social care software should address particular challenges like client management, compliance, and care plan updates. Identify critical features such as scheduling, real-time monitoring, medication management, and reporting to ensure they align with your care delivery model.
- Prioritise User-Friendliness
Look for social care software with an intuitive interface, mobile compatibility, and clear navigation. This can streamline training and adoption, minimising disruptions to daily routines and empowering staff to use digital tools effectively.
- Evaluate Customer Support Options
Choose a provider that offers comprehensive support, including onboarding, dedicated account management, and prompt issue resolution. This ensures that your team receives timely assistance, especially during the initial rollout and critical phases of software use.
- Look for Free Trials and Personalised Demos
A trial period or personalised demo allows you to explore and understand the social care software’s functionality and advanced features firsthand. You can also assess its customisability options and whether it is compatible with your workflows. During this period, involve team members to gather feedback on usability and effectiveness.
- Prioritise Data Security
Given the sensitive nature of social care data, prioritise software with strong data security measures. Ensure that it offers secure data storage, encryption, and user access controls.
- Compare Costs and Budget
Compare the costs of different software solutions in relation to your budget. Look into various pricing models such as one-time purchases, subscriptions, or usage-based fees. Balance affordability with features, as cheaper ones may lack essential functions, while more comprehensive options can offer greater value when scaling operations.
Choosing the right social care management software is important to experience the full range of benefits it offers.
Benefits of Social Care Software
- With social care software, providers can deliver higher-quality care by keeping accurate and detailed records of each service user.
- It enables care workers to spend more time focused on individuals rather than administrative work.
- It fosters better communication within care teams by centralising data and allowing authorised team members to access and update care plans seamlessly.
- Digitising records simplifies data entry, retrieval, and sharing. It also reduces physical storage needs, minimises the risk of lost records, and makes compliance reporting easier and more accurate.
- Social care software ensures compliance with care standards.
- Many social care software enables data-sharing with other health or social care providers, ensuring key information is available across different care settings when needed.
