If you mention cyber security to the manager of a very small homecare business then there is a chance that they will either turn pale or glaze over. It is certainly a topic that will disengage or terrify people in the sector. It’s not one that you can really ignore though. This is especially the case with smaller homecare services as they are usually far more vulnerable than people might realise. If you work in private nursing, offer bespoke care packages or are part of the homecare business then you will know how much of an impact this can have on social workers and their mental health.

The nature of homecare is that care workers are completely dependent on tech as it helps them to access and then share information. At the end of the day, digital systems do have massive benefits and they help to give staff rapid access to information. From digital records to staff rostering and more. That being said, those systems have to be secure, and people have to know how to use them safely. Of course, it’s important to remember that some care services do in fact permit their staff to use their own phones for work. It may be that they are sharing pictures of someone’s wound or that they are receiving a text about a client. They may also be having a change to their shift. Data such as this is highly sensitive at the end of the day, and as it’s on someone’s phone, there is a chance that it could be shared from an internet connection that is not secure. More has to be done, and that is why homecare services are being asked to share the experiences they are having so that they can stay safer.