The DiSC Cymru partnership is helping social care organisations across Wales strengthen the digital foundations that support better care, better services and better outcomes. Through collaboration, shared learning and practical action, partners are identifying common challenges and developing solutions that can be adopted across the sector. This update highlights progress made under the Brilliant Basics pillar, showcasing completed work, key learning and the impact these projects are having in building stronger digital capabilities across Wales.
Progress Highlights
Know Your Service
Police Problem Book Evaluation
Completed January 2026
We explored how UK policing developed a structured, evidence-based approach to identifying, understanding and prioritising shared challenges across a complex multi-agency system, to assess whether similar principles could help social care develop a clearer understanding of its most significant sector-wide challenges.
What we found
- Taking time to understand and define challenges before exploring solutions leads to more informed and effective decision-making.
- Clear governance, shared ownership and agreed prioritisation processes help reduce duplication and build confidence in collective action.
- The greatest value lies in the discipline of the approach and the quality of evidence gathered, rather than in any specific tool, methodology or technology.
What’s next
Building on this learning, we have launched the Social Care Challenge Book to apply a similar approach within the Welsh social care sector. The work aims to identify and understand the systemic and root challenges affecting social care, creating a shared evidence base for the DiSC Cymru partners.
By developing a clearer national picture of the challenges facing the sector, we can better understand where collaborative effort is most needed and where it is likely to have the greatest impact. This will help ensure that future investment, funding and resources are directed towards the areas of highest priority, supporting meaningful and sustainable service improvement.
Process Mapping
Ongoing 2026 Delivered by BetterGov on behalf of Connecting Care
BetterGov is working with councils on behalf of Connecting Care to map key social care processes across Wales, focusing on Front Door, Hospital Discharge, Reablement and Closure pathways. The work aims to build a clearer understanding of how services currently operate, identify common challenges and variations in practice, and create an evidence base to support future improvement activity.
What we found
- Councils are often working towards the same outcomes but use different processes, terminology and ways of working.
- Understanding current processes provides valuable insight into opportunities for shared learning, consistency and improved ways of working across Wales.
What’s next
BetterGov will continue working with councils to analyse findings, identify opportunities for standardisation where appropriate, and develop recommendations that support more consistent and efficient service delivery across Wales.
Know Your Data
Single View Catalogue
Latest version June 2026
We developed a catalogue of “single view” initiatives taking place across Wales and the wider UK, bringing together examples of how organisations are creating more joined-up access to information for practitioners. The work provides a clearer understanding of activity already under way, helping to build a national picture of approaches, common themes and emerging learning that can support integrated care.
The catalogue is a living resource and continues to inform work within the Connecting Care programme, particularly the Integrated Care Capabilities (ICC) workstream. By understanding existing activity and learning from developments elsewhere, the sector is better placed to identify opportunities for collaboration, avoid duplication and build on established practice.
Multi-Agency Safeguarding Tracker (MAST)
Completed May 2026
The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Tracker (MAST) is one of the initiatives included within the Single View Catalogue. It provides practitioners with a more joined-up view of information from across organisations, supporting safeguarding decision-making and helping professionals access the information they need to keep people safe.
Through DiSC Cymru funding, additional datasets identified by practitioners as important to safeguarding activity were incorporated into the solution, strengthening the information available and ensuring the tool better reflects operational needs.
What’s next
Learning from MAST continues to contribute to the wider understanding of integrated information sharing across Wales and helps inform ongoing work through the Connecting Care programme and the development of Integrated Care Capabilities.
All Wales Integrated Referral Form (AWIR)
Ongoing July 2026
DiSC Cymru provided funding to support the pilot of the All Wales Integrated Referral Form (AWIR), which tested a more consistent approach to referrals across organisational and service boundaries. The pilot explored how a shared referral mechanism could help reduce variation in processes and support a more streamlined experience for professionals and services.
The work has provided valuable learning about the practical and technical considerations involved in creating more integrated approaches to information sharing and referrals across Wales.
What’s next
Following the pilot, responsibility for the work has transitioned to the Connecting Care programme, where it continues to be funded and supported through the Integrated Care Capabilities (ICC) workstream. This ensures that the learning, outputs and future development are aligned with wider efforts to improve information sharing and integrated care across Wales.
Local Government Data Audit in Social Care
Completed July 2026
We undertook a national audit of council data returns to better understand the reporting burden placed on local authorities and to identify opportunities for improvement. The discovery focused on Social Care, Education and Planning, with particular attention given to the challenges faced by social care teams due to the scale and complexity of reporting requirements. The work involved engagement with councils across Wales, Welsh Government, Social Care Wales and Care Inspectorate Wales, alongside analysis of reporting requirements and data returns.
The project established the first comprehensive picture of data reporting activity across the participating policy areas, creating an evidence base to understand what data is collected, why it is collected, how it is used, and where duplication, burden and inefficiency exist. A data return catalogue was also produced to provide a clearer view of reporting requirements across the sector
What we found
- Data reporting represents a significant workload for social care teams across Wales.
- Better coordination and a shared understanding of reporting requirements could help reduce burden and improve consistency across the sector.
What’s next
The findings are being validated with key stakeholders. The audit has identified several clear opportunities to improve data reporting and reduce unnecessary burden across the sector. We will continue to work with councils, Welsh Government and national partners to take forward the recommendations, helping to improve consistency, reduce duplication and strengthen the use of data across social care.
Data Standards
Ongoing 2026 Delivered by Social Care Wales on behalf of Connecting Care
Social Care Wales is leading work on behalf of Connecting Care to establish a more consistent approach to social care data standards across Wales. The aim is to improve how information is defined, shared and understood, creating stronger foundations for integrated care and reducing unnecessary variation across organisations.
What we found
- Consistent data standards are essential to support joined-up services and improve the quality and comparability of information across organisations.
- Common approaches to data help reduce duplication and support more effective use of information across the sector.
What’s next
Social Care Wales will continue to work with councils, national partners and system suppliers to develop and implement shared data standards that support integrated care and more consistent use of data across Wales.
Know Your People & Skills
Microsoft Copilot in Social Care: Learning and Progress
Completed April 2026 Funded through the DiSC partnership by WLGA, delivered by ADSS Cymru
Building on ADSS Cymru’s earlier Copilot readiness work from the previous year, this project explored how local authorities can be supported to move from readiness towards implementation of AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot. Using a mixed-method approach, it looked at confidence, capability and practical next steps. It was funded through the DiSC partnership by WLGA and delivered by ADSS Cymru (working with Practice Solutions), with the full report publicly available on the ADSS Cymru website.
By continuing a strand of work already under way, and drawing on ADSS Cymru’s reach across the sector, the project shows how DiSC partners build on each other’s efforts year on year to support the People and Skills objectives.
What’s next
The findings feed into ongoing work on digital skills and leadership across the sector, complementing SCW’s Digital Competency and Leadership Frameworks
Digital Competency and Leadership Frameworks
Completed March 2026 Delivered by Social Care Wales, with Basis and Mimulus
Social Care Wales (SCW) led this work to strengthen digital confidence and capability across the social care workforce, and particularly among leaders. It built on earlier findings from the Digital Potential Tool and Copilot readiness work, which pointed to a confidence gap in leading digital change and a need for clearer, shared national guidance on what “good” looks like. As a DiSC partner, SCW’s work directly supports the People and Skills objectives, contributing to the shared ambition of a sector where staff have the skills and confidence to make the most of digital.
Two pieces of work ran side by side:
- A scoping report to inform a “What Good Looks Like” framework for digital maturity and literacy, and a digital competency framework for leadership – delivered by Basis.
- The design and evaluation of a digital leadership support programme for the Welsh social care sector, working with leaders from across Wales – delivered by Mimulus.
Key findings
- There is no shared language or agreed definition of “digital” across the sector, which makes it harder to establish a common starting point.
- Support needs to be practical and “bite-sized” – something people can pick up and use during a busy shift, rather than theoretical content.
- Digital is no longer separate – it is a core part of wider transformation, change and improvement.
- Welsh language and inclusion need to be built in from the start.
- Leaders value a dedicated, safe space to share experiences and prefer practical, applied learning such as mentoring, coaching and peer support over traditional training courses.
What’s next
The recommendation is to lay the foundations first co-producing nationally agreed, bilingual definitions before building the frameworks and to align this with existing initiatives such as Connecting Care and the DiSC Cymru partnership. SCW is carrying this forward into 2026/27, developing the leadership and competency frameworks, embedding the Digital Potential Tool, and identifying capability gaps in areas such as accessibility, digital inclusion and user-centred design. This is a clear example of DiSC partners working together over time to establish shared standards the whole sector can use.
Mosaic eLearning
Completed June 2026
As councils across Wales implement Mosaic, DiSC Cymru supported a national approach to eLearning by negotiating access to Mosaic training content on behalf of 16 local authorities. This reduced duplication, improved value for money and enabled councils to access established training materials without each authority needing to develop or procure content independently.
The eLearning package provides structured learning pathways covering core system navigation, case management, workflow processes and specialist functions across adult services, children’s services, finance, and management. The content supports staff to build confidence and capability in using Mosaic and can be delivered through councils’ existing learning management systems
This work supports the Brilliant Basics ambition of strengthening digital skills and workforce readiness by providing consistent, accessible learning resources that help social care staff make effective use of digital systems in their day-to-day roles.
What’s next
Councils will continue to incorporate the Mosaic eLearning content into local implementation, induction and refresher training programmes. Learning from adoption across Wales will help inform future approaches to shared digital learning resources for the social care workforce.
Know your Customer
Third Sector and Partner Engagement
Ongoing 2026
DiSC Cymru is working with third sector organisations, national partners and communities of practice to strengthen understanding of people’s experiences of social care services and ensure future activity reflects the needs of those who draw on care and support. This work focuses on building relationships, sharing learning and connecting existing insight rather than creating duplicate engagement activity
Examples of activity
- Engaging with 3rd sector organisations to understand how their role supports lived experiences to help shape service improvement.
- Working with Llais to understand and learn from the People’s Principles, which highlight what matters most to people when accessing health and social care services, including accessibility, dignity, clear communication and joined-up support.
- Welcoming Cwmpas as a DiSC Cymru partner, bringing expertise in digital inclusion and accessibility to help inform future activity across the programme.
- Continued engagement with WLGA Content and Accessibility Community of Practice to identify existing resources, training opportunities and good practice that can support organisations to improve accessibility and inclusion.
- Exploring how insight, accessibility and inclusion can be more effectively reflected within future digital, data and service improvement activity.
What we found
- Valuable insight and expertise already exists across partner organisations and communities of practice, creating opportunities to build on existing work rather than duplicate it.
- Accessibility, inclusion, communication and person-centred approaches are recurring themes across partner engagement and lived experience activity
What’s next
We will continue working with third sector organisations, national partners and communities of practice to strengthen accessibility, inclusion and citizen voice across DiSC Cymru activity, ensuring future priorities and improvement work are informed by both professional expertise and people’s experiences.
Know your Tech
Ongoing 2026
The Know Your Tech Audit is helping build a clearer picture of the digital tools, systems and technologies currently used across social care in Wales. The work is designed to establish a baseline understanding of the technology landscape, identify common themes and challenges, and support evidence-led decision making about future investment and improvement activity.
A bilingual survey has been developed and shared with stakeholders across the sector. The findings will provide a national baseline of technology use across social care and help identify opportunities for collaboration, shared learning and future improvement activity through DiSC Cymru and partner programmes.