RCPA Digital Bulletin – February 2025

New free eLearning for Data Security and Protection Leads

Digital Care Hub have followed the success of the previous data security eLearning that was aimed at front line staff and produced another eLearning module. This is aimed at senior staff in social care, particularly those with a role in data protection and security.

The eLearning has four modules:

  1. Data protection rights and responsibilities
  2. Keeping data secure
  3. Threats to data security
  4. Data breaches

The eLearning is freely available at Digital Care Hub

 

Data Protection and Cyber Security Ongoing Pilot Projects

RCPA has been awarded funding to deliver two projects in Somerset around data protection and cyber resilience.

Data Security Health Checks – This project aims to understand care providers’ knowledge and compliance with data protection and cyber security. The health check asks the care provider to talk about their approach to data security and what measures they have in place. This can give reassurance to care providers that they do have the necessary controls in place and where there are some gaps, advise on how to meet the current guidance. The wider aims of this project are to help inform Digital Care Hub of common themes in the social care sector, allowing them to tailor their support and guidance going forward.

Local Cyber Resilience Project – This two-part project in partnership with the Digital Care Hub and the Cyber Resilience Centre aims to improve cyber security for small care providers. This project is part of a wider national cyber resilience project that you can read about here.

The first part of the project being delivered in Somerset is an in-person cyber security workshop that is tailored to social care and is delivered by RCPA to a small number of volunteer care providers.

The second part of the project works with the same volunteer care providers to conduct an IT vulnerability assessment that is delivered by the Cyber Resilience Centre. The care providers then receive a detailed report with current vulnerabilities in their IT infrastructure.

Both of these projects are well underway and have proven popular with care providers, gaining more interest than there are available spaces. RCPA is hopeful that these projects will extend beyond the pilot stage and become more widely available.

 

Online Digital Events

The Digital Care Hub has a wide range of events in the coming weeks. These include a five-week free initiative, TechHer for Health and Social Care, designed to inspire curiosity and excitement in technology. It is aimed at women in work in NHS, health services or social care who do not necessarily have a technical background and are keen to gain confidence to learn more about technology.

DSPT events:

  • Review and republish Data Security an Protection Toolkit for Social Care – Tuesday 18th February  – 15:00 – 16:00 – Click here to book
  • Completing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit for the first time – Tuesday 4th March – 15:00 – 16:00 – Click here to book
  • Review and republish Data Security an Protection Toolkit for Social Care – Tuesday 11th February  – 15:00 – 16:00 – Click here to book

Cyber events:

  • Cyber Simulation: Ransomware Attack in the South West – Wednesday 18th February – 14:00 – 15:00 – Click here to book
  • Launch Event: Cyber Incident Simulation Game for adult social care – Tuesday 4th March – 13:00 – 14:00 – Click here to join

TechHer events:

Week 1 – Cloud Concepts and Microsoft Azure

Week 2 – AI and Copilot

Week 3 – Power BI Data Visualisation

Week 4 – Power Platform

Week 5 – Security, Next Steps and Close