Free, expert support for CQC-registered care providers on the Data Security and Protection Toolkit and Digital Health Checks — delivered by EMCARE under the government-funded Better Security, Better Care programme.
Data Security and Protection Toolkit.
An online self-assessment developed by NHS England that helps care providers evidence how they handle personal and sensitive information securely and legally.
What is DSPT?
The Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) is an online self-assessment tool developed by NHS Digital (now part of NHS England). It helps health and social care providers ensure they are handling personal and sensitive information — such as health records and staff records — securely and in line with government legal requirements.
What does the DSPT do?
The DSPT supports care providers to:
Assess current data security practices
Meet legal requirements such as UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018
Identify risks and strengthen data protection processes
Promote good practices (e.g. strong passwords, identifying phishing emails, secure data handling)
Improve staff awareness and training
Ensure backup and recovery plans are in place
Provide assurance to regulators, service users, and the public
Why is the DSPT important?
Completing the DSPT demonstrates that your organisation:
Protects the personal data of patients, service users, staff, and volunteers
Has appropriate cybersecurity measures in place
Meets national data protection standards
Why should you complete the DSPT?
Legal & regulatory compliance. Ensures your organisation complies with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards for safe and effective data management.
Access to NHS services. Required to access essential NHS systems such as NHSmail and shared care records, and to work under NHS contracts.
Risk management & security. Helps identify weaknesses in data practices, reducing the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks, while strengthening overall protection measures.
Building trust. Reassures patients, families, and staff that their personal data is handled securely and responsibly.
Continuous improvement. Encourages regular review and strengthening of your data protection and cybersecurity practices.
What is involved?
To complete the DSPT, organisations must carry out an annual self-assessment covering the below (FREE support is available from EMCARE):
Account setup (support available)
Review and evaluation of data security policies and procedures
Staff training and awareness
Access controls — who can access data
Incident management — handling data breaches
Completing action plans
IT system security
Free support from EMCARE.
Free support is available to all CQC-registered care providers through the Better Security, Better Care programme. As a Local Support Organisation (LSO), EMCARE provides guidance and hands-on assistance to help you complete your DSPT.
№ 01
DSPT workshops
Face to Face and online tailored guidance in a group environment.
№ 02
1-to-1 support sessions
1-to-1 Face to Face and online sessions, ideal for busy managers and multi-site providers.
№ 03
Registration & account setup
Practical help getting your DSPT account created and connected to the right services.
№ 04
Mandatory DSPT requirements
Support to work through every mandatory question with confidence.
№ 05
Action plan guidance with real examples
Clear direction on what “good” looks like — and how to evidence it.
A FREE, confidential Digital Health Check to assess whether your data protection and cyber security measures are truly effective — and embedded into everyday operations.
Book your Digital Health Check
Keeping information safe isn't just good practice — it's a legal, regulatory, and contractual requirement. But how confident are you that your organisation's data protection and cyber security measures are truly effective?
We're offering a FREE Digital Health Check to help you assess whether your organisation is meeting current requirements and, importantly, embedding them into everyday operations.
As part of the government-funded Better Security, Better Care programme, you can trust that our guidance is aligned with the latest standards and best practices. The FREE Digital Health Check report is kept completely confidential — all responses are recorded anonymously. We are not inspectors; we are specialists who support you in preventing data leaks and strengthening your systems to better withstand cyber‑attacks.
Why is it important?
A Digital Health Check helps ensure your organisation:
Protects patients', service users', staff and volunteers' personal data
Has effective cyber security measures in place
Maintains up-to-date policies and procedures, effectively implemented
Meets national data protection standards
What are the benefits?
№ 01
In-depth assessment
Our experts review your policies and assess whether the appropriate tools and controls are in place to verify these policies are being effectively implemented within your organisation.
№ 02
Boost security confidence
Receive clear, actionable insights to strengthen your data protection and cyber security approach.
№ 03
Confidential report
A confidential report identifying areas for improvement — and directing you to the appropriate free resources, support, policies, training, and cyber security measures tailored to your organisation.
№ 04
Technical check
A free security check on up to 3 devices, ensuring the devices and software used for business purposes are safe, secure, and not vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
№ 05
CQC recognition
Your Digital Health Check provides valuable evidence of proactive data security efforts and partnership working — supporting your CQC inspections and potentially helping you achieve higher ratings, including “Outstanding”.
Get started today
Register your interest — book your FREE Digital Health Check.
EMCARE connects with suppliers offering relevant products, services and expertise to care providers across our region. Select a supplier to find out more.
Croner are proud to partner with EMCARE as the one-stop solution for all things care compliance. Our Navigate Care platform is designed to turn your regulatory pressure into operational strength.
The platform includes:
CQC Support – live updates, guidance and structured support that aligns with the latest CQC framework, helping providers prepare confidently for care provision.
Policies & Procedures – over 800 customisable policies and procedures alongside staff monitoring. Stay up to date with the standards expected of care providers, as well as care plans and risk assessments.
Auditing Tools – comprehensive digital audits and mock inspection templates, allowing you to track and monitor compliance in house, whilst leaving an audit trail for the latest Single Assessment Framework inspection method, as well as local inspections.
Staff Training Resources – the latest training modules and resources for you to provide in-house, face-to-face training for your team, alongside certification for care standards 1–16.
HR Compliance – documents and templates, model contracts, salary benchmarking and up-to-date employment law, removing any administrative headaches.
CQC Advice Line – speak to one of our advisors with any live queries. From surprise inspections to disciplinaries, we’re here to advise you along the way.
Whether you’re getting inspection-ready for CQC or onboarding a new recruit, stay up to date with the latest national and CQC regulations and standards.
Supporting providers to deliver the highest standards of care.
Delphi Care Solutions is a specialist regulatory compliance consultancy supporting care and education providers across the UK. Our team includes former CQC inspectors, senior NHS commissioners, registered managers and international nurse practitioners, bringing first-hand sector knowledge and practical solutions.
We offer a full range of support, from crisis and turnaround work to ongoing compliance and quality improvement. Services include CQC consultancy, mock inspections, interim management, serious investigations, governance and policy reviews, and monthly subscription support. Whether maintaining an Outstanding or Good rating, or improving from Requires Improvement or Inadequate, we work alongside providers to deliver measurable results.
With strong relationships across regulators and a network of partners in finance, legal and accountancy, we support the wider business needs of care organisations.
Evaran’s home care management platform, CareLineLive, is trusted by over 650 home care agencies and domiciliary care providers across the UK and Australia. It offers an all-in-one, cloud-based solution covering rostering, scheduling, care planning, care monitoring (ECM), eMAR, payroll, invoicing and the Care Circle portal for friends and family.
Subscriptions now include MOA Benchmarking, a CQC and CIW compliance tool that adds quality governance capability at no additional cost.
Customers find the comprehensive functionality easy to use thanks to an intuitive user interface, and benefit from excellent day-to-day support, recognised by CareLineLive’s top rating on Trustpilot.
CareLineLive is an NHS England Assured Supplier for Digital Social Care Records (DSCR), accredited to ISO 27001 (Information Security), ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and Cyber Essentials Plus, and hosted on secure AWS servers with data stored in the UK (or Australia for customers there) for full data sovereignty.
Founded in 2014 and headquartered in West Sussex with offices in London and Melbourne, CareLineLive received majority investment from technology-focused investment firm Accel-KKR in 2025, becoming part of the Evaran group.
Christie & Co is the market leader in specialist advice and brokerage within the healthcare sector. Our expertise covers agency, brokerage, valuation, consultancy, land and development, and all areas of commercial finance via our partner company, Christie Finance. Our clientele spans the breadth of the market, from large institutional investors and corporate operators to individual home owners.
We are also regulated by RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), so you can be confident that the advice you receive is both professional and accurate.
We are the UK’s most active adviser to the care sector and handle more than 65% of individual care homes sold in the UK.
Whether you are actively considering a sale, planning for the future or curious about current market trends, we’re here to provide you with all the insights and support to make an informed decision about the future of your business.
Our specialist team of health and care insurance experts at TL Dallas have been working within the care sector for over 20 years and understand the unique challenges you face. With wide access to specialist insurers, we can provide a wide range of insurance and risk management options, covering all segments of the health and care industry.
We have an in-house consultancy service to review and advise, as well as providing expert assistance throughout the life of a claim, whether virtually or in person. We can take on the negotiation of your claim directly with your insurer or loss adjusters, and provide a second opinion on a repudiated or unsatisfactory claim outcome. This means taking as much of the hassle away from you as we can and fighting for the best possible settlements.
Borderless is the UK’s leading tech immigration platform, combining advanced technology with a dedicated in-house immigration team. At a time when the care sector depends on international recruitment more than any other industry, Borderless provides the infrastructure, compliance tools and ongoing Home Office support that providers need to recruit sponsored workers safely, efficiently and without risk.
Constantly updating in real time with UKVI policy, Borderless handles the full complexity of the UK immigration system — so care providers can focus on what they do best: delivering outstanding care.
TSG – Trust Solutions Group is made up of Trust Hire Recruitment and Trust Social. We are a recruitment and leadership consultancy focused across three core pillars:
Executive Hiring
Leadership Development
Creative Marketing
See what our clients have to say:
“I can confidently recommend Ben Horn and the team at Trust Hire Recruitment.”
Julia Senah – CEO at Almond Care
“Absolutely, 100%! Trust Hire can genuinely be trusted. The team listens, understands, and delivers exactly what we need.”
Anuj Advani – CEO at BSL
Camascope specialises in eMAR (electronic Medication Administration Records) software, helping care providers replace paper-based medication processes with safer, more efficient digital workflows.
The platform helps care teams save valuable staff time, reduce medication errors and gain better oversight across their organisation. Teams can record medication at the point of care, manage PRNs, complete stock counts and audits, and maintain clear, inspection-ready records.
Managers have real-time visibility of medication rounds, including missed or skipped medications, time-sensitive alerts and audit trails. With offline functionality, medication administration can continue when internet connection is limited or unavailable, while pharmacy, GP and care planning integrations — including Nourish, PCS and Predicaire — help reduce phone calls, duplication and the risk of errors.
The recently launched Camascope ONE is a connected layer of additional control that gives care organisations stronger access management, data control and oversight through features such as Single Sign-On, Active Directory Sync, IP Whitelisting and Data API.
As a PRSB partner, Camascope is committed to supporting interoperability, collaboration and high standards across the care sector. The platform is also ISO 27001 certified and exceeds NHS DSPT standards, giving providers confidence in its approach to information security, data protection and system governance. Working with over 3,500 care organisations and supporting more than 100,000 people in care, Camascope offers a practical, connected solution for providers looking to reduce admin, improve medication safety and strengthen oversight.
If you’ve been feeling the limitations of your current digital system, this is the perfect time to assess whether it is truly serving your complex care needs.
Switching to Cura isn’t just about overcoming the headaches of a system you have outgrown. It’s about equipping your home with a digital system designed specifically to handle the intricacies of complex care.
“Our previous system simply wasn’t designed for the demanding needs of our service users, so it wasn’t the right fit for us. Cura addressed not only the limitations of our previous platform but also offered an unrivalled, straightforward solution for learning disabilities and complex care situations. Cura’s capabilities, such as detailed incident reporting, medication management, behavioural pattern tracking and daily care recording, align perfectly with our needs.”
Chetna Satra – Co-Founder of Optimal Living
We are pleased to introduce Care Launch, the UK’s first full-service marketing partner built exclusively for the care sector.
Based in Northampton, Care Launch works with care home operators and home care providers across the country, helping you attract more private-pay enquiries and fill more beds. As an Associate Supplier, we look forward to supporting EMCARE members and helping to showcase the incredible work you do every day.
Our services include:
Website Design & Development
Enquiry Management
Video & Photography
Search Engine & AI Engine Optimisation (SEO & AEO)
Paid Advertising (PPC)
Social Media Management
Two services we’d particularly highlight for EMCARE members:
Website Development – over 90% of private-pay care seekers now research their options online (Autumna), so your website is often the deciding factor before a family even calls. We build websites designed around how private-pay care seekers search and decide.
Enquiry Management – fast, reassuring answers turn enquiries into move-ins. We mystery shopped over 200 care homes and found 1 in 10 calls went unanswered — every one a lost opportunity. Our Enquiry Management service is built to help you capture every one of those moments.
Capital Allowance Review Service (CARS) helps care home owners, operators and investors unlock significant unclaimed tax relief hidden within their properties.
They do this by identifying qualifying fixtures, construction costs, refurbishments and land remediation opportunities that good accounting routines struggle to identify. The result is reduced corporation tax, cash refunds and stronger long-term financial performance for care home businesses.
As a member of EMCARE, did you know that you and your team have access to FREE CPD-accredited Leadership Workshops and Programmes through the Institute of Health and Social Care Management?
Whether you’re new to leadership or a seasoned pro, this is your chance to build your leadership skills whilst also supporting your professional development.
On paper we’re a full-service law firm, providing legal services to businesses, organisations, government departments, families and people throughout life and in business.
But we offer so much more than that. Expertise, commerciality and relationships are at the very heart of what we do.
We employ more than 900 people, each a specialist in their field, with lawyers and business support working together. Our purpose is clear and our ambitions are unlimited: we want to unlock potential in our people and clients, inspiring confidence, growth and development. We provide creative solutions and advice that help you fulfil your commercial and personal goals.
What is vitally important to us is that we build lasting relationships, championing our clients and providing the best possible business and personal advice. We want to be the advisors who help you drive forward, engage in new ventures, challenge the established way, embrace the new abnormal and take advantage of opportunities.
Even when you think you’ve got it wrestled to the ground and pinned there, life has an unnerving facility for sticking out its tongue and then poking you in the eye.
Staying on top of things that continually wriggle about in that way is part of the ceaseless challenge of life. But it’s easier with a bit of help.
Whether in business or in private affairs, we’re here to help you plan for the expected and the unexpected, so you’re ready for it, rather than simply reacting when it happens.
By thinking about and planning for a wide range of possibilities and having all your legal questions answered, you become more resilient, able to face the future with increasing confidence.
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