What Is Joined-Up Care for Care Homes?

Connected (or interoperable) software systems are systems that can exchange and use information automatically, instead of retyping notes or chasing updates, so that information can move securely between systems when it is needed.

In today’s environment, a resident admitted into hospital may arrive with little context beyond what can be communicated verbally, and important details like medication history, preferences, or care needs can be missed or delayed.

In a more connected setting, hospital teams can access relevant care home records before discharge, and care staff can see updates from hospital teams immediately. This shared understanding helps everyone make better decisions with confidence.

This matters for residents and families because care transitions, for example, between home, hospital and community services, are often moments of vulnerability. When information flows smoothly, those transitions feel safer and more reassuring for everyone involved.

The NHS Interoperability Agenda: What Is Actually Happening in 2026

The move toward interoperability is supported by clear national programmes and standards.

• Shared Care Records (ShCRs) are already operating across England. These systems bring together health and care information from multiple organisations into one place.
• The Connecting Care Records programme is working to expand and connect these records nationwide, with funding and support continuing into 2026.
• Each Integrated Care Board (ICB) is responsible for planning and delivering these connections within its local area.

This work sits alongside a wider ambition - a future where a Single Patient Record allows a consistent, shared view of care across the NHS and social care.

Digital adoption has already accelerated. By late 2025, around 80% of care providers were using digital social care records, giving many services a starting point for interoperability.

At the same time, national standards, like the Minimum Operational Data Standard (MODS) are being introduced so that different systems ‘speak the same language,’ making information easier to share safely.
Together, these developments shape a connected system where care homes are expected to participate, not stand apart.

A Shared Care Record is a secure digital record that brings together information from multiple health and care providers into one place. It can include:

• Medication and allergies
• Diagnoses and recent test results
• Care plans and support needs
• Discharge summaries and clinical notes 

Authorised professionals - GPs, hospital teams, community nurses and, increasingly, social care providers - can access this information for direct care.

For registered managers, this changes how information is shared:

• Care home records may contribute to the Shared Care Record
• Staff can access relevant NHS information when needed
• Discharge planning can begin with a clearer view of each resident’s needs

In practical terms, this supports safer decisions and more joined up care, especially at points of transition.

Joined-up care means that all the people and services involved in someone's care - their care home, GP, district nurse, pharmacist, and hospital - can share information easily and work together effectively.

For example:

• A care worker can see a resident's latest GP notes before administering medication
• A hospital can access a resident's care plan when they are admitted as an emergency
• A GP can view up-to-date records from the care home without making a phone call

The technology that makes this possible is called interoperability, or the ability of different digital systems to connect and share information with each other.

Think of it like different apps on your phone being able to talk to each other. When care home software, NHS systems, and GP records are interoperable, information flows automatically and securely, rather than being passed by phone, fax, or paper.

If you are currently preparing for interoperability, you can start by:

• Reviewing your current system - Check whether your digital care record is on the NHS Assured Solutions List and aligned with interoperability standards.
• Engageing with your local ICB - Ask about Shared Care Record programmes in your area and how your service can participate.
• Reviewing data sharing agreements - Ensure appropriate agreements are in place to support secure and lawful data sharing.
• Supporting your team - Help staff understand what information may be shared and how this supports safe care.
• Plan ahead for upgrades if needed - If your current system cannot support interoperability, include this in your future digital planning.

Why is Joined-Up Care a Priority?

The UK government and NHS England have made connected, joined-up care a central part of their long-term plans for health and social care. The NHS 10-Year Plan, the Data Saves Lives strategy, and the Integration and Interoperability Mandate all point in the same direction: care services must be able to share information digitally, and care homes are expected to be part of that connected system.

This is not just about technology for its own sake. Disconnected systems cause real harm:

• Residents are asked the same questions repeatedly by different services
• Medication errors occur because one team doesn't know what another has prescribed
• Hospital admissions happen because warning signs weren't visible across the system
• Staff waste time on phone calls and paperwork that connected systems would eliminate

Care homes that cannot connect digitally with NHS and other care services will increasingly find themselves outside the loop, missing out on funding, NHS integrations, and the ability to deliver the standard of care that residents deserve.

When a care home's systems are properly connected, the benefits are felt by residents, families, and staff alike. Here is a closer look at what that means in practice.

Less time on admin, more time on care - One frustration for care home staff is the amount of time spent on paperwork, phone calls, and chasing information, time that could be spent with residents. Disconnected systems make this worse because the same information often has to be entered multiple times in multiple places. When systems are properly connected, information entered once flows automatically to wherever it is needed. A care note recorded at the bedside updates the resident's record in real time. A medication administered via eMAR is logged instantly.

Better oversight for managers and providers - For registered managers and care group leaders, connected technology helps with visibility they have across their service. Rather than relying on paper audits, manual spot-checks, or end-of-day reports, managers can see what is happening in real time, across one home or many.

From a quality perspective, it means issues can be identified and addressed before they become serious. From a compliance perspective, it means evidence of good care is captured automatically, making CQC inspections less stressful and more straightforward.

From a workforce perspective, it means managers can see where staff are stretched, where tasks are overdue, and where support is needed.

Access Point of Care provides this kind of real-time oversight through a unified dashboard that brings care, medication, compliance, and workforce data together in one place. Rather than logging into multiple systems or waiting for reports to be compiled, managers have a live view of their service at any time, from any device. For larger care groups, Access Evo extends this visibility across multiple sites, giving senior leaders the insight they need to manage quality and risk at scale.

Stronger relationships with families - Families want to know that their loved ones are being well cared for, and connected technology can help care homes demonstrate that clearly and consistently, like when care records are digital and up to date, it becomes much easier to share meaningful updates with families, whether through a family portal, a regular summary, or a conversation backed by accurate and real-time data.

Families who feel informed and included are more likely to be supportive partners in their relative's care, and less likely to raise concerns that stem from uncertainty or a lack of communication. In a sector where reputation matters enormously, the ability to demonstrate the quality of care through clear, accessible records is a genuine competitive advantage.

Interoperability also connects with regulatory expectations.

The CQC’s well-led framework highlights the importance of positive culture, collaboration and integrated care. Services are expected to work with partners and share information effectively to support safe, person-centred care. 

Inspectors look for evidence that:

• Services collaborate with other organisations
• Information is shared securely and appropriately
• Care feels joined-up from the perspective of the person receiving it

The Effective domain reinforces this by emphasising coordinated care across services, so people do not need to repeat their needs multiple times.

Connected digital records can support all of these expectations by making information easier to access, share and use.

What is joined-up care in a care home setting?

Joined-up care means that everyone involved in a resident's care, from the care home team to GPs, nurses, pharmacists, and hospitals, has access to the same up-to-date information. Rather than each service holding its own separate records, information is shared securely so that care is coordinated, consistent, and safer.

What is a Shared Care Record and how does it affect care homes?

A Shared Care Record brings together health and care information in one place, allowing authorised professionals to access a joined up view of a person’s care. Care homes may both contribute to and benefit from these records.

Do care homes have to share data with the NHS?

There is no universal legal requirement, but participation in local data sharing programmes is increasingly expected and often encouraged by ICBs.

What does care home software need to support NHS interoperability?

It should align with standards such as HL7 FHIR, offer API connectivity and ideally be listed on the NHS Assured Solutions List.

What is interoperability and why does it matter for care homes?

Interoperability is the technical term for the ability of different digital systems to connect and share information. For care homes, it means that your care management software can communicate with NHS systems, GP records, and hospital platforms. Without interoperability, information gets stuck, passed by phone or paper instead of flowing automatically and securely.

How do I know if my care home's system supports joined-up care?

Start by checking whether your current system is on the NHS Digital Social Care Records assured supplier list. Then ask your supplier whether your system supports NHS integrations such as GP Connect, and whether it meets the national data standards required for information sharing. If you are unsure, your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) can provide guidance.

A connected care home software needs to be built with connectivity in mind, capable of sharing information safely and automatically with NHS systems and partner organisations.

Access Point of Care is an all-in-one care management system designed specifically for care homes. It brings together digital care records, medication management (eMAR), compliance tools, and real-time reporting in a single connected platform, giving your whole team instant access to the information they need, at the point of care, from any mobile device.

Because everything is unified in one system, there are no information gaps between care planning and medication administration, no disconnected data feeds, and no duplication. Access Point of Care is built to meet national standards for data sharing and NHS integration, making it well placed to support your care home's journey towards truly joined-up care.

For care homes looking to go further, Access Evo brings care, clinical, workforce, and compliance data together in a shared digital workspace, giving managers real-time insight and reducing duplication across services.

Choosing technology that can grow with the changing landscape allows care homes to stay focused on what matters on supporting residents while building the connections needed for more joined-up care.

If your care home is ready to take the next step towards joined-up care, contact our team today or watch a quick demo to see how Access Point of Care could work for your service.