A visit from the Casey Commission to Liverpool has highlighted how emerging technologies could play a growing role in reshaping adult social care. From AI driven insights to augmented reality, the region is positioning itself as a live testing ground for the future of care in the UK.
Reform Meets Reality In Liverpool
Adult social care reform has been debated for years, but attention is increasingly turning to how change can actually be delivered on the ground. In Liverpool, that shift is already taking shape through a regional initiative focused on digital health and care technology.
The University of Liverpool, working with the National Care Forum, recently hosted members of the Casey Commission as part of its Independent Commission on Adult Social Care. The visit offered policymakers a closer look at how social care innovation is being tested in real settings, particularly in home care and community services.
A Collaborative Model For Social Care Innovation
At the centre of the visit was the Adult Social Care Testbed, developed through the University’s Civic HealthTech Innovation Zone programme. The initiative brings together care providers, technology companies and researchers to explore how digital tools can be embedded into everyday care delivery.
Rather than focusing on theory, the testbed is designed to operate within real care environments across the Liverpool City Region. It aims to support better use of provider data, encourage the development of new care technology, and help staff build confidence in using digital systems.
Dr Annemarie Naylor MBE, Director of HealthTech and Innovation Growth at the University of Liverpool, said, “CHIZone is supporting data driven innovation and pioneering new digital solutions to help tackle some of our health and care system’s most pressing challenges, working with sector experts and industry partners.”
She added that the model is built on collaboration, ensuring that “the future of care is collectively forged with and owned by LCR’s communities.”
Exploring AI And AR In Care Settings
During the visit, commissioners toured the University’s Digital Innovation Facility, where they were introduced to technologies including artificial intelligence and augmented reality.
AI is being explored as a way to make better use of care data, helping providers identify risks earlier and tailor support more effectively. In a system where information is often fragmented, improving how data is used could support more proactive care and reduce pressure on NHS services.
Augmented reality is also being tested, particularly in training and care environments. While still emerging, it offers potential to enhance staff learning and improve how care is delivered, especially in complex areas such as dementia support.
These developments reflect a wider push across the UK towards digital health, although adoption in social care has often lagged behind the NHS.
Care Technology In Practice
The visit also included a stop at Parkhaven Trust in Maghull, where commissioners saw care technology being used in practice. Here, innovations such as circadian lighting and acoustic monitoring have been introduced to support residents, particularly those living with dementia.
These technologies focus on improving daily experiences and wellbeing, rather than replacing human care. They also highlight how relatively targeted interventions can make a difference in care settings without requiring large-scale system changes.
For providers, this kind of approach may be more achievable, especially at a time when resources are stretched.
Sector Pressures And Policy Context
The visit comes at a time when the UK care sector is under increasing strain. Providers continue to face staffing challenges and rising costs, while local authorities are under pressure to deliver services within tight budgets.
At the same time, there is growing recognition that community health technology and home care technology will be essential to sustaining services in the long term.
Professor Vic Rayner OBE, Chief Executive of the National Care Forum, said, “LCR’s Adult Social Care Testbed is a blueprint for what can be achieved when care and support providers are empowered, through partnership, to fully realise their digital potential.”
She added that the discussions with the Casey Commission were an important step in helping the government understand how data and technology could shape a future National Care Service.
From Local Innovation To National Impact
The Liverpool testbed offers a practical example of how digital health and care technology can be integrated into social care. By focusing on collaboration and realworld testing, it provides insights into what works and what challenges remain.
As the Casey Commission develops its recommendations, initiatives like this are likely to inform how technology is included in future reform plans. For the UK care sector, the key issue will be whether these local models can be scaled and supported nationally.
What is clear is that social care innovation is no longer a distant goal. It is already happening in communities, and its role in shaping the future of care is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
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