An event that brought debate on technology within the care system has been held in Scotland.

Care Tech 2, organised by Scottish Care, with the support of the Clydesdale Bank, was held at Strathclyde University Technology and Innovation Centre, focused on how technology could be used to enable individuals to maintain their independence for as long as possible, along with supporting staff working in the care system more effectively in their work and ensuring individuals remain in control of their supports for as long as possible.

The event brought together over 150 people including designers and developers alongside those using and working in social care services. Through a set of interactive workshops participants discovered about cutting edge innovation, contributing their own ideas and what technology might mean for them in their home or workplace. The event also explored some of the most creative technologies now available along with future technology currently under development.

The event was also a platform for the launch of a new Human Rights Charter for Technology and Digital in Social Care.

The Charter, the first of its kind, has been developed with a range of designers, providers and people who work and use social care services over the last year. It grew out of the report ‘Tech Rights’, which Scottish Care launched in 2018 and which addresses some of the challenges which the increased use of technology including ‘care-bots’, and ‘sensor devices’ are now posing for developers and older people.

Dr Donald Macaskill, Scottish Care CEO, said: “We are delighted to be able to launch the new human rights Charter for Technology and Digital in Social Care. We hope that over the next few weeks and months designers and developers, policy makers and politicians, providers and frontline workers as well as those who use social care supports, will sign up to the Charter. The future of care in Scotland has to be one which is based on the rights, dignity, privacy and control of individual citizens. The Charter is a positive contribution to achieving the rights-based care and support our citizens deserve.

“Scotland has been a proud defender and promotor of human rights within social care and health. I believe there is a real opportunity, faced with the challenges of Artificial Intelligence and wider technology, for Scotland to be at the forefront of the debate around the role of ethics and human rights of technology.”

Derek Breingan, National Head of Health & Social Care Sector, Clydesdale Bank, said: “Thought provoking debate has been generated on the Human Rights aspects of technology in person centred care following the inaugural event last year. At Clydesdale Bank we understand the importance of investing in the sector and of the potential benefits that technology can provide and so are looking forward to an interesting, informative and beneficial event.”