Assessing Online Risk Within Digital Care Planning
Digital care planning increasingly shapes how risk is identified and managed in adult social care. Within Digital Safeguarding, Online Risk & Technology-Enabled Harm, online activity and digital access must be considered alongside mobility, medication and personal safety. This is particularly important where Digital Care Planning tools are used as the primary record of risk and support.
This article explores how providers assess online risk within care planning and embed digital safeguarding into everyday delivery.
Why online risk belongs in the care plan
Care plans shape staff understanding of risk. If online activity is absent, staff may not recognise digital harm indicators. Online risk can affect:
- Financial safety
- Emotional wellbeing
- Exposure to abuse or exploitation
- Privacy and dignity
Including these risks ensures consistent support and clearer escalation pathways.
Assessing digital access and capability
Effective assessment considers:
- What devices the person uses
- How independently they use them
- Understanding of privacy and security
- Support needs related to digital activity
This avoids assumptions that either over-restrict independence or under-protect safety.
Operational example 1: Online shopping and financial risk
Context: A person receiving reablement support used online shopping extensively but struggled to recognise unsafe websites.
Support approach: Digital risk was added to the care plan, with agreed boundaries and prompts for staff to check spending patterns.
Day-to-day delivery detail: Staff supported safe site use, recorded concerns, and escalated unusual activity through governance channels.
How effectiveness is evidenced: Financial incidents reduced and care plan audits demonstrated clear risk management.
Commissioner expectation
Commissioners expect digital risk to be reflected in care planning where technology forms part of daily living or support arrangements.
Regulator / Inspector expectation
Inspectors expect care plans to reflect all relevant risks, including those arising from digital access, and to show staff understand how to manage them.
Linking online risk to capacity and consent
Digital activity raises complex capacity questions. Providers should:
- Assess capacity in relation to specific digital decisions
- Record best-interest decisions where required
- Review capacity regularly as digital skills or cognition change
Operational example 2: Social media contact and emotional harm
Context: A supported person experienced distress following repeated negative interactions on social media.
Support approach: The care plan was updated to include emotional risk linked to online use and agreed coping strategies.
Day-to-day delivery detail: Staff supported privacy settings, encouraged positive engagement, and recorded emotional wellbeing observations.
How effectiveness is evidenced: Emotional stability improved and safeguarding reviews confirmed appropriate support.
Reviewing online risk as circumstances change
Online risk is dynamic. Reviews should consider:
- New devices or platforms
- Changes in cognition or confidence
- New relationships formed online
Operational example 3: Increased vulnerability during hospital discharge
Context: After discharge, an individual relied heavily on online contact due to isolation.
Support approach: Digital safeguarding risks were reviewed and community engagement support increased.
Day-to-day delivery detail: Staff monitored digital behaviour alongside wellbeing indicators and updated risk controls.
How effectiveness is evidenced: Reduced isolation and no safeguarding incidents recorded.
What good looks like
Good digital care planning recognises online risk without removing autonomy. It supports independence while ensuring staff, managers and safeguarding leads share a clear understanding of digital harm and how to respond.