Paul O’Rourke, managing director of Next Stage Group, a leading social care provider in the North West, discusses how leveraging emerging AI trends can be used to support proactive care strategies and deliver a better quality of social housing.
The UK’s social care sector is under mounting pressure due to a confluence of rising demand, an ageing population, staff shortages and financial strain. As of 2024, individuals aged 65 and over constitute 18% of England’s population, a figure that has surged by over 3.5 million since 1981, a 52% increase. This demographic shift has intensified the need for social care services, with projections indicating that an additional £8.3 billion annually will be required by 2032/33 to meet the growing demand.
We need to think differently – the sector needs innovative solutions to maintain the quality of life for vulnerable individuals. Opportunity lies not in replacing the human element of care, but in empowering the individuals who provide it, to deliver enhanced quality support. Emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies act as a powerful enabler, freeing up time and resources by automating tasks and improving operational efficiency. This means support workers have more time and energy to focus on building trust, offering tailored support and delivering quality person-centred care.
Enhancing care quality through early intervention
AI is already transforming social care by enabling more proactive, personalised support, for example, by analysing patterns in residents’ behaviour and health data, AI can detect early signs of deterioration. This allows care providers to intervene promptly preventing hospitalisations, as well as improving health outcomes and enhancing overall quality of life. Systems like Touchbase Connect monitor daily routines and alert caregivers to deviations that may signal potential health concerns, enabling timely and targeted assistance. This approach not only safeguards residents’ wellbeing but also reduces pressure on overstretched care staff.
On the operational side, AI-powered virtual assistants and chatbots are increasingly being integrated into housing platforms to improve tenant engagement. These tools handle routine queries, report maintenance issues and provide real-time updates to streamline communication and service delivery. AI platforms can also triage requests, ensuring emergencies are prioritised while efficiently managing non-urgent matters.
By automating repetitive tasks and enhancing responsiveness, AI not only boosts tenant satisfaction but also frees up housing officers and support staff to concentrate on those who most need human interaction – delivering compassionate, effective support where it matters most.
AI and smart home integration to enhance independence and safety
Smart home technology is one of the fastest-growing areas in AI-driven care innovation. In social housing, it has the power to simultaneously improve quality of life and reduce dependence on 24/7 staff presence. Motion sensors, fall detectors, smart locks and voice-controlled devices can all be networked together to monitor resident safety and enhance independence. Smart heating systems and lighting can automatically adjust to resident routines or respond to remote care instructions.
Through smart home integration AI gives residents more autonomy while enabling remote monitoring by care professionals. Over time, AI can learn behavioural routines and send alerts when something is out of the ordinary like a door left open or a missed meal. In this way, intelligent housing solutions supports proactive care. By enabling faster, more discreet responses to emerging issues, these technologies help preserve the dignity and independence of vulnerable individuals.
AI also plays a vital role in protecting vulnerable individuals in social housing from exploitation, such as ‘cuckooing’ – a criminal practice where gangs or drug dealers take over someone’s home to facilitate illegal activity. These perpetrators often manipulate or befriend at-risk individuals to gain access to their property. AI-enabled environmental monitoring, such as detecting elevated CO₂ levels, can indicate unexpected occupancy patterns. When anomalies are detected, support workers can be alerted to investigate and intervene before further harm occurs.
Predictive maintenance in social housing
In the financial year 2023/24, housing providers in England spent a record £8.8 billion on repairs and maintenance, marking a 13% increase from the previous year and a 55% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels. This surge in expenditure reflects a heightened focus on addressing immediate issues such as damp, mould, and building safety concerns, indicating a reactive approach to maintenance.
This approach often leads to higher costs, reduced tenant satisfaction and increased strain on care workers. AI enables a shift towards proactive care by predicting and preventing issues before they escalate.
AI-powered predictive maintenance tools analyse data from various sources, such as sensors and historical maintenance records, to forecast potential issues. For instance, AI can predict boiler
failures or plumbing leaks, allowing for timely interventions that prevent costly repairs and tenant discomfort. By anticipating maintenance needs, housing providers can allocate resources more efficiently, reduce emergency repairs and enhance the living conditions for tenants.
Empowering the workforce with AI tools
The social care workforce in the UK is under immense pressure, grappling with high turnover rates and increasing demands. In 2023/24, the adult social care sector faced approximately 131,000 vacancies, reflecting an 8.3% vacancy rate. This issue is compounded by a turnover rate of 28.3%, further straining the workforce and jeopardising the quality of care provided to vulnerable individuals. As the demand for care services continues to rise, these challenges highlight the urgent need for innovative solutions that can help support the workforce and improve care outcomes.
Here, AI can offer practical relief, by automating administrative tasks, such as scheduling and documentation. AI tools can assist social workers by summarising case notes and suggesting follow-up actions, thereby enhancing efficiency without compromising human interaction. By reducing administrative workloads, AI allows care workers to focus more on delivering direct person-centred support. This can also lead to improved job satisfaction as care workers spend more time building relationships with those in their care and offer tailored support.
It’s not about replacing care – it’s about enhancing it
AI isn’t a silver bullet. It won’t replace people – and it shouldn’t try to. While AI can significantly improve operational efficiency, the human element of care is paramount. For AI technologies to be truly effective in the social care sector, they must be tailored to meet the unique needs of both care workers and the individuals they support. This will preserve the compassion that lies at the heart of social care.
Embracing AI in social housing and care presents an opportunity to transition from reactive to proactive strategies, enhancing care quality and addressing workforce challenges. By predicting and preventing issues before they arise, AI empowers providers to deliver more efficient, effective and compassionate care. This not only reduces costs and inefficiencies but has the potential to dramatically improve care outcomes for those who rely on supported housing.
Now is the time to act. The sector doesn’t just need investment, it needs innovation that puts people first.
