Social workers will begin using apps and tablets as part of a trial aimed at cutting down paperwork.

The trial - which will begin at selected Surrey care homes in July - will involve giving those with social care jobs tablet devices (small, hand-held computers) with care-specific applications pre-loaded onto them. 

The users can then access customer records and log assessments on the move, as well as keeping personal details up to date. It is hoped that the trial will lower both the volume of paperwork and the time spent doing it.

20 tablets will be used in the trial and it is scheduled to take around two months, after which the decision will be made as to whether to roll this out to care homes all over Surrey - and potentially the rest of the UK.

Michael Gosling, cabinet minister for adult social care and health at Surrey County Council spoke to The Guardian about his hopes for the trial, claiming: "The new app should help save time and money by reducing the burden of paperwork, allowing social workers to focus on caring for the elderly."

"Surrey is breaking new ground by testing this new technology in the social work field and is yet another example of the county council's willingness to embrace new ideas to improve people's care as part of our overall aim of becoming a world class authority."

In addition, Surrey's head of information technology and management Paul Broklehurst told SurreyHealth-Residents.co.uk: "We're proud to be chosen for this trial."

"For us, the key is to give social workers easy-to-use mobile technology that allows them to work flexibly, more efficiently and securely."