A new AI tool has helped a council team spend more time with the people it helps, by slashing the amount of time staff spend on paperwork.

Ealing Council’s adult services started using the artificial intelligence tool Magic Notes, by Beam, in autumn last year.

It has been so successful, that it has freed-up 44% of staff’s time. The AI tool produces concise and accurate notes from face-to-face meetings, records practitioner visits, assessments and reviews, and supports their planning activities.

Feedback from carers and staff has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting that the assessment process is now more interactive and person-centred, leading to a better experience.

This is one of the key findings from a recent review by the Local Government Association (LGA), which is carrying out a 2-year assessment of the council’s adult social care team.

The report also shows the council has significantly cut waiting times, making significant progress in last 24 months noting: ‘Significant transformation and improvement activity is in progress to reduce wait times for assessment. Currently the average wait time stands at 124 days with a maximum wait time of 200 days.’

In addition, it stated: ‘You have achieved outstanding progress over the past 22 months, successfully meeting each of the recommendations from the Peer Challenge.’

The findings in the report follows the ‘AI opportunities action plan’ announced this month by Prime Minister Keir Starmer who set out a vision for AI ‘revolutionising our public services and putting more money in people’s back pockets.’

‘Lessons learned’ for future

Councillor Polly Knewstub, the council’s cabinet member for healthy equal lives, said: “We are already working the lessons learned from the inspection into our plans for the coming year, but I am pleased to say that the overall report was very positive.

“We are extremely proud of the work of colleagues and partners in Ealing Council and the LGA review is something we are very proud to have taken part in.”