AI is already being used across social care. Research commissioned by Social Work England, conducted in 2025 and published in 2026, found that 24% of 155 responding social workers had used generative AI without direction from their employer.

CQC’s published principles for health and social care providers cover human oversight, staff training, security, governance, Data Protection Impact Assessments, accountability and procurement.

TESSA Tools helps providers establish how AI is being used across their service, identify gaps and put proportionate governance in place.

An organisational AI review can include:

• a review of current AI use
• acceptable-use policies and staff guidance
• support with DPIAs
• questions for AI suppliers
• quality reviews of AI-assisted records
• briefings for managers on oversight and escalation
  
  

The scope and written outputs are agreed before work begins. Depending on your organisation’s needs, these may include an AI Governance Evidence Map, action plan, policy pack, quality review or leadership briefing.

TESSA Tools is system agnostic. We assess the AI your organisation uses against your practice, governance and data protection requirements. Our approach can be used with Copilot Chat included in eligible Microsoft 365 work accounts; the paid Word add-on is not required.

The work is led by Nadia Hajat, an independent social worker and Professional Doctorate researcher examining AI literacy and accountability in practice. We test AI tools directly and draw on regulatory guidance, social care research and frontline practice.

Staff training and structured learning, with certificates for your training matrix, are available separately through TESSA Training.

At Care Show Birmingham, visit stand IN03 to discuss the AI already in use and the governance evidence your service needs. Collect the free AI Governance Evidence Checklist or ask about an organisational AI review.