Artificial intelligence (AI) is helping Swindon Borough Council's social workers to spend more time with those who need their support.

Social workers at the council have been using Magic Notes, an AI tool developed by Beam, to reduce the time spent on admin tasks.

The successful pilot of the technology, which records conversations between social workers and their clients to improve the speed and quality of assessments, saw a 63 per cent reduction in the time spent on compiling assessments and logging case notes.

The trial, which took place between April and July, was carried out in the council's Adult Social Care department, and involved 19 social workers and a single leadership support officer using Magic Notes across 184 frontline meetings.

The meetings included Care Act Assessments, Mental Capacity Assessments, and other supporting conversations.

The time taken to conduct a Care Act conversation dropped from one and a half hours to just 35 minutes, while the time taken to write up these assessments was reduced from four hours to one and a half hours.

The tool also proved beneficial for staff with learning difficulties, visual impairments, and those whose first language is not English.

One social worker who took part in the trial said: "I’m dyslexic – I’m much more productive with Magic Notes.

"It helps my thoughts not get stuck, takes away confusion from my mind, and reduces anxiety."

Another added: "This tool has made me feel on equal terms with my colleagues despite my challenges as a person with learning difficulties and allows me to be more confident."

The council has now secured a new six-month contract with Beam, a social enterprise committed to developing technology that supports frontline workers, for Magic Notes following the successful trial.

Councillor Ray Ballman, cabinet member for adult social care, said: "Magic Notes has been a game-changer for our colleagues in adult social care.

"By reducing the administrative burden, the tool has allowed social workers to focus more on what matters most - engaging in meaningful, person-centred conversations with those they support.

"The positive feedback from the team has been exceptional, and it's clear that tools like Magic Notes can make a real difference in how we deliver services.

"We are now carefully considering the next steps, looking at how we can further leverage this technology to support our colleagues and enhance the quality of care we provide."