Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has met staff from Ealing Council on Tuesday (4 February 2025) at a 10 Downing Street reception to discuss how AI is used in the UK and how it has helped the council to improve the way it manages social care service for adults in the borough.
Ealing Council social worker Joanna James alongside council leader Councillor Peter Mason and chief executive Tony Clements revealed how the new AI tool has enabled the council’s adult social services team to spend more time with people.
The council said the Magic Notes tool provided by Beam is being used by more than 100 social workers. It claims since its introduction it has cut social workers’ admin by 44% allowing staff to spend more time with service users.
As well as adult social services using Magic Notes, the AI tool is also currently being piloted by children’s services.
Ms James said of meeting with Sir Keir: “I was thrilled to be given the once-in-a lifetime opportunity to visit 10 Downing Street and meet the Prime Minister. It was so inspiring to learn from everyone there.”
Ms James added: “I got into social work to support people and the AI tool has helped me and the team really focus on that part of the job by cutting down the time I spend doing paperwork. It gives me useful prompts and frees up so much time that I’m much better placed to support the people I care for. It’s hard to imagine my job without it now.
Councillor Mason added: “I spoke with the Prime Minister about the enormous efficiency gains our adult social care team has seen from using AI. On average our social workers regain 44% of their time.
“This means less time sitting at desks filling out paperwork and vastly more time spent with people. It has unleashed huge benefits for us, our staff and most importantly the service users.”
Alex Stephany, founder and CEO of Beam, commented: “The Prime Minister sees the potential for new technologies to radically overhaul the public sector at all levels and it’s great to have his support as we work to get this technology into the hands of every frontline worker in the UK.”
