ICS.AI's Dwayne Johnson Reveals How AI is Transforming Local Government | Podcast
- ICS AI
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
ICS.AI Chief Local Government Director, Dwayne Johnson, was recently featured as a guest on the AI in Social Care podcast, hosted by David Mance from Frank Care Marketing. In this insightful conversation, Dwayne reveals how local councils are becoming unexpected AI innovators in 2025.
From Care Assistant to AI Pioneer
What makes Dwayne's perspective unique is his journey from working as a care assistant in the 1990s to becoming a Council Chief Executive overseeing 4,000 staff, and now leading AI innovation in local government at ICS.AI. His hands-on experience in social care, combined with his leadership background in local authorities, provides invaluable insights into how AI can genuinely transform public services.
Real Results: Derby Council's Success Story
During the podcast, Dwayne shared some impressive results from our work with Derby City Council:
£7.45 million identified savings, with projections heading towards £12 million in phases two and three
Up to 60% of calls deflected through their AI voice agent "Darcie"
Projections of a 50-60% reduction in administrative time for social workers through AI transcription services
As Dwayne explained:
"Derby just announced at a national conference their journey to £7.45 million savings, which is a massive number, and they're heading towards £12 million over phases two and three."
Breaking Down AI Barriers
One of the most compelling parts of the conversation was when David Mance actually called Derby Council's AI voice agent live during the recording. The system demonstrated its ability to:
Understand complex family situations involving elderly care concerns
Provide accurate, contextual advice about dementia support services
Send relevant information via text message in real-time
Recognise when human intervention is needed for sensitive situations
The Future of Social Care
Dwayne emphasised that AI isn't about replacing jobs, it's about reducing administrative burdens so care professionals can spend more time doing what they love: caring for people. With social workers currently spending significant time on paperwork, AI solutions can free them up for more meaningful client interactions.
"I don't actually see AI replacing jobs. This is more about using a system to reduce administrative burdens and using automation products that are available,"
Dwayne noted when discussing concerns about AI replacing human workers.
He added:
"What excites me most is that we're going to be using cutting-edge technology to improve the lives of people living in the community, and that means a lot more people living at home for much longer periods."
Why Local Government is Leading the Way
Contrary to popular perception, Dwayne argues that local councils are actually at the forefront of innovation, driven by the need to do more with less. As he noted in the podcast, even the Prime Minister recently highlighted how social work and councils are leading in artificial intelligence adoption.
"I do think we get a bad rap," Dwayne reflected on the perception of local government innovation.
"When I was a Director of Social Services, there was lots of technology that we were using that was really at the forefront of change... maybe we don't shout enough about the technological advances we've been making."
Listen to the Full Conversation
This summary only scratches the surface of the insights shared in this 30-minute conversation. To hear Dwayne's full story and to learn more about how AI is revolutionising local government services, listen to the full podcast episode.
🎧 Listen now: AI in Social Care Podcast - Episode with Dwayne Johnson
Ready to explore how AI can transform your council's services? Contact our team to learn more about ICS.AI's unified platform and discover why councils across the UK are choosing us to deliver real results for their communities.
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