Enabling Research in
Care Homes
Skip to:
- What ENRICH do
- Conference 2024 – Bridging the Gap between Theory & Practice
- Achievements for 2022-2023
- Active Studies and the ENRICH Newsletter
- Current Studies in Lothian
- Studies Supported Across the UK
- Recruitment for Studies – A summary of current studies recruiting within Lothian and the UK
- Ethics
- Further Information and Contact Details
What ENRICH Scotland do
With core funding from the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) since April 2021, Enabling Research in Care Homes (ENRICH) Scotland has successfully raised the profile of, and facilitated the planning and delivery of, research studies to benefit Care Home residents, their families and those that care for them across Scotland.
A Care Home’s Research Story
Supportive and Informative Role
The role of ENRICH Scotland generally is to inform Care Home staff of available studies who can then disseminate the information appropriately. We assist with recruitment, connect interested parties with researchers and be available for any study specific or general research questions
ENRICH Scotland has increased research capacity in Scottish Care Homes by supporting study recruitment and acting as specialist advisors to researchers unfamiliar with Care Home research but designing studies for this environment.
Individual Approach
The core group review studies that request support using pro-forma. This allows the team to assess the value of the research and assistance that is being sought. This individualised approach also ensures the support we can offer study teams is specific to that project while balancing our capacity within the team.
All things ENRICH – Webinar
On the 16th of November ENRICH Scotland held a webinar to tell you what ENRICH Scotland is, what we are trying to achieve and how we link in with Care Homes.
Please view the presentation and/or download the slides.
Conference 2024
Bridging the Gap between
Theory & Practice
Our 2024 conference was held on Friday 15th March at Edinburgh Zoo.
The theme was ‘Bridging the Gap between Theory & Practice’ and the conference was aimed at Care Home staff, researchers, policy makers and members of the public.
We had an exciting programme of speakers and practical workshops.
Slides and recordings from the presentations and workshops
For those who missed the event or if you attended and want to revisit any information please find the slides and recordings of the presentations below.
For context the morning lecture hall was next to the Chimp area in the Zoo – at times they amusingly adopted the interactive ethos of the conference.
Morning Presentations
Dr Maria Drummond: Senior Clinical Studies Officer – Introduction to the Conference
Slides
Alyson Vale – Mind the Gap: The Gift of Noticing and Celebrating.
SlidesVideo
Alexandra McCauley: Care Home Provider – Falling through the Gaps: Or a Game of snakes and ladders
SlidesVideos
Dr Martha Pollard: Care staff and family care insights into freedom and pandemic-affected dementia care: Breaking chains of invisibility
SlidesVideo
Dr Mariyana Schoultz: Adapting Psychological First Aid with care-homes for care homes
SlidesVideo
Leah Fullegar: Smells, mess, and presents: The role of poo in care team dynamics
SlidesVideo
Dr Michelle Beattie: Connecting Care Home staff to Specialists: Enablers and barriers of Project ECHO
SlidesVideo
Afternoon Workshops
Dr Gerry Finnan: The Listening Chair (unlocking a better understanding of the at work factors that impact on staff well-being and retention)
Prof Liz Forbat: Improving the Quality of dying and palliative care in care homes
Generations working together: Let’s bring in the youngsters
Dr Rosie Ashworth: RICH (Research in Care Homes) Voices – Accessible research involvement
Finally, details of all the studies we are currently supporting with recruitment can be found on the “Studies we currently support” section of the ENRICH website.
For more ENRICH Scotland training and events please see the “Training and Events” section on the ENRICH website
Achievements for 2022-2023
We have achieved a number of things we’re proud of, including:
- Expanded the Research Ready Care Home Network from 100 in December 2021 to 251 as of 1st September 2023.
- Rolled out a certified process of recognition for all Research Ready Care Homes that is endorsed by the Care Inspectorate.
- Developed and issued a monthly newsletter to all Research Ready Care Homes in Scotland.
- Replicated the Lothian Care Home Innovation Partnership (CHIP) model in collaboration with the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership group of residential care homes.
- Expanded the Patient and Public Involvement group to 25 members. The group is now called Research in Care Homes (RICH) Voices, with a salaried lead in place.
- Contributed to The National Care Service, Data Strategy for Health and Social Care and Dementia Strategy public consultations.
- Organised and held the first ENRICH Scotland conference, with over half of the attendees’ current employees of Care Homes.
- Raised the profile of Care Home research in Scotland by recording a podcast with IRISS FM, updating the ENRICH Scotland website regularly with research and event information related to care home staff, attending relevant conferences and speaking to Scottish Government specialist professional advisory groups.
- Wrote and published the guide Care Home research: an introduction for Care Home staff specifically for Care Home staff in collaboration with IRISS on research involvement in Care Homes.
- Published a film on Research in Care Homes in conjunction with staff and residents from Raith Manor Care Home in Fife.
Active Studies and the ENRICH Newsletter
Active studies are a rolling project and updated monthly within the Newsletter.
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Current Studies in Lothian
ENRICH is currently supporting a number of studies in the Lothian health board, with one that is funded for Lothian specifically.
The “Intention to leave” study is funded by a NHS Lothian Care Home Support Team, and supported by Napier University. This is 3-part study looking at staff retention and recruitment within Care Homes. ENRICH are assisting with participant recruitment, carrying out manager interviews and manning the “listening chair” to gather data. This is commencing second stage of the study soon.
Studies Supported Across the UK
As of March 2023 we have supported 36 study teams (26 based in Scotland and 10 in England) from 19 Universities across the UK.
You have been fantastically helpful – I think we could have been really stuck without you to be honest
Marianne Cranwell, Researcher from the University of Dundee
Of the 36 study teams we have been approached to support; we have offered:
- Scoping for interest from Care Homes on the research interest register to assist with funding applications
- Recruitment into studies
- Advice on specific aspects of study development to ensure they are fit for purpose
- Sourcing of Care Home staff and residents into advisory or PPI panels
- Support with study development, recruitment, analysis and write-up
Recruitment for Studies – A summary of current studies recruiting within Lothian and the UK
Current studies recruiting
- The Multiplex testing study, UK wide, sponsored by NIHR and Imperial London. This is looking at the benefits and barriers around multiplex testing to diagnose respiratory infections.
- There is a study looking at Staff Experience during the pandemic from Edinburgh University.
- A Psychological Wellbeing training project for staff in Care Homes carried out in collaboration with Bristol, Northumberland and Highland and Island Universities. This study is looking to tailor some existing psychological first aid training to the Care Home environment.
- There is the APPLE study which is a sub study of TOPSY a UK wide study looking at pessary care in people with dementia in Care Homes. This is supported by Glasgow Caledonian, Stirling and Manchester Universities as well as well as NMAHP and NIRH.
- There is the SUSTAIN study from Cardiff University looking at ways to improve chronic joint pain care for residents of Care Homes, and to offer alternatives to existing educational resources for Care Home staff.
Does your Care Home want to take part in research studies
If you are interested in taking part in research studies supported by ENRICH, please see our webpage ENRICH Sign-up Form to register your interest and a member of the team will be in touch.
Ethics
ENRICH will always work within ethical guidelines ensuring the wellbeing, health and safety of all involved.
We take our ethical responsibilities seriously and have actually assessed one study as unsuitable for support with recruitment due to their ethical approvals process. Our concerns were explained in writing to the research team and included advice about what provisions would be needed for our involvement.
Further Information and Contact Details
If you are a Care Home and wish to find out more about research in Care Homes, including how to take part in projects, please see ENRICH’s Information for Care Homes webpage.
If you are a researcher and wish to find out more about how ENRICH could support you and the process involved, please see ENRICH’s Information for Researchers webpage
Contact Details
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch, please feel free to contact us at tay.enrichscotland@nhs.scot
