We are delighted to announce that after eighteen months of co-production, VIVALDI Social Care has gained ethical and governance approvals and secured funding from UKHSA to support the pilot.
VIVALDI Social Care is a dynamic research project led by social care, for social care. VIVALDI’s mission is to improve the quality of life for people living, visiting, and working in care homes while reducing the risk of infections and avoiding hospital admissions. We endeavour to achieve this by utilising existing data, with minimal input required from care home providers. Currently, over 800 care homes are onboarded, and it has received support from key sector stakeholders, including Professor Deborah Sturdy CBE from DHSC, Professor Ruth Endacott from NIHR and Care Rights UK.
VIVALDI was initially set up as a response to COVID, where UCL researchers worked with care providers and the Government to rapidly set up a study to find out how many residents and staff had been infected with COVID, and to learn how to protect staff and residents from infection, stop COVID spread, and save lives. VIVALDI Social Care can now continue to deliver positive outcomes for people in social care.
If you are a provider wanting to get involved in this exciting project, please Click here to register your interest.
Professor Deborah Sturdy CBE, Chief Nurse Adult Social Care, Department of Health & Social Care
“The pandemic proved, beyond doubt, the need to capture data on the effectiveness of preventing or containing infection outbreaks in care settings whilst also maintaining the highest standards of care across the piece. Collecting and analysing this information not only enhances best practice but supports improved quality of life for residents and care colleagues. Vivaldi’s work in this area has been invaluable. Now, with the launch of this pilot involving 500 care homes, we’ll be able to gather even more comprehensive data to inform our learning, practice and the improvement of care.”
Professor Ruth Endacott, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Director of Nursing and Midwifery
“It’s fantastic to see this important study receiving investment for the next stage of work. Alongside the impact for those living and working in residential care, it will also provide opportunities for staff to experience the benefits of being involved in research and generating evidence for practice.”
Professor Laura Shallcross MBE, Professor of Public Health and Director of the UCL Institute for Health Informatics
“The VIVALDI Social Care project is a fantastic opportunity for researchers, residents, relatives, staff and care providers to work together to tackle the problem of infections and outbreaks in care homes. By learning lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, we aim to find new, better ways to protect residents that do not impact negatively on their quality of life.”
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England:
“The funding that Vivaldi Social Care has received is a recognition of the necessary work the project is looking to conduct. It will enable residents, families, care workers, providers, and wider stakeholders to work together and develop our understanding of how to reduce the impact of infections and outbreaks in care homes. Research in our sector is vital to help influence government policy and deliver improved outcomes for people who live in, work in, and visit social care. Vivaldi Social Care brings the sector together to improve learning and lays a strong foundation for other studies to shape social care through research going forward.”
Zoe Fry OBE, Director of The Outstanding Society:
“The Board of Directors at the Outstanding Society is thrilled to announce following 18 months of collaborative working, VIVALDI Social Care has secured national funding to support the pilot.
This programme will work to enhance the well-being of individuals residing or working in, care homes for older people throughout England as well as supporting the wellbeing of visitors to the homes.
This initiative seeks to investigate strategies for minimising infections and enhancing the overall quality of life within these care settings. The collection of data plays a pivotal role in driving positive transformation within the sector, reflecting our commitment to research led by social care, for social care.”
Diane Mayhew, Care Rights UK
“Care homes preventing access to family and friends due to infection outbreaks deprive residents of their right to a family life, with devastating consequences. During the pandemic, many residents felt completely abandoned, their families powerless to act. Witnessing the huge deterioration in their loved ones physical and mental health and wellbeing as a result of this isolation, caused untold trauma.
The NHS have records of all our data and if we are to understand how to prevent the spread of infections that lead to outbreaks and closures, care homes need data too. Care Rights UK are delighted to be involved in this vital research to ensure residents’ rights are respected and their needs are met.”
Katie Thorn, Project Lead, Digital Care Hub (formerly Digital Social Care)
“The Vivaldi Social Care study is an amazing example of how high quality research, developed in partnership with residents, families, care professionals and academia, can achieve positive outcomes for everyone involved in the social care sector. The project’s strong approach to governance and transparency in how people’s data will be used is a blueprint for how sector-led research will be conducted in the future.”
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