Dr Nicola WIlliams and Stephanie Green

Support and delivery day 2021 – what we learned about ENRICH Cymru

This year’s Support and Delivery Day: Looking to the future together, covered a range of research achievements and challenges over this past year.

Amongst the speakers which covered Wales’ response to vaccine trials, regulatory approvals and funding, Stephanie Green Coordinator of ENRICH Cymru care home network, gave an overview of the support available to enable research in care homes.

The Enabling Research In Care Homes (ENRICH) Cymru network is a joint venture with CADR funded by Health and Care Research Wales with support from Health and Care Research Wales Support and Delivery Centre. 

If you missed the session you can watch a recording of the discussion here, or you can read through our top takeaways.

  1. Care homes have risen up the political agenda  

The pandemic has shone a light on the differences in the health and in the care sector which has been reflected in the response to research.

Over the past few months, ENRICH Cymru has helped champion care homes through their toughest time by lobbying and campaigning for representatives to be included and opportunities to be presented to help with COVID-19 research. 

There’s now work to be done to continue fighting for the care home voice to be heard in all health and care research by showcasing its value and impact on improving the lives of those in care homes.

  1. Research is for everyone

Established in 2018, ENRICH Cymru was created to support and facilitate the growth of life-changing research in care homes across Wales.

One of it’s key aims was to repackage research in the care sector by showing it’s not just for white coats in universities but for everyone including care practitioners working day-to-day on the ground.

  1. Co-production is key

Studies show long term relationships with care homes ensure the most relevant questions and issues in the care home community are explored.

Those in the care home community are the experts and should be provided with opportunities to share their views on what matters most, in order to shape care home policy on a national and local level.

The ENRICH Cymru Advisory group, which was established at the same time as the network, brings together a mix of representatives including care home managers, academics, care home practitioners’ and members of the public who will help support and steer the work in the future.

  1. Research in care homes is already happening…

There are many studies which the network supports including:

PRINCIPLE - a UK wide study to find treatments for COVID-19 at home. The study is now open to those with reduced capacity with consent and as care home residents are one of the groups at highest risk of contracting COVID 19, it is important care home experiences were included to provide better results.

PROTECT - a platform trial that will test one or more treatments with the aim of reducing the risk of care home residents catching the virus that causes COVID-19 and of developing severe health issues.

Through ENRICH Cymru, these opportunities have been presented to the network to not only take part but also be involved in study creation and development.

  1. Growth is on the horizon

Over the past three years the network has recruited 22 care homes across Wales and supported the delivery and facilitation of 15 research studies. In 2020, ENRICH Cymru was awarded funding through Health and Care Research Wales with a key aim of increasing the facilitation of delivery and development of research in care homes by expanding the network across Wales.

With a fresh new vison for 2021, ENRICH Cymru has grown its team by welcoming two new research facilitators. The new team will help develop the network, encouraging the exchange of ideas and foster the co-creation of research by bringing together researchers with care home staff, residents and families.

For more information, follow ENRICH Cymru on social media or email Stephanie Green.