VIVALDI Social Care Monthly

Welcome to our May edition of VIVALDI Social Care Monthly.

We are onboarding new care homes every day.

Talk about VIVALDI Social Care with your peers, and residents and family members, interact online to ensure the power of prevention outpaces the spread of infection!

Stay tuned for valuable stories and updates on the progress of VIVALDI Social Care from the researchers, tech teams, care providers, residents and family members involved

We have also been working on a resident/relative version of this magazine in an online AND printable format. Please reach out to the team if you’d like more information on this.

Now that Care Show London is over, the VIVALDI Social Care Team have been scheduling VIVALDI visits and have the following upcoming visits:

Broadbridge Park Care Home - Caring Homes

Cavendish Park - Majesticare

If you’d like to host a VIVALDI visit please get in touch.

info@vivaldisocialcare.co.uk

Thank you to everyone who made Care Show London 2025 such a great experience again.

Our session: Turning data into confidence. VIVALDI Social Care for CQC readiness was so well

received and the team were delighted to chat to so many of you over the course of the two days.

If you missed this session, fear not. You can join our next VIVALDI drop in session and have a chance to ask any questions you may have - Link too event on page 4

Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people living, visiting, and working in care homes, while also reducing the risk of infections and avoiding hospital admissions. We endeavour to achieve this through the VIVALDI study that utilises existing data, with minimal input required from care home providers. We were delighted that so many people interested in becoming part of this groundbreaking programme with us.

If you spoke with us or saw our session and want to know more you can contact Lucy on:

info@vivaldisocialcare.co.uk

VIVALDI Social Care: A Collaborative Approach to Research

The VIVALDI Social Care project is based on co-production, bringing together University College London (UCL), Care England, and The Outstanding Society (OS). The Adult Social Care Engagement Collective (ASCEC) meets monthly and brings together a wide range of people, including those who receive care, providers, and planners. This research is being led by social care for social care.

Co-production in research means working with and listening to people who receive care, their families, and professionals to shape and improve services. This approach values everyone’s experiences equally, leading to more effective, person-centred care. Embedding co-production in research comes with challenges. It can be difficult to work together- professionals make most of the decisions, but it’s important that everyone’s voice is heard. Co-production requires time and money to implement effectively, and some people may need additional support to participate. It’s vital that all ideas are valued, not just included for show. Anyone can take part. Balancing differing views and managing busy schedules can be challenging. Complicated language often creates confusion so breaking down communication barriers is key. Many care professionals hesitate to participate in research because they feel unqualified. However, the insights of care staff, residents, and families are essential in shaping meaningful research. Ensuring simple and clear language can help create a culture where everyone feels comfortable sharing their experiences and ideas.

The impact of co-production is clear. Involving people with lived experiences leads to findings that accurately reflect real needs. Many participants stay engaged because they see how their input directly influences outcomes. When visiting care homes, the enthusiasm of residents, relatives, and staff shows that their voices matter. This way of working improves research and helps bring about long-term, positive changes in social care.

The VIVALDI Social Care project demonstrates that collaboration leads to improved research and policies for those needing care. By including everyone and working as a team, we have and continue to make real improvements and give people a voice in the future of social care.

Kate Meacock – Co-founder of Right for Residents said ‘The important work that the VIVALDI Project does will help ensure infections in care homes are controlled and monitored effectively in the future. The longterm closures of homes had a devastating impact on residents, their families, and staff. Through the ASCEC, the VIVALDI team ensures that the voices of providers, relatives, and most importantly, residents, are heard. Co-production is vital to the project’s success. Each month we meet to hear updates and shape its future. It’s co-production at its best, forming the foundation for future research in social care.’

For more information on the project click here.

Lucy Knight, VIVALDI Social Care Programme Co-ordinator, The OS

VIVALDI SOCIAL CARE MONTHLY

JOIN THE ADULT SOCIAL CARE ENGAGEMENT COLLECTIVE

Coproduction and stakeholder engagement has highlighted that it is essential for the care sector to maintain control over how data can be used and what we must prioritise.

The Adult Social Care Engagement Collective seeks to include a broad spectrum of stakeholders from across the social care sector (including users, providers and commissioners) to ensure that research is driven by the sector, for the sector.

These meetings are virtual for 1 hour on the second Tuesday of each month

Microsoft Teams meeting:

Meeting ID: 393 285 053 338

Passcode: WncBqs

Please click on the above image to view all previous meeting recordings on our website.

If you are interested in being a part of this collective, please click here to contact us

Our Next VIVALDI Drop In Session is: WEDNESDAY 4 JUNE 2025 TH

Join us for a 30-minute drop-in session where your team, residents, relatives, or visiting professionals can hear updates, ask questions about the project, and provide feedback

Future sessions will recur every first Wednesday of the month from 13:00-13:30

Please find the recurring Teams invite here.

Kindly save the dates in your diary and invite others to attend.

www.theoutstandingsociety.co.uk/vivaldi-social-care

VIVALDI SOCIAL CARE MONTHLY

UPCOMING TRAINING DATE ON

OurNextVIVALDITrainingSessiononEventbriteis listedhere.

Pleaseusethelinksbyclickingonthedatetobook yourVIVALDISocialCaretraining:

Spacesarelimitedineachtrainingsessionsoplease bookinadvance.

WED 25 JUNE th

OPT-OUT INFORMATION

OPT-OUT: We've been asked whether providers should share details with the project team if someone opts out. We can confirm that this information should NOT be shared with anyone outside your team at any point. When the project goes live, you will simply use the opt-out feature within your digital system. There will be no need to share the details of those opting out with anyone outside your organisation.

CONTRACTS INFO

Contracts—As the pilot stage of VIVALDI Social Care is now complete, UCL should have been in touch to ask you to sign the relevant contract with them if you haven't already done so. Lucy will provide the relevant details to the UCL team.

www.theoutstandingsociety.co.uk/vivaldi-social-care

This month’s Provider Spotlight features Lowela Alcazaren from Summerlands Care Home — the first care home to kick off data collection earlier this year. Lowela shared the following insight:

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly highlighted the vulnerabilities within care homes, particularly regarding infection control procedures. Faced with ongoing challenges related to the risk of infectious diseases, we at Summerlands Care Home recognised the necessity for robust solutions to protect our residents and staff. In 2023, I attended a conference in London. In one of the forums, VIVALDI presented their project which aims to improve the quality of life for people living, visiting, and working in care homes, while also reducing the risk of infections and avoiding hospital admissions. I said to myself, Summerlands need to join and support this research.I filled out the form online and expressed my interest in joining the project. I told the management and team about the research, and they are quite excited about it.

Zoe and her team visited Summerlands last February of 2024 and I remember when they explained about the research to the residents and team, they were all excited. The team visited us again early this year and discussed the project with the families and friends of our residents. One family member told me, “If my husband said no to this research forget it, make sure you put his name as yes!”

One resident said, “I am glad that I can contribute in a small way to helping people in care homes”.

Another family member commented, “This is a great initiative, I would like my mum to be included in the study”.

In February of this year, I was contacted by the team asking if we could start the data collection, and I remember being excited as finally VIVALDI will start their data gathering. I told Lucy that I would free my schedule for two days, so I could concentrate on the research. When Mike and Zoe gave me a nod to activate the data collection using our Camascope EMAR System, it only took me about 5 minutes to do the opt-in and out. I asked Lucy if there was anything else that I needed to do, and Lucy confirmed that I had completed.

I was so impressed by how they made it very easy for me to start the data collection.

In conclusion, I urge care homes to support this project. It is easy to join and be part of this project. We can make a difference in the lives of the people we care about. The VIVALDI research team is working very hard for this project and we at Summerlands, share the same mission and we are proud to be part of this initiative.

If you’d like to share your VIVALDI Social Care experience and be in our provider spotlight, please contact Lucy at info@vivaldisocialcare.co.uk. www.theoutstandingsociety.co.uk/vivaldi-social-care

The field of research within Social Care continues to grow rapidly. This channel looks to showcase how easy taking part is and the benefits of participation.

click the episode image to check it out on Podbean

Episode 10 - Co-Production in Research

Co-production is more than just consultation; it’s about true collaboration. It means people with lived experience working as equals alongside professionals to shape the services that impact their lives. But how does this work in practice? What are the challenges, and what does real co-production look like?

Today, we’ll hear from the VIVALDI Social Care Team, who are making co-production a reality. We’ll explore the benefits, bust some myths, and discuss how we can all embrace a more inclusive, person-centered approach to adult social care.

So, whether you’re a social care professional, a policymaker, or someone who uses these services, this episode is for you. Listen as we unpack the power of co-production!” www.theoutstandingsociety.co.uk/vivaldi-social-care

Episode 11 - Dementia Research

In this episode, we explore the latest advancements in dementia research, shedding light on the breakthroughs, challenges, and hopes for the future. Dementia affects millions of people worldwide, yet much remains to be discovered about its causes, prevention, and potential treatments.

We’re joined by leading researchers, healthcare professionals, and those with lived experience. We also delve into the importance of funding, collaboration, and the voices of those living with dementia in shaping research priorities.

Whether you’re a caregiver, a healthcare professional, or simply interested in the future of brain health, this episode provides valuable insights into the fight against dementia.