B&M Care is delighted to announce that The Chadwick Care Home in Hoddesdon has joined the ENRICH network – a dedicated scheme that champions exceptional care through collaborative research.

Run by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Enabling Research in Care Homes (ENRICH) works in partnership with care homes to carry out research that can flourish positive change to the lives of those who live and work in a care home environment.

Spearheaded by B&M Care’s Head of Dementia Caroline Inch on behalf of The Chadwick, the partnership not only celebrates a first for B&M Care, but an opportunity to directly take part in research that will support, empower, and drive best practice throughout the home – and the wider social care sector.

Pictured: The Chadwick Care Home in Hoddesdon and B&M Care's Head of Dementia Caroline Inch

“We’re very proud to be joining the ENRICH network. I’ve always been passionate about empowering our residents and the team [who cares for them] and to have opportunities to affect change – and being part of research can fuel this,” said Caroline Inch.

From testing new medications and therapies to feedback and real-time observations, each piece of research is carried out by professionals in their working field – in the case of The Chadwick, by Caroline and the care staff team. By doing this, ENRICH then presents findings in the form of a principles-based toolkit that is then distributed to, in the case of social care, other care providers to support them in provisioning further excellence in care.

Understanding the importance of research and how it can be used to better improve the lives of those in care, Caroline said: “We’re [already] making our care evidence-based, driving improvements through research and best practice.”

“By making sure [care staff are] skilled, supported and mentored, we’re able to provide the best person-centred care, whilst working with [staff] to understand the benefits of projects like ENRICH.”

“Research shouldn’t just be happening in hospitals or clinical settings. We have the lives of all these incredible people in our hands, and we have a duty to provide the best care…so promoting research in care homes is a crucial way to provision quality and innovation at the heart of what we do.”

For more information about ENRICH, visit their website here.