The Haven thanked for taking part in Covid-19 research project

The Haven in Boston has been thanked for their part in a research study gathering data around Covid-19 testing. The home on Whitehouse Lane in Boston, Lincolnshire run by Black Swan Care Group was one of 85 care homes in the country to take part in the Vivaldi Research Project, led by researchers from University College London.

 

The goal of the research was to generate evidence to inform national public health policy on the future of testing in care homes. Residents in the home continued to be tested on a regular basis – even though it was no longer national NHS or Government policy. Staff in the homes worked closely with the research team, providing them with the results which were collected and shared with the researchers for them to collated and generate findings. Those results are being shared with national policymakers and will shape national public health policy on the future use of testing in care homes.

 

Evangeline Girling is the Manager at The Haven in Boston: “It has been a wonderful experience working in partnership with University of London & University of Strathclyde to participate in the Vivaldi Research Project. It was wonderful to be able to be a part of this important and necessary research as Covid 19 had so many unknown outcomes, and we were part of the national program of selected care homes to participate.

 

“Our care team have worked closely via TEAMS to share experiences. I also shared data regarding care home staff that had contracted Covid 19 and how they were found to be at higher risk of contracting it.

 

“We were asked to test twice weekly for Covid-19 and they processed the data received with other care homes to analyse whether or not regular testing of care home staff was necessary and viable. They discussed mental health of staff during this time, and we were able to share our experiences with other care home staff and how they were supported by Management to enable them to continue their roles despite how difficult the pandemic was at times.”

 

The full report on the research project can be read at: Vivaldi 1: coronavirus (COVID-19) care homes study report.