Care home staff achieving research ambitions with a Career Development Award

I started work in Springfield Healthcare in 2014 as an Activities Coordinator, and since I’ve have progressed into the Dementia and Wellbeing Lead. In my role I work with 7 care homes on supporting the wellbeing of people living with dementia. I’m passionate about dementia, and I’ve always enjoyed training opportunities where I can learn more about how to improve day-to-day life and care for people with dementia. I’ve always been curious about research and recognise how important it is. When Springfield Healthcare joined a care and science partnership (NICHE-Leeds) this was the perfect opportunity for me to learn more and get involved. NICHE-Leeds stands for Nurturing Innovation in Care Home Excellence in Leeds and is a partnership between care organisations and the University of Leeds (with Leeds City Council and Leeds Beckett University) which aims to enhance quality of life, care and work in care homes (https://niche.leeds.ac.uk/). I was interested in speaking with the researchers and hearing more about what they do and how we could work together. In 2022 I started working as a Practice Linking Pin and in this role I work on ‘bridging’ the care homes and the University of Leeds. Over time, as I’ve worked with NICHE-Leeds researchers I’ve wondered about how to develop my research skills, and the possibility of pursuing a future career in research.

Through research colleagues I learnt that the National Institute for Health and Care Research School for Social Care Research (NIHR SSCR) have funding available to support social care professionals. I applied for the Career Development Award and I am excited to share that I’ve been successful! I’ve been awarded funding that will support me with completing a Masters degree in Dementia Studies, developing my research skills, receiving mentorship from academics of the University of Leeds, and developing my professional and academic network. I’m already thinking that after my masters is finished I’d then like to do a PhD – watch this space!

I feel very honoured, excited and proud to have been given this unique opportunity. It is a privilege to work in Springfield Healthcare, a company that has always supported and believed in me. It is also a pleasure to have the opportunity to be mentored by Professor Karen Spilsbury and Dr Reena Devi – they inspire, and motivate me to want to do more, and show me that possibilities are infinite. I’m excited to work on developing my research skills, and I hope to be able to develop knowledge that will enhance the quality of life and care of older people living in care homes.