Five Years of NICHE-Leeds Partnership Excellence
NICHE-Leeds recently commemorated its five-year groundbreaking research and care partnership.
Gathering at the University of Leeds, a diverse group of stakeholders – from academics to care providers to representatives from Leeds City Council and national care organizations and family members – celebrated the collaboration's achievements.
Professor Karen Spilsbury, NICHE-Leeds' academic director, outlined the partnership's journey, its achievements, and the vision for the future. Peter Hodkinson (Westward Care Managing Director) and Graeme Lee (Springfield Healthcare CEO) underscored the tangible benefits the collaboration brings to care home residents and staff.
Special guest, Professor Jan Hamers from the University of Maastricht, Netherlands, highlighted NICHE-Leeds' links with the Dutch Living Lab approach to care and research, emphasising the sustainability and potential of such partnerships.
Edna Feenan and Karen Winterburn provided a family perspective, while senior managers Angela Randle (Springfield Healthcare) and Paul Torrance (Westward Care) discussed the importance and everyday impacts of the work of the partnership for people living and working in care homes. Through talks and a video launch, Dr Reena Devi and Iria Cunha spotlighted the pivotal roles of staff that bridge academia and care settings [View the video here].
The celebration concluded with a showcase of the innovative research spearheaded by NICHE-Leeds on key issues faced by the care sector: attracting and retaining the workforce (Dr Kirsty Haunch); effective mouth care (Drs Julia Csikar and Karen Vinnall-Collier); relational quality (Professor Carl Thompson).
As NICHE-Leeds embarks on its next chapter, it remains committed to advancing care home life and practices. For updates and future engagements, contact niche_leeds@leeds.ac.uk.
Professor Karen Spilsbury, University of Leeds and Academic Director of NICHE-Leeds.
Peter Hodkinson, CEO of Westward Care.
Graeme Lee, CEO of Springfield Healthcare.
Professor Jan Hamers, founder of the Dutch Living Lab model, University of Maastricht.
Edna Feenan, care home resident representative.
Karen Winterburn, care home resident representative.
Angela Randle, Head of Kindness, Care and Quality, Springfield Healthcare
Paul Torrance, Operations Director, Westward Care.
Reena Devi, Associate Professor & Scientific Linking Pin, University of Leeds
Iria Cunha, Wellbeing and Dementia Lead, and Practice Linking Pin, Springfield Healthcare
Dr Karen Vinall-Collier, Lecturer in Dental Public Health, University of Leeds
Dr Julia Csikar, Lecturer in Dental Public Health, University of Leeds
Professor Carl Thompson, University of Leeds
Dr Kirsty Haunch, Research Fellow and Scientific Linking Pin, University of Leeds
Charlie Davis, School of Music, University of Leeds.
Jasmine Grundy, School of Music, University of Leeds.