Social care research pilot begins to improve lives and reduce infections
07 Mar 2025
4 min read
The VIVALDI Social Care team has announced the beginning of data collection for a new research pilot that has the potential to fight infections in social care.
A new initiative to improve infection control in care homes has taken its first step forward with the start of data collection for the VIVALDI Social Care pilot. The project, led by University College London (UCL) in collaboration with Care England and The Outstanding Society, has been designed by social care for social care, with input from residents, families, and providers.
The 12-month project, which has seen over 600 care homes across the UK join, aims to reduce infections and minimise the risk of outbreaks that can lead to the closure of care homes and prevent relatives from visiting their loved ones. The pilot is the first of its kind to automate data-sharing between adult social care and the NHS, representing a significant shift in healthcare data integration.
Supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and funded by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the VIVALDI Social Care pilot is a collective effort, uniting those in care, their families, care providers, and health professionals.
Two organisations, Summerlands Care ÁÕÀÅÊÓƵ and Camascope, a health and social care technology company, have successfully implemented the first NHS linked data automation of the project.
Professor Laura Shallcross, PhD MBE, Professor of Public Health and Translational Data Science at University College London, said:
We are delighted that we have now started sharing data between care homes and the NHS in the VIVALDI Social care research project. We will shortly start using this data to find new ways to protect residents from infections and reduce outbreaks, which can cause care homes to close and stop relatives from visiting
Professor Martin Green, OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said:
VIVALDI Social Care gives a voice to our sector. It enables residents, families, frontline staff, providers, and wider stakeholders come together to create outcomes for social care, by social care. It brings the sector together to improve learning and lays a strong foundation for other studies to shape social care through research going forward. With the data from VIVALDI, we can work with policy makers to create and deliver co-produced and informed positive change for people who live in, work in, and visit social care.
Zoë Fry OBE, Executive Director of The Outstanding Society CIC, said:
VIVALDI Social Care – Research led by social care for social care - The Outstanding Society is proud to lead on onboarding care homes, training, and the adult social care engagement collective (ASCEC) - co-production at its best! We're dedicated to reducing infections and improving lives in adult social care. Heartfelt thanks to everyone contributing to the success of this project: residents, relatives, providers, and colleagues across health and social care
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