Researchers and care providers collaborate to launch Virtual Care Home
NICHE-Leeds (Nurturing Innovation in Care Home Excellence in Leeds) has launched the NICHE-Leeds Virtual Care Home.
NICHE-Leeds was established in 2018 for care homes and researchers to work as equal partners, based on a Living Lab model.
The Virtual Care Home is an illustrated, fictional home where staff, residents, and researchers collaborate to drive improvement. The first theme embedded in the Virtual Care Home – mouth care – includes posters, leaflets, and an animation based on a NIHR‑funded study.
Peter Hodkinson, Managing Director of Westward Care who are partners in NICHE-Leeds, says:
“Being part of NICHE‑Leeds has raised the profile of our organisation, enhanced our recruitment appeal, and deepened our culture of curiosity and learning. But more than that – it has shown our staff that their insights and experience genuinely shape research and change.
I encourage care providers across the country to explore the NICHE-Leeds Virtual Care Home. The resources are freely available, and I believe they will inspire many others, just as they have inspired us.”
You can find the NICHE-Leeds Virtual Care Home here: https://niche.leeds.ac.uk