Launched in June 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vivaldi Social Care has become a groundbreaking research programme that continues to transform our understanding of infections and outbreaks in care homes.
Its first report was launched at a packed Parliamentary Reception that showcased its innovative data collection and demonstrated how evidence can reduce the impact of infections and outbreaks in care homes.
Vivaldi has established the first large-scale, safe and efficient data pipeline for care home research. This is done by linking routinely collected digital care records with health data. Nearly 700 care homes are signed up, representing around 28,000 residents, creating a growing evidence base that is transforming how infections are understood, prevented and managed in social care. This work has significant implications for adult social care delivery, outcomes and evidence-led national policy making, aligning effectively with the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan.
The Parliamentary Reception brought together care sector leaders, parliamentarians, regulators, policy makers and those with lived experience of care to hear about Vivaldi’s progress, impact and future ambitions. Guest speaker Neil O’Connor, Deputy Director of Baroness Casey’s Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, shared insights into the potential direction of social care policy. By engaging directly with Parliamentarians, the event aimed to inform debate and shape future policy discussions to further the health of care home residents through applying a health and social care approach.
Professor Laura Shallcross MBE commented:
“Vivaldi Social Care demonstrates how linked, high-quality social care data can be used to make real world impacts for those living and working in care settings. This is the beginning of a structural change in social care where data is shared and analysed on a large scale to improve outcomes. With the NHS 10 Year Plan having been launched, Vivaldi offers to tick all three boxes regarding prevention, community and digitalisation, a matter close to our hearts and the government’s.”
Professor Martin Green OBE commented:
“Vivaldi’s data pipeline is critical step forward for the sector. I encourage care providers to sign up and start contributing to the data that will improve outcomes for residents, families and staff across the sector, while informing policy decisions at regional and national levels.”
Zoë Fry OBE, Director of Nursing, The Outstanding Society, commented:
“Vivaldi’s Social Care is unique – it really is research led by social care, for social care. By strengthening the role of data and evidence, it helps place social care on a more equal footing with the NHS, which is exciting and important for the whole health and social care system.”
Chris Day, Director of Engagement, CQC commented:
“The Vivaldi project is a groundbreaking study to help better track and understand how and why people move through the health and care system. As the regulator of health and care services CQC sees first-hand the importance of joining up how people access health and care services. We believe by better understanding how and why people move between services we can drive change that improves the care people receive.”
The Vivaldi team look forward to the expansion of the data pipeline and encourages further care provider participation. The team are also grateful to digital partners – Person Centred Software, Camascope eMAR and Nourish Care – and to Care Vision, who will collaborate with the team in 2026 as this work continues to grow. Care providers looking to join this exciting project should contact the Vivaldi team at info@vivaldisocialcare.co.uk
You can read more on the Outstanding Society’s website here.
