Researchers: Dr Stephen Smith, Carolyn Scott, Dr Gerry Finnan
Collaboration with various care homes in Edinburgh in 2024
Researchers at Edinburgh Napier University undertook research with Care Home staff about retention at work and staff wellbeing. Following the Covid pandemic, these are regarded as very difficult issues within the Care Home sector. Staff shared their experiences about these topics with researchers through individual and group interviews. We used images to help staff express their views, e.g. they selected an image of a sunset which helped them to say something about staff retention and wellbeing. The research results highlighted for example, the need to support staff when a resident dies and ensuring every team member feels valued. We shared the research findings with care home residents and their family / friends.
We filmed their views, and to help keep their anonymity they were able to choose animated characters rather be filmed as themselves, which proved to be good fun. Our participants took part in different activities to share their thoughts about the research. For example, they played with building blocks, threw balls into containers, and selected cupcakes with emoji faces. Different methods and activities supported varied conversations and we had a laugh together.
We also undertook the same events with Care Home staff and professionals involved in the Care Home sector at a round table event at COSLA in November 2024. We also filmed their views and perspectives about the research, e.g. how can they use the findings in their work? These public engagement events enabled us to share the research with different publics, they were able to think about the research from their own perspectives, how the findings could be used and shared with others. The filming of participants will enable an animated film of the research to be used in education and training, therefore making an impact on the Care Home sector as well as research.
