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Are you interested in doing research with us?

Nightingale Hammerson is committed to being a research-active organisation where evidence and innovation directly inform exceptional care. Our Research & Innovation Strategy prioritises collaborative research that improves quality of life for residents, strengthens workforce capability and contributes to wider sector learning.

We actively welcome high-quality research proposals that align with our priorities and values, while ensuring that all research conducted within our homes is meaningful for Residents, families and team members.

What you should know

Our approach to research

Our approach is guided by the following principles:

  • Relationship centred care: Research must respect the dignity and autonomy of people living and working in our homes
  • Ethical and safe: All work must meet recognised ethical and safeguarding standards
  • Collaborative: Studies that are co-produced with us will be prioritised
  • Impact-focused: Research should deliver tangible benefits and learning to us and the wider care home community
  • Minimising burden: Research must be proportionate and sensitive to care environments

We aim to be an active partner in research, not just a host, working with researchers to maximise impact and improve practice both within Nightingale Hammerson and across the care sector.

Application process

We ask all researchers to complete the Research Registration Form and submit the required documentation before any research activity begins.

Process overview:

  1. Submit a completed form
  2. Email all required documents to research@nightingalehammerson.org
  3. Internal review
  4. Online meeting
  5. Agreement of timelines and delivery

Please note that we are unable to review applications until all required documentation has been received.

Required documentation

To support review, the following documents must be submitted to:
📧 research@nightingalehammerson.org

Mandatory

  • Research protocol
  • Consent form(s)
  • Recruitment materials

If applicable

  • Ethics approval letter (including reference number)
  • Data collection tools
  • Data management plan
  • Insurance / indemnity documentation

Please label all documents with study title, document name and date.

Governance and ethical expectations

We ask that all research carried out within our homes:

  • Has appropriate ethical approval where required
  • Complies with GDPR and data protection requirements
  • Uses clear and accessible consent processes
  • Demonstrates sensitivity when working with older adults and vulnerable populations
  • Ensures all researchers engaging in person and/or with residents hold a valid DBS check
  • Minimises disruption to daily care and routines, including adhering to agreed schedules
  • Is transparent about risks and expectations

We reserve the right to decline or withdraw from any study that does not meet these requirements.

Expectations of researchers

We ask researchers working with us to deliver high-quality research in a collaborative and respectful way. This includes:

  • Working collaboratively with us, maintaining clear communication regarding timelines, progress and any changes
  • Minimising burden on residents, families and staff, and ensuring sensitivity to the care environment
  • Ensuring all team members are appropriately trained, authorised and, where required, DBS checked
  • Treating all participants with dignity and respect, and adhering to safeguarding and consent protocols
  • Promptly raising any risks, issues or concerns with the organisation

We are committed to ensuring that research leads to meaningful change. Researchers who want to work with us must agree to:

  • Return to the organisation to share findings in an engaging and interactive format (e.g. presentation, workshop or discussion session)
  • Provide accessible summaries suitable for residents, families and staff
  • Share all final outputs, including reports, publications and thesis work
  • Work collaboratively with us to explore how findings can inform care practice, training and service improvement
We expect dissemination to go beyond written summaries or flyers and to actively contribute to learning and care practice within the organisation.
Review criteria

We review all applications internally to ensure:

  • Strategic alignment
  • Ethical and governance standards
  • Operational feasibility
  • Impact and value

Oversight is provided through our research governance structures, including regular monitoring of active projects.

Contact us at research@nightingalehammerson.org

Please note that we are not able to support all projects due to time and capacity limitations, but look forward to hearing what you are working on.

We are looking for researchers to help us.

 

We have worked with residents and team members across our homes to identify priority areas and research topics that matter most to us. We welcome researchers to partner with us in developing these further.

 

To express interest please email research@nightingalehammerson.org

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Our team

Arielle Rostant

Research and Innovation Manager

Arielle's LinkedIn

Filipa Maia

Research and Innovation Officer

Filipa's LinkedIn