PSP092: NIHR ENRICH Delivery in Regional Research Delivery Networks 

1.1. Section C.15 of the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) Performance and Operating Framework (POF) requires Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs) to deliver the NIHR RDN Study Support Service in accordance with the national Standard Operating Procedures to enable customers to experience a 'One RDN' service. This document is issued in support of this requirement to give RRDNs initial guidance in regards to the expanded criteria for NIHR RDN support and delivery of the NIHR 'Enabling Research in Care Homes' (ENRICH) Network. 

1.2. The NIHR ENRICH Network supports UK care home staff to understand what 'research' is, the benefits it brings and how they can get involved in research. The ENRICH Network brings together care home staff, residents and their families, and researchers. It enables them to take up opportunities for research and supports researchers in setting up and running studies. The ENRICH Network is a collaboration between the Research Delivery Network (RDN) and the School for Social Care Research (SSCR). The SSCR oversees the ENRICH website and the RDN supports the Network of care homes to undertake research and support delivery.

2.1. To join the ENRICH Network, care homes are required to complete a sign-up/registration form. This can be done digitally by the care homes themselves via the ENRICH website, or via a paper copy and added digitally by a RRDN Team. 

2.2. The data from these forms, once submitted, form a National ENRICH Awesome Table Database, providing a picture of care home engagement across all RRDNs. RRDNs are expected to keep this database up to date, including amending care home details during the recertification process. [NB: historic study detail may reference the former Clinical Research Network (CRN) now the Research Delivery Network (RDN), and Local Clinical Research Networks (LCRNs), are now Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs). New study data references RDN/RRDNs].

2.3. RRDNs should refer to the NIHR ENRICH Data Management Standard Operating Procedure to ensure adherence to national and regional sign up, recertification and data management processes. 

3.1. RRDNs should ensure regional representation at national ENRICH Meetings.

3.2. RRDNs should work with key stakeholders in order to understand care home research activity in development and provide appropriate advice to ensure that the RDN is able to respond to, and accommodate care home studies feeding into the NIHR Portfolio pipeline. 

3.3. RRDNs should: 

 3.3.1 Promote the NIHR ENRICH Network using nationally developed resources and templates located on the NIHR ENRICH Communications Toolkit.

 3.3.2 Promote ENRICH and Join Dementia Research (JDR) to relevant stakeholders, including care homes and residents.

 3.3.3. Identify opportunities to engage and promote research across wider health and care settings.

3.4. RRDNs should develop regional resources and ensure that these are in line with national ENRICH branding (see NIHR ENRICH Communications Toolkit).  

RRDNs are encouraged to undertake the following activities to support the delivery of research in care homes as well as the ENRICH Network. Please refer to national ENRICH Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).  (linking to the POF effective from 1 October 2024 and SOPs).   

4.1. Undertake mapping as appropriate of regional NHS, local authority and private sector care homes and care home networks, developing a plan for engagement. 

4.2. Develop a support plan for study delivery in care homes including the Study Support Service offer for care homes. 

4.2.1. ENRICH Leads should work in partnership with the Study Support Service and Research Delivery Teams to provide advice and to troubleshoot difficulties that arise when working with care homes to deliver research.

4.2.2. ENRICH Leads should support the identification of suitable sites for studies, and facilitate the setting of realistic targets for recruitment for individual sites.

4.2.3. Develop regional payment mechanisms to ensure costs for delivery support can be reimbursed.

4.2.4. Ensure all regional activity is captured on the ENRICH study tracker (early contact and engagement conversations, study set-up and Chief Investigator (CI) support).

4.2.5. Complete a new study form for all new studies and update as new information is supplied.

4.2.6.  Promote studies within the ENRICH RRDN Community. 

4.3. Undertake scoping activities to assess the care home portfolio pipeline in wider areas regionally and ensure sufficient funds are allocated to deliver the support. 

4.4. Prepare to deliver a significant increase in the number of studies recruiting from care homes and invest in maintaining and supporting the future expansion of the ENRICH network. 

4.5. Contribute regional examples for sharing across RRDNs to improve the collective knowledge base for support for study delivery in wider health and care settings.

4.6. Put plans in place for maintaining and further developing the ENRICH care home network. This will include working with the National Coordinator.

4.7. Assess the workforce training and development needs for research delivery professionals working in care homes. 

5.1. Each RRDN is advised to allocate at least one day per week to a member of RRDN staff (ENRICH Lead) to support the management and delivery of the care home research portfolio. 

5.2. A template ENRICH Lead Role Description is available for RRDNs to adapt. 

5.3.  Notify RDNCC Health & Care Specialties Office of changes to regional ENRICH Leadership and Care Home Research Delivery Support Staff. 

CI: Chief Investigator

ENRICH: Enabling Research in Care Homes

JDR: Join Dementia Research

NIHR: National Institute for Health and Care Research

POF: Performance and Operating Framework 

RDN: Research Delivery Network

RDNCC: Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre 

RRDN: Regional Research Delivery Network

SOPs: Standard Operating Procedures

SSCR: School for Social Care Research

Version number: 2.3

Effective from date: March 2025