Care provider Hallmark Care Homes has appointed published academic dementia researcher Dr Isabelle Latham as researcher in residence.

Latham will focus on research involving the care of people living with dementia and will work with Hallmark’s 19 homes to capture ideas for research. She will also support the Hallmark teams to conduct and evaluate their own research projects and implement their findings.

Latham has joined the family-run business following a lengthy career as senior lecturer at the Association for Dementia Studies and University of Worcester. She will retain her affiliation with the Association for Dementia Studies through an honorary post.

April Dobson, head of dementia care and wellbeing at Hallmark Care Homes said: “It is an absolute privilege to welcome Isabelle to the team. Her skills and knowledge will enable us to develop an ongoing stream of relevant and usable evidence from research projects identified by care homes. These can be used to further continuous improvement in good-quality dementia care throughout the sector. The model also provides us with scope to enhance relationship-centred care through the involvement of team members, residents and families in different ways.”

Latham added: “I am particularly passionate about front line care for people living with dementia and very excited by the opportunity Hallmark have created. The role of researcher in residence will enable me to inspire and further develop the skills of care workers, and work with them to make care homes enjoyable and fulfilling places to live and work through research and education.”

Professor Dawn Brooker from the University of Worcester commented: “This new post has been specifically created for Isabelle and it is a fabulous opportunity for her to apply her research findings and her enormous knowledge of what makes a difference to the lives of people living and working in care homes. Although we are sorry to lose Isabelle, she will continue to have strong connections with the University of Worcester, and we look forward to a great collaboration with Hallmark into the future.”