1. The Community Brain Injury Team

2. News from the Community Brain Injury Team

3. Service Improvement Project (April 2005-March 2006)

4. How to contact us

5. Braintime – The support group of brain injured people, their families and carers

6. Brain Times 1 (May 05)

7. Brain Times 2 (December 05)

8. Brain Times 3 (May 06)

9. What can cause a Brain Injury?

10. Common problems following Brain Injury.

11. Service Charter

12. Local Contacts

13. Links to sites on the web

• Is a team of experienced professionals and rehabilitation coaches who work closely together with the brain-injured person and their family and carers.

• The team members include

o Manager

o Clinical Psychologist

o Occupational Therapist

o Nurse

o Physiotherapist

o Social Worker (Care Manager)

o Speech and Language Therapist

o Rehabilitation Coaches

o Clerical Officer

Ÿ The team works across the whole of Down Lisburn Trust.

Ÿ We work with other organisations for example: Cedar Foundation, Headway and other NHS services.

Ÿ Promote personal independence

Ÿ Promote psychological well being – well being of the whole person

Ÿ Promote being part of the community; for example return to social, leisure, training, and work activities.

Ÿ Brain Injury Support Group - Braintime

Ÿ Assessment of a wide range of problems

Ÿ Help for individuals to reach their goals

Ÿ Advice and consultation to other professionals

Ÿ Advice, guidance and support to individuals and families

Ÿ Working partnerships with other organisations to help with training, work and leisure opportunities.

§ Overcoming inertia and discouragement.

§ Streamlining the referral process

§ Segmented time for screening and assessment prior to planning

§ Information folders for service users

§ Appointment letters have been made more user friendly in order to meet the needs of people with cognitive and communication impairment.

§ Streamlining CBIS – Three options of service are now available

§ Fast track service – This is available to users who may require re-referral to the CBIS for a specific, intensive, time limited piece of work.

§ DNA /CNA procedure.

§ Waiting list validation/management.

§ Consultation with professional service users to start to further develop communication with partners in service delivery.

§ Meeting as a team for short project meetings where there was an agreed focus, an agreed action plan and agreed timescale within which to bring information back.

§ Representation at a higher level in Trust has enabled problem areas to be highlighted while at the same time informing senior staff of the achievements made.

§ Reducing waiting time from referral to first face to face contact from 34 days to 15 days by April 2006.

§ Reducing waiting time from first face to face contact to start of intervention from 51 weeks to 12 weeks by April 2006.

§ Reducing waiting time for low priority cases from 170 weeks to 52 weeks by April 2006.

Notes: 1. The client who waited 91 days for screening in February had cancelled a number of appointments.

2. In March the waiting times for screening increased slightly due to an increased referral rate, and unused screening slots.

3. The clients who waited for planning in March were not available for planning sooner.

4. On March 15^th 2006 the total number on the waiting list had dropped to 2.

Ÿ The service operates an open referral system for 16-64 year olds with acquired brain injury, for example head injury following trauma, stroke and anoxia.

Ÿ The service accepts referrals directly from people with brain injury and their carers, as well as doctors and other professionals.

Ÿ If the referral is not from a Health Service professional we will contact your doctor for confirmation of the diagnosis.

Ÿ The person with the brain injury must be between 16 and 65 years old and live in the Down Lisburn Trust area.

Ÿ The person with the brain injury must have an acquired Brain Injury and not a progressive neurological illness e.g. Multiple Sclerosis.

• Referrals can be made in writing, by contacting:

Brain Injury can follow

• a stroke

• trauma e.g. car accident, assault

• lack of oxygen or blood supply to the brain

• infection

• tumour

• disease

A Brain Injury can be classified as mild, moderate or severe. An injury described as mild can still have significant effects for the person and their family.

Brain injury can change the way a person thinks acts, feels and moves. This can affect

• relationships at home

• your work

• hobbies

• the ability to look after yourself e.g. dressing, washing.

Changes in ability to think and learn (Cognition)

Can include problems with

• confusion

• memory and learning

• attention and concentration

• planning and problem solving

• coping with studies or work

Changes in behaviour and personality

Can include problems with

• emotions such as irritability, anger management, depression, and anxiety (worry)

• Fatigue

• Social behaviour

Changes in Physical and Sensory abilities

Can include problems with

• Walking and balance

• Weakness, paralysis, tiredness, poor co-ordination

• Dizziness

• Loss of feeling

• Epilepsy

• Bladder and bowel control

• swallowing

Communication difficulties

Can include problems with

• Understanding what people are saying

• Finding the right words to say

• Spelling, writing or reading

• Unclear speech

1. When you are referred to the Community Brain Injury Team, you will be contacted in 5 working days.

2. When you are referred we will send you information about the services we provide. This information will be clear and easy to understand.

3. The team members will always introduce themselves by name, and will always wear a name badge and carry identification.

4. You will be given the name of the person who organises services for you. This person is called your ‘keyworker’

5. We will assess your needs with you and for the people close to you.

6. We will discuss the options of services available to you.

7. Your views and wishes will be taken into account as far as possible.

8. We will regularly consult you about services you receive from us.

9. All information about you will be treated in confidence. We will ask your permission to discuss your problems with other people.

10. We want to provide a high quality service to you. Your comments are welcome. If you have any complaints we will try to resolve them right away. If the complaint is more serious you can contact the Trust’s complaints officer.

Complaints officer: