Headway Oxfordshire · Headway Oxfordshire ACTIVITY AND REHABILITATION ... 5 Impact eview Our vision & mission “I am now in the process of building a new life for myself. Although

HeadwayOxfordshire

ACTIVITY AND REHABILITATION

In January 2011, following extensive fundraising, Headway Oxfordshire purchased its owndisability/wheelchair accessible ambulance. The impact of this service has been to decreasesocial isolation, providing greater access for service users, thus supporting individuals toaccess community activities.

“I was able to attend meetings atHeadway and it was encouraging tobe around people who were goingthrough similar things to me. I knewthen that I wasn't alone.”

Group outings are organised which help to increase confidence in society. Service usersbenefit from both one-to-one input and group interaction, increasing social skills, buildingconfidence, reducing stress and isolation, and helping adapt to changes in their lifestyle.

“Joining Headway was a turningpoint in my life and it has helped mein so many ways.

It enables me to get out and about andmeet new people - something I hadalways enjoyed before the accident.”

The Activity and Rehabilitation Centre reliesheavily on community volunteers, Volunteersassist our service users with mobility issues; helpduring activities, prompting at appropriate times;help with lunch and refreshments – and are verymuch appreciated.

Headway Oxfordshire provides on-going support for the individualand for the entire family.

VOLUNTEERING / COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Fifteen volunteers are currently actively engaged within the Activity and RehabilitationCentre at Kennington, Oxford. Volunteer involvement enables Headway Oxfordshire to offerfar greater diversity of opportunity to service users. Some volunteers have, themselves,suffered brain injury or damage, and are thus able to help clients on a personal level.

Mrs F, a school teacher, sustained a brain injury in a road trafficaccident. She is no longer able to work, although she does hope toreturn to a career in education sometime in the future. Thecommunity worker encouraged her to attend the Activity andRehabilitation Centre to teach a small group. The workshops werevery successful, with Mrs F learning how best to manage herimpairments as a teacher. She also reported feeling a huge increasein confidence and has now taken this workshop lesson plan to otherlocal charity groups and volunteered her time to others in need.Mrs F is now completing a book: a personal account of her

experience with brain injury. Headway Oxfordshire is assisting her in sourcing appropriatepublication and marketing.

“I find volunteering with Headway Oxfordshire very rewarding.What may not be immediately obvious is that I, also, have had anacquired brain injury – I had a spontaneous left temporal lobeintracerebral haemorrhage and a craniotomy seven years ago.Although the brain, initially, was a subject of great distress to me,after a long period of rehabilitation and an increased acceptance ofmy deficits, it started to be a topic of immense interest to me. Somuch so, that I have now completed a six-year part-timepsychology degree with The Open University. My personal (andacademic) understanding of acquired brain injuries means that Ifeel I am able to appreciate what members are looking for: to belistened to without being judged; to be encouraged and supportedwith their activities such as brain gym or word puzzles; and to feela valued member of Headway, as well as the wider community. I

don’t really discuss my stroke with the members; my volunteering is not about me - it’s abouthelping and supporting others… and being beaten at dominoes!”

In November 2010, Jill Moore, a long standing volunteer with Headway Oxfordshire wasawarded Volunteer of the Year by Oxfordshire Council for Voluntary Action. The followingyear, our volunteer driver, David Goslett, was similarly recognised at the OCVA CharityVolunteer Awards. David is also a valued member of Headway Oxfordshire’s ManagementCommittee, and has recently been appointed Treasurer. Four ex-service users are currentlyvolunteering within Headway Oxfordshire, providing presentations, voluntary classes andgardening activities.

In the year to 31 March 2012 Headway Oxfordshire engaged with 25volunteers, and benefited from 3309 volunteer hours.

What we do, why we do itand what difference we make

VOCATIONAL SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY

The Vocational Community Support Worker provides help and support, at the appropriatetime, for individuals wishing to return to work – whether this is paid or voluntary employment– or a staged return to their previous employer. The Vocational Worker supports thosewishing to return to their former employment or sources potential placements elsewhere,assisting the individual through the application/interview process, monitoring and supportingthe individual for as long as is considered necessary.

During the past five years Headway Oxfordshire has securedemployment opportunities for 46 individuals – both paid work andvoluntary positions.

Mr Z suffered a brain injury 10 years ago.This profoundly affected his life,including his ability to work. This led toincreased social isolation, extreme lack ofself confidence and motivation to moveon.

Headway Oxfordshire’s VocationalCommunity Worker helped Mr Z find avoluntary position, initially in a localcharity shop. Although Mr Z found somesituations very stressful, with assistanceand support of the Community SupportWorker, he continued to explore othervoluntary opportunities, eventuallyworking in a community café, where hehas received training towards an NVQqualification.

"I am now back working as a volunteer and even driving again. Ilive a 'normal' life and there are no physical signs that I have abrain injury, which is why it's often called the invisible disability.But I face prejudice everyday of my life because of my braininjury. My speech can be a little slow and I often need people tospeak slowly to me so I can take it all in, leading to some peoplethinking that I'm stupid.”

Impact Review

2Impact Review

Although it seems obvious, the brain controls everything about us, from breathing to the smallest personality trait … it makes us who and what we are. The consequences of a brain injury are as individual and varied as we are as people. Any combination of the affects (as in the diagram above) can have a profound impact on the lives of the individual, their family and carers. With early intervention and rehabilitation it is possible for individuals to maximise their recovery. However, many will live with the consequences of their injuries for the rest of their lives.

One injury but many consequences

Frontal lobeParietal lobe

Temporal lobe

Occipital lobe

Change in behaviour, aggression,

inappropriate behaviour, personality

changes.

Problems with sensation, loss of taste and smell.

Movement disorders.

Problems with spelling and arithmetic, perceptual difficulties.

Balance and movement control

disturbance

Problems with thinking, organising and

planning, inability to control emotions, communication

difficulties

Visual impairments

Inappropriate emotional

responses, loss of sleep, appetite and

temperature control, memory loss.

Memory loss, difficulties with

understanding and language perception, hearing impairments.

3Impact Review

Brain injury…

“Due to enhanced

knowledge and

treatment more

people are surviving

than ever before,

making brain injury

the fastest growing

cause of disability

among young

people in the UK.”

• Across the UK it is estimated around 500,000 adults of working age are living with permanent disabilities as a result of head injury; and around 450,000 adults living with long term disabilities as a result of stroke.

• Each year, around one million people attend hospital A&E in the UK following head injury. Many more head injuries go unreported.

• Head injury accounts for about 30% of traumatic deaths and a higher proportion of long-term disability.

• Themajorcausesoftraumaticheadinjuryareroadtrafficaccidents, falls and accidents at home or at work.

• Approximately half of deaths in people under 40 are due to head injury.

• Men are three times more likely to have a brain injury than women.Thisincreasestofivetimesmorelikelyinthe15-29age range.

Key Facts:

“…92% of all hospitals in the UK fail to provide adequate information following minor head injury. Just 21 of 254 A&E departments across the UK provide the key information as recommended by both the NICE1 and SIGN2 guidelines.”

The Health Sciences Research Institute, University of Warwick

Brain injury strikes people of all ages, from all walks of life and in a variety of situations. Damage may be caused through trauma – road, domestic, industrial, sporting accidents, or assaults - or through stroke, tumour, haemorrhage, infections, such as meningitis or encephalitis, or other conditions.

30%Head injury accounts for about

30% of traumatic deaths and

a higher proportion of long-term disability

Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals

All Sites JR Only

Number of discharges

Acquired Brain Injury

Age 18 and over 279 244Head trauma,

bleed, infection, stroke

No age restriction 1508 1336

in Oxfordshire:

Local Figures between 01/05/2010 to 30/04/2011.

Of the total discharged from acute care, some people do not survive: some recover well – but all need some kind of support.

4Impact Review

4

Welcome

Headway Oxfordshire’s President

Professor Derick Wade, MA, MB, BChir, FRCP, MDConsultant in Neurological Rehabilitation,The Oxford Centre for Enablement at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford.

‘A head injury, and indeed any major accident or life event, may have a substantial impact upon the roles and activities that someone can or does undertake. Sudden onset brain injuryaddsthreespecificfactorstothe situation. First, it may leave losses that restrict what someone can do. Second, most people consider that their brain is the centre of their being and personality and hence may feel especially threatened as a person. Thirdly, the organ that allows people to learn and to adapt after a change is itself damaged. Consequently it maybedifficultforsomeonetoestablish a new life after head injury or any other acquired brain injury. Headway Oxfordshire’s important role is to help people discover who they have ‘become’ and to help them get there quickly.’

WelcometoHeadwayOxfordshire’s(HWO)firstImpactReview. We are delighted to have the opportunity to review the development of our service, and report on the individual andcollectivesuccessesofourprogrammes.Ihopeyoufindtheinformation illuminating, and that it gives you a real sense of what we have achieved during the past few years in helping people withacquiredbraininjury(ABI)throughoutOxfordshire.

Following the outstanding success of our Outreach Community Support programme, we were delighted to receive a new grant from the Big Lottery, allowing this successful programme tocontinueuntil2015.Simultaneously,weweresuccessfulin engaging with a competitive tendering process with the Oxfordshire County Council’s Adult Social Care Team, ensuring the immediate future of the Activity and Rehabilitation Centre for a further year.

However, acquired brain injury is an area already under-funded nationallyand,atatimewherecutsandefficienciesarebeingmade throughout Health and Social Care, it is imperative that Headway Oxfordshire make a strong case for support for this vulnerable group. We have sought to offer complementary and alternative services that represent quality and best value in support of our partners in Health and Social Care. Headway Oxfordshire is committed to being a part of the solution.

Through consultation and information sharing, the Headway team hascontinuedtoraiseawarenessanddirectlyinfluencedseverallocalpolicydecisionsaffectingnotonlythosewithABIbutalsothe wider neurological and physical disability community.

DuringtheyeartoMarch2012,HeadwayOxfordshiresupported309individualsdirectlyaffectedbybraininjury;provided5,400day attendances within the Activity and Rehabilitation Centre; provided2,840BreaksforCarersdaysthroughtheprovisionofthe Headway Centre and carers holidays and outings. These are exceptionalachievementsandweshouldbejustifiablyproud.InApril2013HeadwayOxfordshirecelebratesits25thAnniversary,and looks forward to continuing to provide services for a further 25years.

Neal DentonChair: Management Committee

5Impact Review

Our vision& mission

“I am now in the

process of building

a new life for myself.

Although I do

not have enough

information to make

a clear picture of

what my life will look

like yet, I have learnt

about who I am and

started to have

faith that I will be

able to build a

meaningful life for

myself and those

around me.”

That those in Oxfordshire affected by an acquired brain injury or neurological damage, should receive prompt, adequate and personalised advice, information and practical support to assist rehabilitation, maximise recovery and independence.

Our Vision

Headway Oxfordshire provides support services to those affected by brain injury (including stroke and some other neurological conditions) across the county of Oxfordshire. Headway Oxfordshire advocates on behalf of those affected by brain injury in relation to local and national strategic initiatives; provides information on brain injury to those interested parties and promotes awareness to the general community at large; and raises funds in support of those affected by brain injury in Oxfordshire.

Our Mission

Although affiliated to the national charity, Headway Oxfordshire is a separate and independent registered charity, and not funded by Headway UK. Headway Oxfordshire relies entirely on its own contracts and grants and income secured through donations and fundraising activities.

Headway Oxfordshire supports those affected by ABI to understand and adapt to the changes in their lives, promoting maximum independence within the family and the local community. All services are tailored to meet individual needs through a care pathway that ensures equity and quality of service.

“I started to see exactly why it was called the ‘invisible disability’: here was something so tiny, but with such potentially massive consequences for your life if you can’t do it - ….losing your train of thought when the wind blows or the phone rings, and the world is falling away from your feet as you fight to remember what and where you were.”

Other people can see and often understand the limitations caused by a physical disability, but difficulties with thinking skills and behavioural changes are often misunderstood. As well as the physical problems, common problems may include: difficulties with attention and concentration; loss of memory and difficulty in learning new skills or relearning old skills; personality changes and changes in family dynamics which may cause relationship difficulties; behavioural problems such as impulsiveness, lack of awareness and, particularly, loss of confidence.

Brain injury is often known as the “hidden disability”

6Impact Review

Activity & rehabilitation


'Rehabilitation is a process of change through which a brain injured person goes, seeking toregain former skills and to compensate for skills lost. Its aim is always to achieve the optimumlevels of physical, cognitive and social competence followed by integration into the mostsuitable environment.' Headway UK

Headway Oxfordshire provides an Activity and Rehabilitation centre at Kennington Oxford,under the guidance of professional staff and therapists. Regular activities are aimed at re-skilling and up-skilling, improving memory, mobility, co-ordination and social skills.Therapies and activities may include:

Physiotherapy and OccupationalTherapy

Brain gym and memory workshops IT Art and craft therapy Music workshops

Games and quizzes Tai chi and Yoga Gardening Basic cooking other practical tasks.

“The interesting thing about my brain is that I have toconsciously think about doing really simple thingslike walking. It is getting better all the time and I willkeep working every day.”

“I try to work my brain all the time: I read a lot, playchess and search the internet – forcing myself to thinkall the time. Like any muscle, the brain needs to beactive.”

“The doctors and surgeons saved me but Headway has made mewho I am today and I am happy with the person I am now because Iam lovely.”

During the year to March 2012 Headway Oxfordshire provided 5400day attendances within the Activity and Rehabilitation Centre.


'Rehabilitation is a process of change through which a brain injured person goes, seeking toregain former skills and to compensate for skills lost. Its aim is always to achieve the optimumlevels of physical, cognitive and social competence followed by integration into the mostsuitable environment.' Headway UK

Headway Oxfordshire provides an Activity and Rehabilitation centre at Kennington Oxford,under the guidance of professional staff and therapists. Regular activities are aimed at re-skilling and up-skilling, improving memory, mobility, co-ordination and social skills.Therapies and activities may include:

Physiotherapy and OccupationalTherapy

Brain gym and memory workshops IT Art and craft therapy Music workshops

Games and quizzes Tai chi and Yoga Gardening Basic cooking other practical tasks.

“The interesting thing about my brain is that I have toconsciously think about doing really simple thingslike walking. It is getting better all the time and I willkeep working every day.”

“I try to work my brain all the time: I read a lot, playchess and search the internet – forcing myself to thinkall the time. Like any muscle, the brain needs to beactive.”

“The doctors and surgeons saved me but Headway has made mewho I am today and I am happy with the person I am now because Iam lovely.”

During the year to March 2012 Headway Oxfordshire provided 5400day attendances within the Activity and Rehabilitation Centre.

“Rehabilitation is a process of change through which a brain injured person goes, seeking to regain former skills and to compensate for skills lost. Its aim is always to achieve the optimum levels of physical, cognitive and social competence followed by integration into the most suitable environment.” Headway UK

Headway Oxfordshire provides an Activity and Rehabilitation Centre at Kennington Oxford, under the guidance of professional staff and therapists. Regular activities are aimed at reskilling and up-skilling, improving memory, mobility, co-ordination and social skills. Therapies and activities may include:

• Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy• Brain gym and memory workshops• IT• Art and craft therapy• Music workshops• Games and quizzes• Tai chi and Yoga• Gardening and basic cooking• other practical tasks

“The interesting

thing about my

brain is that I have

to consciously think

about doing really

simple things like

walking. It is getting

better all the time

and I will keep

working every day.”

5400During the year to March 2012

Headway Oxfordshire provided

5400 day attendances

within the Activity and

Rehabilitation

Centre









7Impact Review

“I try to work my

brain all the time:

I read a lot, play

chess and search

the internet –

forcing myself to

think all the time.

Like any muscle, the

brain needs to be

active.”

In January 2011, following extensive fundraising, Headway Oxfordshire purchased its own disability/wheelchair accessible ambulance. The impact of this service has been to decrease social isolation, providing greater access for service users, thus supporting individuals to access community activities.

“I was able to attend meetings at Headway and it was encouraging to be around people who were going through similar things to me. I knew then that I wasn’t alone.”

“Joining Headway was a turning point in my life and it has helped me in so many ways. It enables me to get out and about and meet new people - something I had always enjoyed before the accident.”









“The doctors and surgeons saved me but

Headway has made me who I am today

and I am happy with the person I am

now because I am lovely.”

128During the year to March 2012

Headway Oxfordshire’s Activity

and Rehabilitation Centre

supported 128 individual

family members









8Impact Review

Community support 1274

During the past five years

Headway Oxfordshire has

provided community

support to 1274

individuals

Support at earliest opportunity

“You can’t comprehend how confused and traumatised you are after such a terrible thing happens to your family, and how relieved you are that someone is there to offer you support, hold your hand and guide you through the difficult bits.”

Headway Oxfordshire’s community workers were awarded Honorary Contracts in 2009, from the JR Hospital Trust, recognising the valuable contribution made through close liaison with Neuro Science and Neuro ICU wards and the Oxford Centre for Enablement. The impact of the Honorary Contracts was to improve the exchange of information between ward staff and Headway’s Community Workers, and to assist in embedding the community team within the hospital environment. Consequently, this improved access to information for those affected by Acquired Brain Injury within the hospital and improved effective discharge plans back into the community.

“Nobody in the hospital told us

about Headway until we met J..

when he came onto the ward.

He was brilliant and gave us

loads of information in a way

we could understand”

Headway Oxfordshire’s Community Brain Injury Project is funded by the Big Lottery until 2015. This Project supports an increasing population of those affected by brain injury to successfully re-integrate within the community and to maximise their quality of life and potential whilst adjusting to the profound life changes associated with their condition.

“For a long time afterwards I was angry and frustrated. I felt like I’d lost 18 months of my life. I had to give up the job I loved, I could no longer drive, and my vision was badly impaired. My memory is still so poor I have to write everything down, and I have problems with my balance which means I can’t go anywhere on my own. I also suffer from emotional and psychological issues, such as depression and feelings of helplessness, partly due to a lack of understanding of brain injury among the general public. Life changed for me when I found Headway Oxfordshire.”

“The Support Worker was brilliant. He helped in every way possible with my benefits. He worked very sensitively asking questions and listening to what I said. He made phone calls on my behalf and filled in the forms with the information I gave him and this resulted in me getting a higher level of disability living allowance. He also helped with my child benefit which got complicated… He was always kind and cheerful.”

ForthefiveyearstoMarch2012,theimpactofthecommunity project exceeded all expectations:

• 1,274peoplewithbraininjury,familiesandcarers, were contacted and supported by Headway Oxfordshire

• 97peoplewithbraininjurywereassistedtolive independently

• 111peoplewithbraininjurybecamemoreactive citizens and participated in community activities

• 137peoplewithmultipleandcomplexproblems were supported in solving them

• 46peoplewithbraininjurywereassistedbackinto paid of voluntary employment

9Impact Review

“…his confidence

and self belief is

increasing all the

time, and he could

not have achieved

this without the

support of Headway

Oxfordshire and the

Community Support

Workers.”

CommunityWorkers provide:

• Supporttoengagewithcommunityandleisureactivities

• Adviceanddirectsupporttoengagewithotherorganisations around complex issues (eg housing, money management, lifestyle etc).

• Adviceanddirectsupporttoutilisetransportoptions to reduce isolation and increase community integration.

• Adviceanddirectsupporttopreparefor,andengage with, vocational opportunities.

• Ongoinginformationtoassistinadjustingtochange, accessing services and opportunities that improve levels of independence and reduce isolation

“Headway

Oxfordshire’s

community workers

hold Honorary

Contracts from the

JR Hospital Trust,

recognising the

valuable contribution

made through close

liaison with trauma

hospital wards and

the Oxford Centre for

Enablement.”

“Every time the Headway woman was at the hospital she would come and see me. At that point I was in denial; why is this woman coming to see me – he’s going to go home and everything is going to be alright. Reality doesn’t come into your head, not in that place. Headway really kicked in when he came home and I realised things were not alright at all’

As a consequence of Headway Oxfordshire’s Community Brain Injury project, and the evidence gathered from our research, we were invited to tender, and were awarded, one year’s contract jointly funded by the Oxfordshire PCT and Oxfordshire County Council, to provide an ABI Advisor. This position aims to support timely discharge from hospital, thus avoiding excessive lengths of stay in a hospital environment, reducing unnecessary admissions to secondary care and promoting faster recovery where possible. The success of this project has resulted in the extension of the contract for a further year.

335people with brain injury

have received direct

support.

10Impact Review

“Very little help is

available for people

who have brain

injuries so it falls on

immediate family to

do the caring. Only

other people who

are carers realise

the immense strain

that this situation

puts on a family in so

many ways. Headway

Oxfordshire gives

families such a boost

by providing support

and a listening ear.”

Carers support

“At the time, I knew nothing about brain injury and I wasn’t told what to expect or how to cope. I went to our local GP, but he couldn’t understand what the problem was. At this point, I thought we were well and truly on our own.”

The Carers Support Group was set up in 2010 within the Oxford centre, providing peer support, practical information and advice.

“Headway Oxfordshire’s Community Support worker helped to arrange the right sort of Home Support for my daughter. He supported me at meetings with Social and Community Services and the Care Agency.”

Community Workers provide outreach support to the whole family: helping the carer access other support and benefits, and helping the family understand the affects of brain injury and come to terms with the changes in their lives.

11Impact Review

Breaks for carers

Through Headway Oxfordshire’s Activity and Rehabilitation Centre, carers are provided with regular breaks throughout the week. In addition, one day a week is specifically for those with a higher level of dependency/profound disability. The “Breaks for Carers” service provides respite opportunities, including day excursions and short holidays for Carers with or without their dependant.

“Her personality was different which was really hard for me and for our older children because they remember her before the accident and know that she is not the same.”

In 2009 Headway Oxfordshire commissed a research study which resulted in the publication “The Experiences of Carers following an Acquired Brain Injury in the Family”. Themes that emerged from this study included uncertainty; changed personalities; changed relationships and roles within the family; change of lifestyle in the family; need for a break and respite.

“Thank you to

Headway for a

memorable day.

Time to myself was

really appreciated,

as was the

Headway staff who

stayed behind to

make sure that the

service users looked

after at Headway

had a really good

time. The day could

not have been more

appreciated.”

2840During the year to March

2012 Headway Oxfordshire

provided 2840 Breaks for

Carer days.

BREAKS FOR CARERS

Through Headway Oxfordshire’s Activity and Rehabilitation Centre, carers are provided withregular breaks throughout the week. In addition, one day a week is specifically for those witha higher level of dependency/profound disability. The “Breaks for Carers” service providesrespite opportunities, including day excursions and short holidays for Carers with or withouttheir dependant.

“Thank you to Headway for amemorable day. Time to myself wasreally appreciated, as was theHeadway staff who stayed behind tomake sure that the service userslooked after at Headway had areally good time. The day could nothave been more appreciated.”

During the year to March 2012 Headway Oxfordshire provided 2840Break for Carer days, through the provision of the Activity andRehabilitation Centre and holidays and outings.

“Very little help is available for people who have brain injuries so itfalls on immediate family to do the caring. Only other people whoare carers realise the immense strain that this situation puts on afamily in so many ways. This is why Headway Oxfordshire givesfamilies such a boost by providing support and a listening ear.”

In 2009 HWO commissioned a research study to obtain in-depth accounts of carers’experiences. Themes that emerged included uncertainty; changed personalities; changedrelationships and roles within the family; change of lifestyle in the family; need for a breakand respite; transport problems; problems with hospital/care staff; coping with inadequateaftercare and bureaucracy; and, positive experiences of service provision.

Headway Oxfordshire’s 2009 research study resulted in thepublication "The Experiences of Carers following an Acquired BrainInjury in the Family".

12Impact Review

Vocational support in the community

The Vocational Community Support Worker provides help and support, at the appropriate time, for individuals wishing to return to work – whether this is paid or voluntary employment. The Vocational Worker supports those wishing to return to their former employment or sources potential placements elsewhere, assisting the individual through the application/interview process, monitoring and supporting the individual for as long as is considered necessary.

Headway Oxfordshire’s Vocational CommunityWorker helped Mr Z find a voluntary position, initially in a local charity shop. Although Mr Z found some situations very stressful, with assistance and support of the Community Support Worker, he continued to explore other voluntary opportunities, eventually working in a community café, where he has received training towards an NVQ qualification.

“I am now back working

as a volunteer and even

driving again. I live a

‘normal’ life and there are

no physical signs that I

have a brain injury, which

is why it’s often called the

invisible disability. But I

face prejudice every day

of my life because of my

brain injury. My speech

can be a little slow and

I often need people to

speak slowly to me so I

can take it all in, leading to

some people thinking that

I’m stupid.”

VOCATIONAL SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY

The Vocational Community Support Worker provides help and support, at the appropriatetime, for individuals wishing to return to work – whether this is paid or voluntary employment– or a staged return to their previous employer. The Vocational Worker supports thosewishing to return to their former employment or sources potential placements elsewhere,assisting the individual through the application/interview process, monitoring and supportingthe individual for as long as is considered necessary.

During the past five years Headway Oxfordshire has securedemployment opportunities for 46 individuals – both paid work andvoluntary positions.

Mr Z suffered a brain injury 10 years ago.This profoundly affected his life,including his ability to work. This led toincreased social isolation, extreme lack ofself confidence and motivation to moveon.

Headway Oxfordshire’s VocationalCommunity Worker helped Mr Z find avoluntary position, initially in a localcharity shop. Although Mr Z found somesituations very stressful, with assistanceand support of the Community SupportWorker, he continued to explore othervoluntary opportunities, eventuallyworking in a community café, where hehas received training towards an NVQqualification.

"I am now back working as a volunteer and even driving again. Ilive a 'normal' life and there are no physical signs that I have abrain injury, which is why it's often called the invisible disability.But I face prejudice everyday of my life because of my braininjury. My speech can be a little slow and I often need people tospeak slowly to me so I can take it all in, leading to some peoplethinking that I'm stupid.”

46During the past five years

Headway Oxfordshire

has secured employment

opportunities for 46

individuals – both paid

work and voluntary

positions

13Impact Review

Mrs F, a school teacher, sustained a brain injury in a road traffic

accident. The community worker encouraged her to attend the Activity and Rehabilitation Centre to teach a small group. The workshops were very successful, and Mrs F has

taken this workshop lesson plan to other local charity

groups and volunteered her time to others in need. Mrs F is now

completing a book: a personal account of her experience with brain injury. Headway Oxfordshire is assisting her in sourcing appropriate publication and marketing.

The Activity and Rehabilitation Centre relies heavily on community volunteers. Volunteers assist our service users with mobility issues; help during activities, prompting at appropriate times; help with lunch and refreshments – and are very much appreciated.

In November 2010, Jill Moore, a long standing volunteer with Headway Oxfordshire was awarded Volunteer of the Year by Oxfordshire Council for Voluntary Action. The following year, our volunteer driver, David Goslett, was similarly recognised at the OCVA Charity Volunteer Awards. David is also a valued member of Headway Oxfordshire’s Management Committee. Four ex-service users are currently volunteering within Headway Oxfordshire, providing presentations, voluntary classes and gardening activities.

Fifteen volunteers are currently actively engaged within the Activity and Rehabilitation Centre at Kennington, Oxford. Volunteer involvement enables Headway Oxfordshire to offer far greater diversity of opportunity to service users. Some volunteers have, themselves, suffered brain injury or damage, and are thus able to help clients on a personal level.









“I find volunteering with Headway Oxfordshire very rewarding. What may not be immediately obvious is that I, also, have had an acquired brain injury – I had a spontaneous left temporal lobe intracerebral haemorrhage and a craniotomy seven years ago. Although the brain, initially, was a subject of great distress to me, after a long period of rehabilitation and an increased acceptance of my deficits, it started to be a topic of immense interest to me. So much so, that I have now completed a six-year part-time psychology degree with The Open University. My personal (and academic) understanding of acquired brain injuries means that I feel I am able to appreciate what members are looking for: to be listened to without being judged; to be encouraged and supported with their activities such as brain gym or word puzzles; and to feel a valued member of Headway, as well as the wider community. I don’t really discuss my stroke with the members; my volunteering is not about me - it’s about helping and supporting others… and being beaten at dominoes!”

Volunteering & Community involvement









3309In the year to 31 March 2012

Headway Oxfordshire engaged

with 25 volunteers, and

benefited from 3309

volunteer hours

14Impact Review

Nicola Blackwood, Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon, was guest speaker at Headway Oxfordshire’s Annual General Meeting in October 2011.

Nicola takes a very active interest in issues regarding Carers, and took the opportunity to learn more of the particular problems associated with caring for someone affected by brain injury.

Headway Oxfordshire holds at least one consultation event every year, featuring discussion and presentations from eminent professionals, practitioners and service users. These events are attended by a variety of professionals, practitioners, carers and other interested parties.

Headway Oxfordshire hold regular community events at their Activity and Rehabilitation Centre at Kennington, and

throughout the county – all of which help to promote community involvement and provide

opportunities for those affected by brain injury to engage with local community events.

AWARENESS

Headway Oxfordshire is commited to raising awareness of brain injury, its causes and affects,and to raise awareness of Headway’s services within the county. Our Awareness Programmehelps to:

• Raise awareness of Acquired Brain Injury and its long term affects within thecommunity, statutory services and other organisations.

• Raise awareness of the Community Brain Injury Project within the community,statutory services and other organisations.

• Increase opportunities for those affected by brain injury to engage with their localcommunity and community activities

Nicola Blackwood, Member ofParliament for Oxford West andAbingdon, was guest speaker atHeadway Oxfordshire’s AnnualGeneral Meeting in October 2011.Nicola takes a very active interest inissues regarding Carers, and took theopportunity to learn more of theparticular problems associated withcaring for someone affected by braininjury.

Headway Oxfordshire holds at least one consultation event every year, featuring discussionand presentations from eminent professionals, practitioners and service users, includingProfessor Derick Wade, Consultant and Professor in Neurological Rehabilitation; Dr DavidHenderson-Slater, Consultant in Neurological Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine;Headway Oxfordshire’s team; brain injury survivors and carers from both the Activity andRehabilitation centre and from within the community. These events are attended by a varietyof professionals, practitioners, carers and other interested parties.

Headway Oxfordshire hold regular community eventsat their Activity and Rehabilitation Centre atKennington, and throughout the county – all of whichhelp to promote community involvement and toprovide opportunities for those affected by brain injuryto engage with local community events.

Headway Oxfordshire is commited to raising awareness of brain injury, its causes and affects, and to raise awareness of Headway’s services within the county. Our Awareness Programme helps to:

• RaiseawarenessofAcquiredBrainInjuryand its long term affects within the community, statutory services and other organisations.

• RaiseawarenessoftheCommunityBrainInjuryProjectwithinthecommunity,statutoryservices and other organisations.

• Increaseopportunitiesforthoseaffectedby brain injury to engage with their local community and community activities

AWARENESS

Headway Oxfordshire is commited to raising awareness of brain injury, its causes and affects,and to raise awareness of Headway’s services within the county. Our Awareness Programmehelps to:

• Raise awareness of Acquired Brain Injury and its long term affects within thecommunity, statutory services and other organisations.

• Raise awareness of the Community Brain Injury Project within the community,statutory services and other organisations.

• Increase opportunities for those affected by brain injury to engage with their localcommunity and community activities

Nicola Blackwood, Member ofParliament for Oxford West andAbingdon, was guest speaker atHeadway Oxfordshire’s AnnualGeneral Meeting in October 2011.Nicola takes a very active interest inissues regarding Carers, and took theopportunity to learn more of theparticular problems associated withcaring for someone affected by braininjury.

Headway Oxfordshire holds at least one consultation event every year, featuring discussionand presentations from eminent professionals, practitioners and service users, includingProfessor Derick Wade, Consultant and Professor in Neurological Rehabilitation; Dr DavidHenderson-Slater, Consultant in Neurological Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine;Headway Oxfordshire’s team; brain injury survivors and carers from both the Activity andRehabilitation centre and from within the community. These events are attended by a varietyof professionals, practitioners, carers and other interested parties.

Headway Oxfordshire hold regular community eventsat their Activity and Rehabilitation Centre atKennington, and throughout the county – all of whichhelp to promote community involvement and toprovide opportunities for those affected by brain injuryto engage with local community events.

Awareness

15Impact Review

Headway Oxfordshire’s community support workers promote and maintain links with community hospitals, social workers and other professional groups, with a programme of regular visits, training and presentations. Community Workers delivery training sessions to new hospital staff on Neuro ICU and inpatients wards of the John Radcliffe hospital, and other county hospitals, and participate as invited speakers for other organisations.

During the year to March 2012, Headway Oxfordshire presented six training sessions to approximately 30 new members of staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital, mainly from the Neuro and Intensive Care Units.

In addition, presentations have been made to 43 people within the INDI South East (the Infrastructure Network for Disability Information) on “Understanding the long term effects of brain injury”, and “Brain tumour awareness”.

Headway Oxfordshire works with several Headway clients who relate their own personal experience of brain injury. These presentations are made by the individuals themselves at various Awareness Days and consultation evenings, and have been further developed as an important part of our Education and Preventative Programme.

Being part of the Awareness Programme increases confidence, and has

enabled several individuals to make the transition from

service user to volunteer and, in some cases, to

take initial steps to re-engage with direct employment.

AWARENESS

Headway Oxfordshire’s community support workers promote and maintain links withcommunity hospitals, social workers and other professional groups, with a programme ofregular visits, training and presentations. Community Workers deliver training sessions tonew staff on Neuro ICU and inpatients wards of the John Radcliffe hospital, and other countyhospitals, and participate as invited speakers for other organisations.

During the year to March 2012, Headway Oxfordshire have presented six training sessions toapproximately 30 new members of staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital, mainly from the neuroand Intensive Care Units.

In addition, presentations have been made to 43 people within the INDI South East (theInfrastructure Network for Disability Information) on “Understanding the long term effects ofbrain injury”, and “Brain tumour awareness”.

.

Headway Oxfordshire workswith several Headway clientswho relate their own personalexperience of brain injury.

These presentations are madeby the individuals themselves atvarious Awareness Days andconsultation evenings, and havebeen further developed as animportant part of our Educationand Preventative Programme.

Being part of the Awareness Programme increases confidence, and has enabled severalindividuals to make the transition from service user to volunteer and, in some cases, to takeinitial steps to re-engage with direct employment.

Headway Oxfordshire works closely with the Oxfordshire Wheel, Oxfordshire ABI Forum,Oxfordshire Neurological Alliance, OCVA, LINK, the Health and Wellbeing Board and otherpartners, as well as Oxfordshire County Council and the PCT – all of which helps to raiseawareness of ABI within the county.

For the year to March 2012 Headway Oxfordshire made 23presentations to 187 professionals.

187For the year to March 2012

Headway Oxfordshire made

23 presentations to 187

professionals.

“Community Support

Workers deliver training

sessions to new hospital

staff within the county

hospitals – thus raising

awareness of the long

term effect of Acquired

Brain Injury after

discharge”

16Impact Review

Education & prevention

Headway Oxfordshire established a partnership with Oxfordshire Youth Offending Service (YOS) in 2010, providing courses for young offenders as part of a programme designed to reduce re-offending rates for assault. A presentation is made by a Headway community worker, accompanied by a service user who has sustained a severe brain injury through a violent assault.

“There were photos of him before and after his operation and… I found this really upsetting.”

The service user tells their personal story of how they sustained their brain injury and the difficulties they still face years later.

“I was in complete shock at what I had seen and heard about what A. has been through. I feel that I went home a completely different person, and not just for that day, but forever.”

Following the success of this pilot programme, Headway Oxfordshire and the YOS extended the programme for young people convicted of driving offences. The community worker explains the types of brain injury that can be sustained through road traffic accidents and the effects of the injury, and a Headway Oxfordshire community client tells her story of sustaining a brain injury through a car crash and the long term effects she still deals with, three years after the accident. Mrs H now presents this training to young offenders. Her confidence is growing, and she is re-developing her teaching skills.

“Headway Oxfordshire’s

Education and

Preventative programme

has proved effective in

reaching young offenders,

and reducing the incidence

of re-offending. Statistics

indicate that 50-60%

might be expected to

re-offend: youngsters

who have completed

the Assault Awareness

Programme would indicate

that re-offending rate is

reduced to 25%.”

64For the year to

March 2012 Headway

Oxfordshire provided 12

educational sessions to

a total of 64 young

people.

17Impact Review

Other services “He’s benefited

tremendously from regular

activities organised by

his Personal Assistant:

the family has seen a

tremendous difference

in his attitude and in his

confidence.”

OTHER SERVICES

Student Placements and Training:Headway Oxfordshire is committed to student training and is able to provide placements forYear 1 Social Workers and other professionals.

During the year to March 2012 Headway Oxfordshire accepted two Social Workerplacements via Oxford Brookes University. The students spent time in the Activity Centre andaccompanying Community Workers throughout the county. Their input was greatly valuedand the feedback from their supervisors very encouraging.

Student Placements are available to psychology students, and students studying within aneurological, or associated, field.

Placements are also available for police students, enabling them to have a betterunderstanding of brain injury within the community, and how individuals may be affected andmay present themselves within society.

In May 2012 Headway Oxfordshire provided invited speakers at a Training Day organised bythe Roads Policing Family Liaison Officers Training Day. Headway staff gave a presentationto approximately 40 individuals on “Living with the Long Term Effects of Brain Injury”.

Personal Assistants:

Direct Payment service users may choose a PersonalAssistant (PA) as a solution to their social needs,empowering them to ‘take control’ and get much moreout of life.

Headway Oxfordshire employ the services of severalPAs who are able to help people overcome difficultiesin day to day life – shopping, theatre trips, playinggolf, keeping appointments etc. – as well as regularactivities designed to engage and challenge theindividual and help to increase skills and confidence.

“He’s benefited tremendously from regular activities organised byhis Personal Assistant: the family has seen a tremendousdifference in his attitude and in his confidence.”

Personal Assistants:Direct Payment service users may choose a Personal Assistant (PA) as a solution to their social needs empowering them to ‘take control’ and get much more out of life.

Headway Oxfordshire employs several PAs who are able to help

people overcome difficulties in day to day life – shopping, theatre trips, playing golf, keeping appointments etc. – as well as regular activities designed to engage and challenge the individual and help to increase skills and confidence.

Student Placements and Training:Headway Oxfordshire is committed to student training and is able to provide placements for Year 1 Social Workers and other professionals.

During the year to March 2012 Headway Oxfordshire accepted two Social Worker placements via Oxford Brookes University. The students spent time in the Activity Centre and accompanying Community Workers throughout the county. Placements also are available to psychology students, and students studying within a neurological or associated field.

Placements are available for police students, enabling them to have a better understanding of brain injury within the community, and how individuals may be affected and may present themselves within society.

18Impact Review

What does the future hold?

“As with most diseases and injuries the best approach tosevereTraumaticBrainInjuryisprevention.OnceasevereTBIoccurstheroadtorecoverycanbelonganddifficultnotonlyforthepatientbutalsofortheirfamiliesand caregivers. While great strides have been made in the past decade in the area of acute care and surgical care ofsevereTBItherealityisthatthelong-termcarehasn’treally changed in centuries.’

http://www.brainhealtheducation.org

National and local reports highlight that a lack of appropriate information and aftercare (including slow stream rehabilitation and community reintegration) around acquired brain injury is having an adverse affect on the health and wellbeing of individuals and families affected by this long term condition. This increasing population is being marginalised and isolated by this lack of provision and health services overburdened with subsequent readmissions.

“Many patients, following their diagnosis, are not given information on their condition, about local services or on available support. Ongoing care is fragmented and poorly coordinated and there is a pattern of patients being referred to hospital for treatment, then discharged and then referred to hospital again.”

“Services for people with neurological conditions” The National Audit Office, December 2011

Following formal rehabilitation and discharge from hospital back to home and the local community, people suffering the long term affects of an ABI have reported a lack of information and support that has prevented timely adjustment to the often dramatic changes and lessened the opportunity for rehabilitation and subsequent reintegration within the community

“Headway

Oxfordshire has

a proven record

of working with

individuals, and

families, affected

by brain injury,

developed through

many years of

experience and

following extensive

consultation with,

and feedback from,

service users and

carers.”

Survivability

rates are rising and

the population with

long term neurological

conditions increases

accordingly

19Impact Review

Headway Oxfordshire’s future

“Headway

Oxfordshire is

presently the only

specialist provider of

practical and tangible support

services for those affected by

Brain Injury throughout the county.

The development of efficient and

effective support services into the

future is reliant upon a collaborative

and mutually respectful approach

between Health, Social Care and

Headway Oxfordshire.”

In 2013 Clinical Commissioning Groups in England will hold the majority of the NHS budget. These CCGs, together with health boards and trusts in other parts of the UK, have to deliver a sustainable healthcare system in the face of some of the most challenging financial and organisational changes. A report published by the Kings Fund in May 2011 highlights the need to move away from the current emphasis on acute and episodic care, towards prevention, self-care and integrated and co-ordinated primary care.

In addition, Social Care services have already been transformed locally by Oxfordshire County Council in an effort to “do more with less”. At the forefront of the change in provision is the “Personalisation” of services. “Self Directed Support” and associated “Personal Budgets” are already in place in a bid to maximise the “choice and control” an individual has regarding their own care. This is something we at Headway Oxfordshire applaud, however it has to be recognised that this means different things to different people. For some (such as those affected by brain injury) the ability to achieve any kind of personal “choice and control” is the issue. “Personalisation” must not become “isolation”. If it is to mean anything to those with this often long term condition, significant specialist support and understanding must continue to be made available.

Alongside the provision of high quality support services, prevention is one of the key ways by which we should be able to both support those in genuine need and also maximise efficiency through less use of costly acute services. Voluntary sector organisations lead the way when it comes to “doing more for less” and as such, HWO very much sees itself as a part of the solution. With years of experience, tried and tested working practices, local knowledge and trusted relationships with our service users, we are the “go to” organisation for those requiring specialist support around adjusting to a life with brain injury. It is our sincere hope that we can support our statutory partners in meeting the financial challenges we face together, whilst ensuring those affected by brain injury get the very best services and support.

Neal DentonChair: Management Committee

Working with PartnersHeadway Oxfordshire is represented on several key boards and groups, all of which will assist in future influencingofservicesforAcquiredBrainInjury:

• NeurologicalConditionsLocalImplementationGroup

• OxfordshireAcquiredBrainInjuryForum

• OxfordshireNeurologicalAlliance

• OxfordshireHealthandWellbeingBoard– Physical Disabilities Partnership Board

• KeyOxfordshireCountyCouncilreferencegroups

• TheOxfordshireWheel(userledorganisation)

• OxfordshireCommunityandVoluntaryAction

Income & expenditure

Local authorities 47%

Big Lottery 24%

Grants and fundraising 14%

Partnership working 10%

Earned Income 5%

Community and Vocational 40%

Activity and Rehabilitation 25%

Carers and Respite 14%

Misc Services 14%

Awareness and Education 7%

Income 2011-12 Expenditure 2011-12

Headway OxfordshireRegCharity2993774 BagleyWood Road,Kennington, OxfordOX15PLTel:01865326263Email: [email protected]

Due to the long term nature of this condition there

will always be the need for ongoing community

support for people affected by brain injury.

Supported by

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