Online Conference: Excellence in community neurorehabilitation

Dr. Martha Turner, Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Neuropsychologist, Cognivate

This presentation starts with a description of how I became interested in clinical psychology. After training at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, I came to neuropsychological rehabilitation from the field of learning disability where I was taught that if our patients could not learn, we were expected to find a way to help them overcome their problems. It was up to the psychologists, therapists and teachers to find a way, as no patient is untestable or untreatable. At that time, it was not the responsibility of the neuropsychologist to find a way around problems their patients might have. I was uncomfortable with this attitude, which has certainly changed now. I go on to reflect on my many years in brain injury rehabilitation, founding both the journal, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, and The Oliver Zangwill Centre. I stress the importance of dealing with the real life problems faced by patients and their families and consider how some countries with few or no rehabilitation services cope with the same difficulties.

Professor Barbara A Wilson, Clinical Neuropsychologist, The Oliver Zangwill Centre, Ely and St George’s Hospital, London

A plenary session on the theme of interdisciplinary working – including contributions from:

• Dr Shai Betteridge (Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist)
• Laura Slader (Occupational Therapist)
• Alex Heaps (Occupational Therapist)
• Jacqueline McIntosh (Speech and Language Therapist)
• Claire Salisbury (Physiotherapist)
• Chaired by Dr Michael Dilley (Consultant Neuropsychiatrist) and Dr Mark Edwards (Consultant Neurologist)

This session includes 5 presentations showcasing strong holistic services and an opportunity for Q & A chaired by Andrew Bateman, Chair Person, UKABIF

1. Interdisciplinary ‘outreach’ neurorehabilitation: Why and how it works 

Nearly thirty years ago the Department of Health commissioned twelve projects across the UK to inform or trial post-acute rehabilitation for people with TBI. The RNRU Outreach Team at Homerton Hospital was funded to develop and evaluate a model service delivering interdisciplinary rehabilitation in the community. A randomised controlled trial demonstrated its efficacy and showed that gains were maintained at follow-up. An ongoing prospective evaluation has documented similar improvements in independence, social participation, and overall quality of life for clients with ABI of varied aetiologies. The talk describes key features of the interdisciplinary model, and how cognivate is extending this into the independent sector.

Jane Powell, CEO & Neuropsychologist, cognivate & Dr Richard Greenwood, Consultant Neurologist, National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery

2. Vocational rehabilitation after brain injury

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) interventions to assist people with brain injury to return to and remain in work or alternative occupation employment are a key component of community neurorehabilitation. The range of models of VR after brain injury and the process of vocational rehabilitation provided by the Community Head Injury Service will be outlined, focusing on “Working Out” (brain injury vocational rehabilitation programme), illustrated by a brief case example. Both inter-disciplinary and cross agency working is intrinsic to the development and provision of VR after brain injury.

Dr. Andy Tyerman, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, Community Head Injury Service, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

3. Holistic relationship work and fragmented selves in community rehabilitation

To work holistically with survivors of brain injury must necessarily include a focus on significant relationships through which survivors define themselves – those with family, partners and friends. However both post-injury relationship strain and common trends in service provision can serve to fragment these relationships, and the self-experience of those involved.

Giles Yeates, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, Rippling Minds

4. The Oliver Zangwill Centre intensive neuropsychological programme

This presentation will explore holistic neuropsychological rehabilitation and the factors impacting delivery of the approach, within the context of the intensive neuropsychological rehabilitation programme provided at the Oliver Zangwill Centre.

Leyla Prince Head of Service, Specialist Speech & Language Therapist/Family & Systemic Psychotherapist, The Oliver Zangwill Centre

5. Neuro-Rehabilitation on-Line (N-ROL): developing and delivering a virtual rehabilitation service using group based interventions. Treating people holistically at home.

This talk will describe the process of delivering a neuropsychological service as part of a wider neuro rehabilitation service for people with stroke and brain injury during Covid-19. The interventions included psychoeducational groups, psychotherapeutic groups for mood, cognitive rehabilitation groups and carer support groups. Reflections on holistic working will be discussed in relation to group based digitally delivered neuro-interventions

Dr Catherine Doogan, Clinical Psychologist & Senior Research Associate, UCL & UCLH

This session includes 3 presentations on collaborative working (including working with the medicolegal and charitable sectors, and a unique family perspective) and an opportunity for Q & A chaired by Harvinder Kaur, Senior Case Manager, Anglia Case Management Ltd

1. How to work collaboratively within an adversarial system

A short piece on explaining how to ensure that rehabilitation is delivered to a claimant in a manner that is mutually acceptable to both claimant and compensator. The role of the defendant insurer / lawyer in the rehabilitation process and how to avoid adversarial actions impacting on the aim of returning a claimant to his pre accident state ( as much as is possible ).

Malcolm Henke, Partner & Head of Large & Complex claims at Horwich Farrelly a leading insurance defence firm

2. Who are you now? Continuing to evolve the narrative of “self” following brain injury

This presentation will provide delegates with an overview of the Headway East London services together with practical examples and case studies of how our collaborative approach to neurorehabilitation creates an environment where survivors are supported to reach their full potential by valuing each individual members’ contribution towards our community goals.

Nora Brennan, Therapy Service Manager & Neurophysiotherapist, Headway East London

3. Extending the rehabilitation window – Unique perspectives on community and family rehabilitation.

Neurorehabilitation is a highly effective intervention, yet only 30% of people have access to specialist treatment. For those fortunate to receive it, the process lasts months. Yet, ‘recovery’ can often last a lifetime. This talk explores this issue from the end-user’s perspective and investigates how neurorehabilitation can be extended far beyond in/outpatient facilities and traditional community rehabilitation models

Dr. Ellis Parry (PhD), CEO of Neumind & Luke Parry, ABI survivor and advocate

Dr. Martha Turner, Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Neuropsychologist, Cognivate