APPENDIX 18
Memorandum by Mr Keith Jenkins (H 44)
1. I am writing to you in my capacity as
Chairman of Headway SE London and NW Kent. Headway SELNWK is a
local branch of Headway, the brain injuries association, and is
the provider of a day centre for adults with acquired brain injury
based at Goldie Leigh Hospital, London, SE2.
1.1. I have asked members of the Management
Committee for their comments for the Select Committee and these
are detailed below. The Management Committee for Headway SELNWK
comprises head injured people, relatives of head injured people
and professionals working with head injured people (currently
a Solicitor, Occupational Therapist and Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist).
As well as providing a day service to which brain injured adults
can self refer or be referred by Social Services or other care
agencies, we have monthly meetings for carers and a monthly open
meeting with an alternating educational or social focus. We are
currently involved in providing computer classes (including internet
access), craft classes, adult literacy classes and general support
to up to 60 clients a week. Our main source of funding is from
Social Services, primarily the London Boroughs of Greenwich and
Bexley, with a continued element from our own fundraising efforts.
Headway SELNWK brings together individuals with enormous experience
of brain injury and the services available to meet the associated
needs. This memorandum should be supplemented by the personal
submissions of our members sent to you under separate cover. In
addition to this, we would be happy at any time to extend an invitation
to the Select Committee or its representatives to visit our day
service or to hear representations from our members at the House
of Commons.
2. We feel that services fail to appreciate
the permanent nature of brain injury related problems and the
need in many cases for lifetime follow-up or support. Physiotherapy
services and Social Work were singled out in our discussion as
examples of service provision that are all too often time limited
or dismissive of working with individuals more than 18 months
post injury.
2.1 The great value of brain injury case
managers was highlighted. These individuals, often with a background
in Occupational Therapy or Social Work, are made available to
individuals that have funds as a result of compensation claims.
They use their experience and knowledge to co-ordinate and manage
packages of care by recruiting support workers and/or using established
services and resources. Why is it that only brain injured individuals
with compensation claims and associated funds benefit from this
resource?
2.2 The provision of supported living for
brain injured individuals is very patchy and almost non-existent
in the London area. One consequence of this is that Londoners
with a brain injury and a need for staffed support, for example,
a group home or similar, can find themselves having to live on
the South coast, or in the Midlands, miles away from their families
and familiar territory.
2.3 Headway's provision of understanding
and support at any time post injury is of enormous value. However,
our local services are dependent upon the prevailing climate as
regards local Social Service and Health provision via Partnership
Groups or similar that may have the wider remit of physical disability
as a whole. The recognition of brain injury as a separate disability
is urgently required in order to ensure appropriate services and
understanding for the needs of this special group.
February 2001
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