This was a departure from the normal meeting format. Members were invited to present aspects of their work that were innovative and really made a positive difference for their clients, and to do this in the form of a poster. We had 14 posters each of which was preceded by a very short ‘pitch’ (2 ½ minutes!) followed by detailed 1:1 discussions at the posters.  There was a good ‘buzz’ of discussion, and everyone agreed that it had been a very effective meeting.

What happened on 10^th January embodies what ABIL is about – enabling everyone with the same overall aim – the wellbeing of people who have had a brain injury and their families and carers – to come together and share good practice and learn from each other.

ABIL Programme 10th January 2012

Inpatient

• The development of an evidence-based upper limb programme – Emma Curtis, Lead Physiotherapist , and Helen Taylor, Senior Occupational Therapist, Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre. Click Here
• A single case intervention for confabulation: Implications for mood and quality of life following brain injury – Dr Amanda Nielsen, Neuropsychologist, Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit, Homerton Hospital. (To follow)                  
• Is there a relationship between carer well-being and the perceived needs of patients in a Neuro Rehabilitation Unit? – Lisa Cooper, Unit Manager, Titleworth Neuro, Mulberry House, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex. Click Here
• Moving on – discharge planning from the Rehabilitation Directorate at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability – Patti Simonson, Head of Social Work, Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability. Click Here
• Positively making a difference – Brain injury, challenging behaviours and the use of client-centred, non-aversive, positive approaches! – Dr Kristy Bolter, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Programme Lead, Neurobehavioural Rehabilitation Unit (NRU), Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability. Click Here
• Managing complex rehabilitation and discharge planning: A case of executive impairment with a history of alcohol use following severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – Anna Isherwood, Assistant Psychologist / Hollie Connell, Specialist Occupational Therapist, Lishman Brain Injury Unit, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Click Here
• Breathing Life Into Goals; Migrating tasks from clinicians to rehabilitation assistants to independence – Emma Gale, Manager, Transitional Rehabilitation Service, Haberdashers House, Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability. Click Here

Outpatient

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for people with persistent post concussional symptoms (PCS) – Dr Seb Potter, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, Lishman Brain Injury Unit, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Click Here

Community

• Finding a way to help statutory services understand community support needs of clients with a brain injury – Justin Burmeister, Brain Injury Service Manager, SweetTree Home Care Services. Click Here
• Post NHS Progress: Community neurorehabilitation several years after brain injury – Julia Roberts, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist in Neurology, Neurolink  Neurorehabilitation Team. Click Here
• Community Stroke Co-ordinator Model – Sarah Edwards, Community Stroke Co-ordinator, Kensington and Chelsea, Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust. Click Here
• Headway East London Young People’s Group (YPG) – Thomas Alexander (Co-ordinator – Young People’s Services), Headway East London. Click Here

Residential

• Extending the care pathway.  Meeting a need – finding a gap and plugging it – Residential Care following rehabilitation – Keith Hawley- Director, Enable Care. Click Here
• Using the existing legal framework to get access to rehabilitation services – Alex Rook (Irwin Mitchell) and Keith Hawley (Enable Care). Click Here