Traumatic Brain Injury Service
Fifeís Traumatic Brain Injury Service is part of Fife Councilís Social Work Community Care Resources and is currently located at 70 Stenhouse Street, Cowdenbeath.
The Service is a Fife wide resource for Adults, namely 16-65 years of age who have sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury. It was the successful outcome of an application for Mental Health Specific Grant (MHSG) monies, and was established operationally in 1995. Staffing comprises:
- 1 x Project Manager
- 2 x Full time social Care Workers
- 2 x Part time social Care Workers
Traumatic brain injured clients and their relatives/carers often require long-term multi-disciplinary support and guidance, but costs in human resources are high and this realisation does not often become a reality. In short traumatic brain injured clients and their carers often receive inadequate and inappropriate long-term care. The development of this particular service anticipates redressing the balance of services to those who have sustained mild to moderate injury.
The team operates seven days per week including evenings and weekends. This allows support to be provided in a flexible, person centred way to individuals.
Aims of the Team:
The team aims to provide a regional comprehensive and quality community based social rehabilitation service to individuals who have sustained a mild to moderate traumatic brain injury.
In addition, the team aims to provide support and advice to carers/relatives/friendsí etc. to those who have sustained the injury.
Furthermore, to heighten public awareness with regards to the nature and effects of traumatic brain injury.
To enable staff to do this effectively the project has established strong links with other colleagues from Social Work e.g. Assessment and Care Management & Occupational Therapy, Health, namely the Rehabilitation Team at Sir George Sharp Unit, Cameron Hospital, Private, Voluntary and Charitable Agencies e.g. Fife Headway. This multi-disciplinary approach results in a consistent approach to individuals in order to implement specific social rehabilitation programmes. It also minimises duplication of roles, and tasks undertaken by members of the team.
Individual programmes are designed to meet the needs associated with social isolation following the injury, in addition to addressing emotional problems, family and relationship issues and prevocational difficulties. By liasing with colleagues from the aforementioned agencies project staff play a crucial supporting role in the implementation of or continuation of specific social rehabilitation programmes.
Where possible, programmes are time limited and may range from an individual requiring support to regain confidence to use public transport in order to go shopping, etc. Likewise, a young person may require support to attend college, or leisure/recreational facilities, that they previously attended, but because of their injury, may have lost contact with their friends, or suffer embarrassment due to their disabilities, which are a direct result of their brain injury.
Referrals to the service can only be accepted subject to an allocated Social workerís completed Single Shared Assessment/Care Plan. For further information relating to the Service or would alternatively like someone to talk to your staff team/group, please contact Elaine Westwater (Project Manager) on telephone number 01383 602201.
Related Articles
© Fife Council 2009 — Developed using Open-Source Software by Neil Gardner
