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Pre-vocational / Vocational

Rehabilitation lets people pursue educational goals and return to old passions.Rehabilitation lets people pursue educational goals and return to old passions.

Most people following a brain injury are desperate to return to college or work and set this as a main goal to work towards throughout their rehabilitation process.

The personís return to work/college following a brain injury and the extent of difficulties encountered depend on a number of factors such as the severity of the injury. In addition to the degree of residual long-term effects, the type of occupation/course, the amount of vocational rehabilitation received and the attitude of the individual regarding his return to work/college.

Thinking positively does not mean that the individual saying that he is keen to return to college/work is enough, careful consideration and planning is required to plan what is involved with the return. For example it is important to collate a list of tasks/jobs required to complete a return to work/college, in addition to another list of any changes in the personís ability to manage a successful return to work/college. It is important to recognise the common problems which can interfere with performance at work/college, such as:

  • Poor memory recalls ñ this can slow learning.
  • Poor concentration ñ which can mean that the individual could be easily distracted.
  • Slowed thinking ñ resulting with complex speech or ideas, difficulties understanding direct instruction.
  • Executive difficulties ñ difficulty organising, planning, analysing, making decisions, judgement and using initiative.
  • Fatigue, tiring easily.
  • Reduced tolerance of frustration, difficulty coping with stress, difficulty working to deadlines.
  • Poor or limited insight ñ lack of awareness regarding difficulties.
  • Unrealistic expectations ñ lack of acceptance of disability and self.
  • Impaired interpersonal skills.

Social Care Workers assist individualsí with phased returns to college by providing advice relating to their brain injury. In addition, to informing staff within the college/work environment of the effects following a brain injury and of strategies that can be adopted to assist the individual complete all tasks required within the work environment. Other advice provided could be in relation to interpersonal skills or the individual ability to develop adequate skills to travel independently to work/college if required.

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