The results of a ground-breaking research project that will help health professionals assess the rehabilitation needs of people with brain injuries have been announced.
The research was commissioned by Momentum – formerly Rehab Scotland – which pioneered the UK’s first vocational rehabilitation service for people with traumatic brain injury in 1993, with the aim of developing a standardised assessment measure into the effect of traumatic brain injury on personality.
International experts in the field of brain injury rehabilitation heard the results at a two-day seminar in Glasgow’s Radisson SAS Hotel, hosted by Momentum in conjunction with the European Platform for Rehabilitation (EPR).
Focusing on supporting people with brain injuries to return to work, the seminar attracted top specialists from around the world, such as Dr Laura Taylor, of Virginia Commonwealth University, USA, and Professor Graham Teasdale, Professor of Neurosurgery at Glasgow University, to share international research and best practice.
The £150,000 research project – funded by the National Lottery Charities Board Community Fund – was carried out in conjunction with Dr Marc Obonsawin of Strathclyde University’s Psychology Department.
Dr Obonsawin said: “A brain injury can bring many changes to an individual’s life but for many the change in personality that follows is a major obstacle to re-entry into the community.
“Current assessment tools are inadequate, a factor which has proved a major barrier to rehabilitation and reintegration.”
The research was carried out at six centres in the UK – Glasgow, Aberdeen, Kirkcaldy, Manchester, Birmingham and London – and has resulted in the formation of a new assessment tool, the Brain Injury Personality Scale (BIPS).
Adopting techniques like interviewing the partner or a close relative of a person who has sustained a brain injury will allow Momentum to tailor its rehabilitation programmes to work more effectively.
Without specialist support such as that offered by Momentum, only 30 percent of people with brain injuries will return to employment. Currently more than 80 percent of Momentum’s project participants enter employment or go on to further education and training.
Dr Obonsawin added: “By working with carers and people who knew clients before their injuries, we can build up a realistic picture which will allow Momentum to monitor the effect that their programme is having and give a clearer indication of when clients are ready to enter the workplace.”
Also speaking at the seminar, were Dr Wilbert Bakx, Senior Consultant in Rehabilitation medicine at the renowned Hoensbroeck Rehabilitation Centre in the Netherlands, and Dr Andy Tyerman, Consultant Clinical Neuro-Psychologist for the Community Head Injury Service in the UK. Delegates were welcomed by Bill Miller MEP.
Lesley Kragt, Director of Service Development at Momentum said: “Assisting people to return to work after brain injury is our area of expertise and hosting this event allowed us to learn from and share knowledge with our international colleagues.
“By bringing together the leading specialists in the brain injury rehabilitation field, as well as service users, we were able to exchange good practice and identify models of excellence, which will help us to continuously improve our services.
“The development of the BIPS assessment tool will allow us to ensure that clients’ needs are appropriately identified and realistic rehabilitation plans developed.”
The European Platform for Rehabilitation is a network of leading European providers of rehabilitation services to people with disabilities or who are disadvantaged, including vocational training and reintegration into the labour market.
Jan Spooren, General Secretary of the EPR, said: “The strength of the EPR comes from its members and I am very grateful to Momentum for organising this event which was excellent in terms of both content and contributors.”
Also speaking at the seminar was Garry Ryan, an Information Technology trainer and assessor with Momentum, who has first hand experience of personality changes following brain injury.
Garry sustained a brain injury in a road traffic accident five years ago and secured employment with Momentum after completing a tailored programme with the organisation’s Brain Injury Service in Glasgow.
Among the delegates from Ireland were Donal McAnaney, Director of Research and Innovation, Rehab Group and representatives from NTDI and the Cedar Foundation.
Stephen Mathews, chief executive of the Cedar Group, said: “Momentum are to be commended for bringing together such a diverse array of experts.”
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Information for editors
Momentum (formerly Rehab Scotland) is a national not-for-profit organisation, which works in partnership throughout Scotland to assist disabled and excluded people to identify and achieve their goals and to maximise their independence.
Momentum pioneered the UK’s first vocational rehabilitation service for people with traumatic brain injury in 1993 and presently provides specialist brain injury rehabilitation programmes throughout Scotland.
Momentum’s brain injury services assist people to live independently following brain injury and to manage the effects of their injury. The organisation also assists people to move towards employment or further education/training, focusing on what they can do and supports them as they return to work.
Momentum’s brain injury service now supports over 80% of project participants into employment or on to further education / training. Without specialist support such as that offered by Momentum, only 30% of people with brain injuries will return to employment.
For further information contact Lorna King at Momentum, telephone 0141 221 2333/07767 802363.