Our Support Services

We aspire to assist everyone impacted by acquired brain injury in Somerset and offer a broad range of support services, to suit different people’s needs and wishes.

Rehabilitation Centres

Rehabilitation Centres

Our acquired brain injury rehabilitation centres in Somerset support groups and individuals

Our Centres are structured to offer safe and supportive environments for survivors of brain injury to re-learn skills that may have been affected after injury and to interact with members of staff and other clients who have a greater understanding of a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours. For many clients it can be a frustrating time when people don’t see their hidden disability and so do not understand why they do certain things. Individuals can work towards their outcomes and future goals in the following areas:

Cognitive rehabilitation – developing memory, executive skills, awareness, reading and writing, strategy development and implementation

Independent living skills – Computer based skills, cooking skills, money management and budgeting and managing personal affairs

Improving self-esteem and confidence – confidence building in social situations is a key part of everyone’s rehabilitation

Increasing independence and reducing social isolation

Psychological and physical wellbeing – peer support, emotional support, gentle exercise

Each day in the centres is different, to meet the diverse needs of our clients. It may not always be immediately apparent why the activities clients are participating in are being delivered and what the benefits are from them. Most of our activities require clients to utilise and develop their executive skills; including concentration, memory, information processing, forward planning, and understanding commands or instructions; physical skills such as co-ordination are required for others; and throughout virtually all activities, social skills are developed, including recognising other people’s needs, taking turns, listening and making yourself understood. These are all skills we take for granted but can be lost after brain injury.

Centres operate between 10:30 – 2:30 on various days and are in Bridgwater, Yeovil, West Camel, Henton (near Wells) and Taunton.

We welcome referrals from individuals aged 18 and over with a brain injury but also from relatives, advocates, legal guardians, GPs, Care or Case Managers who have permission from the individual.

Please see our make a referral section for more details call us on 01823 618519 or email info@headwaysomerset.org.uk

Community Outreach

The aim of our outreach sessions is to support individuals with ABI with their personal development, manage behaviour, reduce social isolation and assist them to retain as much of their independence as possible.

Sessions are tailored to individuals’ goals and outcomes and can include (but is not limited to):

Identify and support implementation of strategies to increase independence, e.g prompts to assist with memory problems / planning
Support arranging and accessing medical / therapeutic appointments
Support planning and completing shopping trips
Support around finances and budgeting
Support around daily routine and structure, planning meals, necessary tasks, rest breaks
Support with daily correspondence & paperwork
Reducing isolation

The number of outreach hours are agreed ahead of service commencement with clients, family members, carers, funders and Headway Somerset staff. Support hours are usually delivered Monday – Friday between 9am-5pm (we can provide specific quotes for services / one offs required outside of these times on a case to case basis). The length of sessions will be determined by a client’s capabilities and will consider things such as fatigue. Costs are determined by the complexity of support required.

If you would like to have a discussion about further information, please contact the office or if you would like to make a referral please fill out our referral form.

Making Headway

This is our volunteer buddying service working across Somerset

Making Headway supports those directly affected by ABI who want to access activities of their choice in their communities.

Volunteers in this project will be ‘buddies’, supporting their befriended user. As a buddy you will help them to rebuild confidence, develop a new independence, and encourage them to make connections through following their own interests.

This may be everyday things, such as going out for coffee; engaging with a hobby, activity or social group; using their lived experience to provide support, training or advocacy for others affected by ABI.

You will receive training and ongoing support, the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge for yourself, as well as having the satisfaction of seeing your buddy achieve their goals.

We are looking for volunteers from all backgrounds and across Somerset who are able to offer time and the commitment to make a difference in someone’s life.

Find out more about being a Making Headway Buddy

If you would like a Making Headway Buddy either fill in the Making Headway Referral Form or click to fill in out volunteer application form

for an informal chat and more information please contact our office info@headwaysomerset.org.uk

Family And Carer Support

An acquired brain injury doesn’t just affect an individual; it can profoundly change relationships and the lives of entire families. Depending upon the severity of your relative’s injury and its effects, you may have to make many changes to the way you live and in some cases this means becoming a full-time or part-time carer.

Family and carer support

How can Headway Somerset Help?

Talking Headway 01823 215014 is staffed Tuesday to Thursday 1pm – 3pm to answer enquiries and offer support and information
Our Hospital Liaison Service staff will often be the first people from Headway that you meet while your relative is in hospital. They have a vital role in supporting you, helping with advice and information, helping you navigate some of the services and systems and being a listening ear when you need that most emergencyfund@headway.org.uk
The Relatives Support Group is run by the Hospital Liaison Service and is an opportunity to share your experiences. Often the best source of support is other people in a similar situation. The group provides a safe space to share experiences and be supported along with occasional expert speakers. For more information on the location, dates and time of the group please contact our main office number 01823 618519
*In view of Covid-19 restrictions, there are no groups currently being held. If you would be interested in participating in a Zoom group email: Jane Allin or Wendy Copeman to find out more

Other Sources of Support

Caring for someone with a Brain Injury

Somerset Carers Service Somerset Carers

Headway UK Emergency Fund email emergencyfund@headway.org.uk 02086408413

Financial support for families in the very early days following an accident or illness to cover immediate expenses.

Training

Bespoke training on acquired brain injury for families, carers and professionals

With 30 years of experience and our extensive expertise and staff skill set we have various training options available.

Brain injury Training can be provided for families, carers and providers. It can be delivered 1:1 or group based.

Each request is handled individually to ensure the appropriate level, content and time is delivered.

For further information and / or a quote please contact the office to discuss your needs

Hospital Liaison

At Headway Somerset we recognise that the sooner we can offer support and information to you and your family following your acquired brain injury the better

Click to hear about Hospital Liaison

We understand how bewildering and frightening it can be in the early stages following illness or surgery, especially for relatives. With this in mind we have two Hospital Liaison Workers who visit Yeovil District Hospital, Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton and SNRC (Somerset Neurological Rehabilitation Centre) based at Dene Barton Community Hospital, Cotford St. Luke.

Information about the Hospital Liaison Service is available on the key wards at each of the hospitals and you are welcome to make contact directly with the team (details below) or to ask ward staff to make contact on your behalf (Occupational, Physio and Speech and Language Therapists are the best points of contact).

How can we help?

We can:

give you some idea what to expect in the first weeks and months
provide/ signpost you to Headway UK fact sheets and booklets (Headway UK publications and website headway.org.uk offer a comprehensive range of advice and information)
advise you about help you might be able to get from your local authority or health services
signpost you to community organisations who can help
put you in touch with advice on benefits and finances
help you explain what’s happened to your children, wider family and friends

Or, you might just need someone to sit down with who will listen to your experience, fears and concerns

The Headway Somerset Hospital Liaison Team also regularly facilitate a series of educational workshops about Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) at SNRC. These workshops are open to SNRC patients and their families.

Support for Families

Help for parents when talking to their children about a close family member with an ABI

Top tips for relatives

The sudden change in circumstances that families have to cope with following ABI can be traumatic.

We recognise the importance of peer support for relatives and our monthly Relatives Group is a great opportunity to meet others, gain information about acquired brain injury, find out strategies which may help you cope and gain support.

Contact Details

Jane Allin normal working days Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00 – 3:30 Mobile 07561 032329

Talking Headway

Talking Headway – Part of Making Headway

There are 2 parts to this service, our information telephone line and our drop in cafe sessions

Talking Headway – The Phoneline

Our phoneline was initally funded by a family member of someone who uses our services.

This line is open to anyone in Somerset with an acquired brain injury (ABI) as well as family members, friends, colleagues and professionals.

We provide information about ABI, details of local and national Headway services, contacts for other local groups as well as all-important listening support. Where a caller may need more regular telephone support we will link them with our Making Headway project who can offer regular calls.

The line is open from 1pm – 3pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. 01823 215014

Talking Headway – The Cafe Project

As part of our Talking Headway service Headway Somerset are hosting regular social sessions for people with, and affected
by brain injury in Somerset.
Family members, colleagues and professionals are welcome to join us. You will have the opportunity to:
• Meet and socialise
• Have conversations with others affected by ABI and members of the Headway Somerset team
• Learn more about acquired brain injury
• Find out what support is available
The café session will be focused on social aspects, and encourage people to talk about their lives, interests and what they would like to do. These meet ups also offer the opportunity to gain information, guidance, and to access other services and support that may be helpful.

Contact us for dates, venues and times info@headwaysomerset.org.uk