Brain Injury Outreach Units (BIOUs)

Our three Brain Injury Outreach Units (previously known as Headway Houses) provide a relaxed, safe and pressure-free environment for people recovering from brain injury. Our aim in providing this service is to enable our clients to reintegrate back into society, regain their self esteem and self confidence and be able to live as independently as possible. In so doing we help relearn old skills and acquire new ones.

Each Unit is open on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10am and 4pm.with a break for two weeks at Christmas, Easter and during the Summer holidays

The outcomes we are looking to achieve include:

• To lead as independent a life as possible
• Education and training
• Keeping the family together
• Links to the community
• New skills
• Improved self esteem
• Improved functional ability
• Help in a crisis

Sessional Activities

We provide a number of social and therapeutic activities which are designed to help address general and individual problems. These activities are developed around the interests, abilities and needs of those attending the group. For example, they can include:

• Computing
• Music
• Literacy and numeracy
• Cooking skills and meal planning
• Memory work
• Yoga and relaxation exercises
• Discussion groups
• Craft and art work·
• Outings
• Drama and poetry
• Photography
• Gardening and garden design
• Games and quizzes

Signposting & Partnership Working

Having ‘approved supplier status’ with Somerset Social Services for our day-care support, means that a key element of our work will be to liaise with other organisations and agencies, directing our clients and their carers to access appropriate support within the community.

Joined-up liaison with these organisations is of particular value to clients who are simultaneously using the services of several agencies, not simply sharing basic information but more a matter of sharing triggers for intervention to head off individual or family crisis or decline.

Respite for families and Carers

Another important aspect of the work is to provide valuable respite for families and carers. Caring for people with brain injuries is invariably traumatic and stressful, and the opportunity to have personal time away from the strains of care is critical to their ability to cope. We also give them support through advice and providing a listening ear, as well as the chance to socialise at events we arrange.

Following referral, we will establish a client’s needs and set up an Activity Plan with the aim of achieving agreed objectives in order to help them make the most of their life and manage their brain injury in the best way possible.