Blackheath Brain Rehabilitation Centre - Welcome Pack

Specialist
Brain Injury
Services
Welcome to
Blackheath Brain Injury
Rehabilitation Centre
www.huntercombe.com
About Our Company
The Huntercombe Group, the specialist division of Four Seasons Health Care*, is
an independent provider of health and social care services who work in partnership
with the NHS to deliver exceptional patient-centred treatment and care.
We have 53 hospitals and specialist care centres throughout England and
Scotland, providing a wide range of effective treatment and care programmes in
the areas of: Adult Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Specialist Brain
Injuries and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
The Huntercombe Group and its centres are regulated by the Care Quality
Commission (CQC), OFSTED, Health Improvement Scotland and the Care
Inspectorate in Scotland. You can find out more about our company from our
website which is www.huntercombe.com.
* Four Seasons Healthcare is one of the largest independent health care
providers of nursing homes, care homes and specialist units throughout the UK.
Service Key
Adult Mental Health
Addiction Services
Specialist Brain Injury
Tier 4 CAMHS
Eating Disorders
Map not to scale
2
Specialist
Brain Injury
Services
Welcome
“Every patient with a brain injury or complex neurological condition can, with the right person-centred
interventions delivered by the right team at the right time on their treatment journey, have an improved quality of life
irrespective of their neurological difficulty.”
We understand that you may be feeling worried about coming into our specialist centre. Being in an unfamiliar
environment and leaving home, family and friends can be very difficult, that’s why we have put this booklet together to
share information and answer some of the questions you may have. Hopefully the following information will
answer most of your questions about our centre but if not, please remember, we are all here to help you, so if you
have any questions or concerns please feel free to speak with either myself or any member of staff.
We have split this guide into three sections to help you locate the information you need at any given time:
About
Your
Centre
This section provides you with information about the facilities on offer and other important
information you need to know to keep you safe, well and comfortable during your stay with us.
About
Your
n
Rehabilitatio
This section covers all information relating to what you can expect regarding your rehabilitation
and care whilst at our centre.
Useful
Contacts
This section lists organisations and charities that offer advice, guidance and support to people with
a brain injury or other neurological condition.
We look forward to welcoming you to our centre.
Best wishes
Centre Manager
For further information, you can check the noticeboards located around the centre
or visit our website www.huntercombe.com
3
Contents
5
About
Your
Centre
Centre Features
Your Bedroom
Your Personal Belongings
Meals
Social Life
A Typical Day
Visitor Information
Security, Fire Procedure and Risk Management
Respecting Each Other
Complaints
6
7
7
9
10
11
13
14
15
16
17
About
Your
n
Rehabilitatio
Your Rights
Moving in
Review Meetings
Person-Centred Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Timeline
General Medical Care
Confidentiality, Safeguarding and Whistleblowing
What’s included?
Our Team
Useful
Contacts
4
18
19
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
27
About Your Centre
Located in South East London, Blackheath Brain Injury
Rehabilitation Centre provides person-centred inpatient
rehabilitation and care for adults (aged 18+ years) with an
acquired brain injury or other complex
neurological condition.
5
Blackheath Brain Injury
Rehabilitation Centre
Our centre is situated close to Blackheath and Lewisham, home to
numerous shops and restaurants with Blackheath Common and
Greenwich Park also close by. There are two purpose-built units:
• The Thames Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit (TBIRU) provides
assessment and specialist rehabilitation for individuals with
acquired brain injuries and other neurological conditions with a
primary cognitive and behavioural need. This may include
individuals who are currently held under Mental Health Act
Section.
• The Heathside Unit provides specialist intensive rehabilitation
for individuals who have complex physical and/or
communicative impairments associated with either a brain
injury or other neurological condition.
We care for adults who are medically stable, with an acquired
brain injury resulting from traumatic injury, for example, road
traffic accident, anoxic brain injury, subarachnoid haemorrhage,
encephalitis or meningitis, complex stroke or tumour.
We are able to admit patients detained under the Mental Health
Act (1983) or on a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard Authorisation
(DoLS). We also accept patients with Percutaneous Endoscopic
Gastrostomy (PEGs) and patients in low states of arousal
requiring SMART (Sensory Modality Assessment and
Rehabilitation Technique).
“Thank you for all your help and support in helping me achieve
my full potential. I don’t think I could have made it without your
help and support”
6
Centre Features
• 35 beds in total, split across two units
• On-site multi-disciplinary team
• NHS England registered
• On-site hydrotherapy pool
• Wheelchair accessible therapy kitchen
• Gymnasium
• Other dedicated therapy rooms
• Accessible garden areas
• Good transport links by bus, road
(directly on the A2), rail (Greenwich,
Lewisham and Blackheath stations all
close by) and air (London City Airport 7
miles away)
• Close to wide range of local amenities
• Large communal living spaces with flat
screen televisions, Wii, DVD player
• Leisure and recreational equipment
• Patient accessible computer and
internet
• Patient laundry service
• On-site chefs, who provide patients with
choices for their meals within the dining
room
• Extensive therapeutic activities
programme
• Optional recreational programme
available
• Minibus for outings / appointments
17
Your Bedroom
On moving into our centre you will be given your own bedroom. To help you feel more at home, we are more than
happy for you to bring in items from home such as pictures, soft furnishings and any other belongings provided they
meet our fire and safety regulations.
All our bedrooms have locks and we will happily provide you with a key to your bedroom once we are confident that
managing the door lock poses no problem for you.
No member of staff is allowed to enter your room without first knocking and receiving a response. The only
exception to this is if a member of staff thinks you may be in difficulty or if it is identified in your personal care plan.
If this does not happen, please let us know. Most patients like to bring in their own TV and, in addition to the
furniture we provide, often purchase items to personalise their room. All rooms are cleaned on a daily basis by our
housekeeping team.
Tell us if there is anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable, for example, if you need extra
blankets or if you are being bothered by noise in the night.
Your Personal Belongings
Laundry
We provide a central laundry service that can cater for all your laundry needs. Due to the number of patients that we
care for, we do ask that your clothing is labelled to prevent items being misplaced or lost. However, if you prefer, your
family or friends can organise your laundry for you.
Valuables
If you bring any valuables into our centre, we would always advise you to carry these with you, if at all possible. We
can, however, provide you with a lockable bedside cabinet or safe, if required. You can also give your valuables or
money to the nurses to put in our safe. You will be given a receipt for any items handed over to our safekeeping.
We would recommend that you consider your own separate insurance cover, particularly if you have any high value
items such as ipads and laptops. However, we would strongly advise that you leave any expensive or valuable
items at home.
7
Personal Monies
Whilst we cannot accept responsibility for your personal finances, we can offer you some support. In some
circumstances we are able to hold small amounts of personal monies to meet your immediate needs if requested.
The amount you ask us to look after should be kept to a minimum but can be regularly topped up as required. All
such monies are kept secure in one bank account with separate records for each patient recording the amount held
on their behalf, and details of deposits and withdrawals made. The bank account is a non-interest bearing account,
so no interest is earned on any monies you ask us to look after.
We also undertake to provide easy and flexible access to your monies. However, it must be noted that we are
unable to subsidise expenditure from monies held if you have insufficient money within the account.
All expenditure must be authorised by you or, where applicable, by your representative before payment is made.
We would suggest that you don’t bring into the centre more money than is necessary for your day-to-day living.
Electrical Items
To make you feel comfortable, we are happy for you to bring in electrical appliances from home, for example,
hairdryers, laptops etc. In order to comply with health and safety legislation, our maintenance officer will need to
undertake an initial electrical safety check which will be repeated on an annual basis. If your electrical appliance
has been risk assessed as unsafe, you will not be able to use it.
Mobile Phones and Cameras
Most patients like to bring their mobile phones into the centre for ease of contact with friends and family.
Families and friends are at liberty to take photographs of their relative but it is not permitted to take photographs
of any other patient or staff member.
Members of staff are not allowed to use mobile phones or take photographs of any patient or other staff member
without consent.
There is also a payphone located in the reception area for outgoing telephone calls.
There is a computer available if you wish to use the internet. The login details are:
Username: blackheath.patient.1
Password: bl4ckheath
If you wish to use your own computer to access the internet, you will need to purchase your own mobile network
device, for example, USB or pocket WiFi.
8
Sample Menu
Meals
Breakfast
Our menus are specifically designed to ensure you receive
a healthy balanced and varied diet. We usually operate a four
week rotational menu and offer both meat and vegetarian dishes
on a daily basis. We also cater for any cultural or specialist
dietary requirement on an individual basis. There is a full range
of modified texture menus for people with swallowing difficulties.
We do encourage meals to be taken in the dining room but you
may eat by choice in your own room if you prefer.
Meals can be provided for family and friends who are visiting
you. Our centre will request a small fee for these and individual
tickets can be purchased from reception. Visitor orders for lunch
and dinner should be placed before 10am and 3pm respectively.
The daily menu is on show on the noticeboard in the dining
room.
From patients’ choice, our meal times have been set as
follows:
9.00am - 10.00am
12.30pm - 1.30pm
5.30pm - 6.30pm
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks and Drinks
Drinks such as tea and coffee and snacks are routinely
served mid morning, early afternoon and in the evening but
are also available throughout the day to suit you. You are
more than welcome to make a drink or snack during the day
for yourself or your visitors in our independent living skills
kitchen as long as we have assessed your ability to use the
kitchen and its equipment safely.
Porridge or choice of cereal
Bacon and cheese turnover
Fruit juice
Tea /Coffee with toast/ rolls and preserves
Lunch
Lamb or roast vegetable moussaka with
sautéed potatoes and mixed vegetables
or
Salad with pitta bread, cheese, roast pepper
and red onion or
Egg and cress sandwich
Apple flan or fresh fruit
***
Dinner
Leek and potato soup
Turkey meatballs and pasta
Mince quorn and pasta
Roast beef and horseradish potato salad
Tuna and sweetcorn sandwich
Peach slices with
cream Chantilly or fresh fruit
9
Social Life
“Thank you so much for looking after my mum. She has done so well since she arrived. Never thought she would
make such good progress. Mum has made friends here and she is sad to be leaving. She is having a cry while
I’m writing this card”
We have a dedicated Activity Co-ordinator who, with the involvement of our patients, organises a varied structured
programme of recreational activities. Our activities programmes are tailored not only to meet both the needs and
choices of individuals, but also to enable individuals to be independent in a variety of everyday situations.
We encourage our patients to make choices about which activities they wish to join in with and which activities they
prefer to avoid. Activities for each week are shown on your weekly timetable.
Some examples of popular activities and trips include:
Regular On-site Activities
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
10
Quizzes
Board games
Cinema evenings/afternoons
Gardening
Annual Sports Day
Basketball
Table Tennis
Summer BBQs
Pamper Sessions (eg: nail painting)
National celebration days e.g, Burns Night, St George's Day
Art and craft
Karaoke
Birthday celebrations
Visiting performers
Typical Trips and Outings
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Visits to beach / countryside
Ten pin bowling
Theatre/ Pantomime trips
Picnics
Visits to museums
Cinema visits
Visits to cafes / restaurants
Supermarket shopping trips
Other shopping trips, eg: local markets
Visits to local town / city
Visits to local attractions
Swimming
Please see the “A Typical Day” section on the following
page to get a feel for how a day at Blackheath is
structured.
17
A Typical Day
To give you a feel for what life is like at Blackheath, we asked an existing patient to describe a typical day in her words:
“My day begins around 8am or soon after, with a knock at the door and a carer saying “Good morning. I’m here to
assist you”. Then depending on your individual requirements you are washed, showered and dressed and set for
the day in a wheelchair or on your feet.
Next is the most important meal of the day, so we make our way to the dining room for breakfast. If you are able,
you have the opportunity to join a group to make our own breakfast and get some practice in cooking scrambled
eggs and toast!
On Monday mornings we are given a timetable of our activities for that week and each day will be different. There
will be some free time, maybe an hour or perhaps the whole afternoon. So it could be you are free after breakfast
until say 10.30am when you have physiotherapy. This will be tailored to your needs to ensure you develop and
improve. After that, at 11.30am there is GRASP Group where several patients join together for exercises. These are
mainly upper limb exercises to encourage us to use limbs that have been affected by our illness or stroke. Part of
this time is also taken up by activities tailored to your injury using your thinking skills as well as physical ones.
The morning has flown by because 12.30pm means lunch and once more we make our way to the dining room.
Each day we are given the menu for the following day so we can choose our preferences. Breakfasts are generally
the same with cereal and toast with the hot section varied each day. Lunch and supper we have a hot meal with
vegetarian option or salad or sandwich. If we do not like these there is an alternative menu from which to choose.
Some days we may have an outing booked whereby we are taken out to Greenwich Park, or for a cup of coffee, or
the shops depending on the weather. According to your risk assessment you may have the opportunity to go boating.
Upon your return you may choose to take a rest. When you don’t have therapy sessions you can do what you like;
perhaps to read, watch television or do crosswords for example, in your room or join with others in the lounge.
5.30pm arrives and supper is served so again we are in the dining room for food and perhaps converse with fellow
patients. Thus we come to the end of the day and the therapy staff team have gone home. This also means time to
unwind, watch television or read before bedtime and sleep.
I would mention that therapy sessions can be in the afternoon, and some other group sessions available are: Current
Affairs (a time of looking at the newspapers and discussing the topics reported); Reading Group (topical articles are
read aloud and discussed); Book Group (each group decides on a book to read and discuss chapters read); Craft
Skills (participating in paintings, card making and origami). There are also one to one sessions for Pampering etc.”
11
Cultural, Religious and Social Needs
We will discuss with you your cultural, social and religious needs during your settling in period and we will ensure that these
needs are catered for. We will facilitate meetings with a representative of your chosen religion at any time
Smoking
In line with current legislation, we do have a designated smoking area outside our centre. Smoking in any other area is
strictly prohibited.
For patients who choose to smoke, we complete a detailed risk assessment to agree on matters such as whether you
need assistance or supervision. We would request that matches and lighters are handed to our nurses for fire
prevention and safety.
We are more than happy to facilitate smoking cessation if you request help with this.
Outside Appointments
Part of normal everyday life involves going to the hairdressers and/or beauticians and other therapists, for example,
reflexologists. We are happy to organise these appointments for you but these are not included within the cost for our
service.
Patients’ Meetings
Our patients hold regular meetings, which act as a forum for them to raise any concerns they might have with our service
or care and to discuss any suggestions to improve life at the centre. Dates of meetings are posted on our noticeboards.
Transport
Our centre owns a minibus which is used to take individuals out for trips or for appointments. It is only driven by
approved drivers. Other transport services, such as taxis, can be arranged as required, although the cost for these will
have to be met by the patient or their family. We can explore entitlement and other options for financial support for transport
if necessary.
Newspapers, Magazines and Mail
Any mail that is addressed to you will be handed to you promptly and unopened. If you need any help with opening or
reading your correspondence, a member of staff will, of course, be happy to help you. We are also happy to post letters on
your behalf.
We can also organise regular delivery to the centre of newspapers and magazines but you will be expected to cover the
cost of these.
12
Visitor Information
Visiting hours are between 10am and 8pm. We do ask though, that if possible, visitors avoid mealtimes and therapy
times unless arrangements have been made for the visitor to be involved. Visiting pets and children are also
welcome but we do ask that they are supervised at all times and that you advise the Ward Manager in advance. You
can either entertain your visitors in the privacy of your own room or in one of the lounge areas or garden areas.
Unfortunately, there is limited car parking on site.
For the safety of our visitors, we ask all visitors to sign our visitors’ book on arrival and to sign out again on leaving.
In the event of a fire, staff will instruct visitors on our building evacuation policy.
To ensure that all our patients remain safe at all times, all external doors are keypad protected. This may mean that
visitors sometimes have to wait at the door until a member of staff is available to let the visitor in. We do apologise
for the inconvenience that this may cause but this simple rule enables us to keep our patients safe.
We also ask that if any visitor to the centre sees anything or anyone suspicious, that they alert staff immediately. With
regards to smoking, it is not permissible for visitors to smoke at our centre.
Meals can be provided for visiting family and friends but our centre will request a small fee for these. To ensure that
we have ordered enough food for the day, please can orders for visitors’ lunch and dinner be placed before 10am
and 3pm respectively.
We are unable to allow visitors to bring in home-cooked meals for food safety and hygiene reasons. There is some
further information that may be useful to visitors in other sections of this guide.
13
Security
Your security whilst staying with us is of the utmost importance. We have a number of security systems on doors
throughout the building. Our staff will advise you how to access these.
The entrance to our centre has a keypad entry system and whilst it would seem appropriate to give the code to
frequent visitors, it becomes meaningless as a security measure if the code becomes widely known. For this reason,
we do not give out entry codes even to our frequent visitors.
Fire Procedure
Our centre is equipped with a modern fire alarm system and we have taken the advice of our local fire department
about signage for fire exits and instructions as to what to do in case of a fire. Our furniture and fixtures and fittings
are made from fire-resistant or fire-retardant fabrics and materials.
When you move into our centre, both you and your relatives will be informed of the fire evacuation procedure and
the congregation points. We will always ask your visitors to sign in so we can account for every person present in
the building in case we need to evacuate.
We would also draw your attention to the fact that bedroom doors should not be propped or wedged open at any
time. Some rooms are fitted with portable devices which hold the door open, but release when the fire alarm sounds
to prevent the spread of fire.
The fire alarm is a very loud continuous siren, quite different to the sound for nurse call or door bells. If the alarm
sounds, staff will follow our fire evacuation procedure.
A fire alarm test is carried out routinely every week to ensure that the system is working properly. We also run an
unannounced actual fire drill on a monthly basis.
If you wish to know more about our fire procedures, please ask to see a copy of our Health and Safety manual.
Risk Management
We have policies in place to manage risks. Choices should not always be ruled out simply because it involves risk,
as responsible risk-taking is part of normal life. We can complete a risk assessment before you leave the centre for
either a home visit or planned outing.
14
Respecting Each Other
Whilst we try our best to provide a home-from-home and happy environment for all our patients, you can help us achieve
this by showing respect to your fellow patients and members of staff and by adhering to a few guidelines:
• Please do not enter other peoples’ bedrooms as this is someone’s private space.
• Only smoke in the designated areas and do not share your cigarettes or tobacco with a fellow patient as there may be a
clinical reason a particular patient is unable to smoke. For safety reasons and to adhere to fire regulations, we ask that all
lighters and matches are handed in to the nurse on duty.
• Do not take photographs or video other people within the centre.
• If using your mobile phone in a communal area, please have consideration for those around you by keeping the duration
of the call to a minimum.
• Do not bring drugs, alcohol, sharp objects or glass into the centre.
• Discuss any vitamins or alternative treatments with the medical team before use as they may interact negatively with
other treatments.
• Please inform the nursing team if any food or drink is brought into the centre.
• Follow the individual guidelines put in place by the team as they are for patient safety
• Do not use abusive language or threatening behaviour towards a fellow patient or a member of staff. Remember that
some of our patients, due to their condition, may behave in ways you may consider inappropriate.
15
Complaints
How to make a complaint:
We want to resolve any problems as quickly and as informally as possible. In many cases discussing it with your
named therapist or named nurse is all that is needed to put things right. If you do not want to speak to a member of
staff directly responsible for your care, you can take your complaint directly to the Centre Manager who is
responsible for dealing with complaints. Any member of staff will be able to advise you how to do this. The Centre
Manager will then log the complaint in the Complaints Register and assign someone to investigate your complaint.
If you would prefer independent help in addressing an issue, we can facilitate advocacy arrangements.
If you are not happy that your complaint has been handled to your satisfaction by your Centre Manager, you are at
liberty to contact our Clinical Compliance team who deal with complaints. You can do this by writing to the following
address:
1. Clinical Compliance –
Feedback and Complaints
The Huntercombe Group
Tulip House
Craven Court
Willie Snaith Road
Newmarket
Suffolk CB8 7FA
T: 01638 606300
E: [email protected]
We aim to handle all complaints within 20 days
of the complaint being raised. Where this is not possible
we will advise you and give you an alternative timescale.
2. If you have reached the end of the complaints
process and are still not happy, or if your complaint
hasn’t been resolved after six months, you can
complain to the Parliamentary and Health Service
Ombudsman:
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP
Enquiries: 0345 015 4033
Fax: 0300 061 4000
Email: [email protected]
www.ombudsman.org.uk
You should normally refer your complaint to the
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman within
12 months of becoming aware of the problem.
16
About Your
Rehabilitation
Our philosophy is to provide our patients with a safe and
comfortable environment in which to achieve their own
personal rehabilitation goals, whatever their physical,
psychological, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs.
17
Your Rights
When you go into hospital or a specialist centre, you have certain rights and there are things that should always
happen. These are listed below:
• Your best interest must always be taken into account.
• You should always be kept as fully informed as possible, and receive clear and detailed information concerning
your care.
• Your views, wishes and feelings should always be considered.
• You should always be treated with dignity and respect.
• You must be informed of the type or nature of treatment that is being proposed; the reason for it and how it is likely to
affect you.
• You have a right to withdraw your consent to treatment at any time, and must be told how and when treatment can
be given to you without your consent.
• Your progress and possible changes in your care plan should be reviewed at regular intervals.
• You have a right to appeal against a decision to section you under the Mental Health Act.
• Any intervention in your life (like how long you are kept in hospital) should be as unrestrictive as possible, and
mean the least possible separation from your family, friends and community.
• You have the right to have contact with family and friends either through visits or on the phone (except under
exceptional circumstances).
• Any intervention in your life should result in the least amount of stigma.
• You should be able to have as much access to education that is suitable and right for you, if applicable.
• You have a basic right to food, shelter, water, warmth, a comfortable environment, confidentiality or reasonable
privacy (both physical privacy and privacy in regard to your personal thoughts and feelings).
Rights of relatives/ carers
Your family and carers have a very important role in your life and in supporting your care. Your admission to a specialist
centre can be a difficult time for your family too and it is important that they are kept involved in your care. At the same
time, you have a right to confidentiality (as long as this does not present a significant risk).
We work closely with families throughout your time with us. Parents and carers can contribute to the review of the care
plans, either by using feedback forms, or attending the review meetings or discussing plans on the telephone with
senior members of the team.
Sometimes family and/or carers have to consider making hard decisions in your best interest, such as consenting to
your treatment, or discussing the use of the Mental Health Act if no other alternatives are available.
Independent advocacy service
An independent advocate is a person who is not employed by or linked to the centre and is there solely to help, advise
and represent you. Ask a member of staff if you require this service.
18
Moving in
An individual nursing and therapy assessment will be undertaken in your current setting e.g. hospital. This is to ensure that
we are able to provide the exact service you need to help you achieve your individual goals.
We encourage anyone considering moving into our centre to visit before making the final decision. A member of staff will be
happy to show you and your relatives our facilities and to introduce you to key members of staff. This will give you the
opportunity to sample the atmosphere and to see at first hand the quality of service we offer.
On admission, you will be allocated your own named therapist and named nurse. Your named therapist and named nurse
are members of our team assigned to oversee your care and treatment during your time at our centre. The names of both
your named therapist and named nurse are written on the back page of this guide.
Following your admission, our team will undertake a period of assessment, following which a goal-orientated and personcentred care plan will be developed. This care plan details your individual needs and tells you who will provide the services
you need. It will be a document given to you by a member of staff. If you need to access a copy of your care plan at any
time, please ask.
Your care plan and goals will be regularly reviewed and documented to make sure your needs continue to be met and we
will always involve you and your family, if appropriate, in any decisions regarding your care. All changes to your care plan will
be documented within your care plan.
We actively encourage your and your family’s involvement, if appropriate, in all aspects of your care. This includes participation in:
• the planning of your care and in the setting of your goals
• the planning of and involvement in social activities
• menu planning and service development
If, at any time, you wish to discuss your care plan, you can speak to your named therapist, named nurse or any other member of the
team.
Review Meetings
Case review meetings will be held at regular intervals to discuss your progress, your future care and rehabilitation needs.
These case review meetings will be attended by the members of our team directly involved in your care, you, your relatives
and may also include your funder, your care manager or representative, if applicable.
At the review meeting, plans for discharge may be made with you and your family and a date for discharge may be set.
Alternatively, you may actually require further time with us to reach your rehabilitation goals.
Your general health will also be regularly monitored by our clinical team and we will organise routine appointments with
opticians and dentists. We also organise regular reviews with social workers and continuing care nurses. We can also
arrange input from other specialists, for example, chiropodists and tissue viability nurses.
19
Person-Centred Rehabilitation
The focus of this service is on increasing participation in everyday activities, wherever possible, and encouraging
autonomy for the individual despite mobility and other physical or cognitive restrictions. Depending on your needs,
there are individual and group therapy sessions available to help assess your needs and strengths, and to work
towards your goals. We routinely use a range of outcome measures and patient-centred goals to obtain an
objective measure of progress and change. You, our patients, are at the heart of person-centred care.
Goal Setting
Involvement/Inclusion
We will involve our patients in all
decisions relating to their care
and rehabilitation
We will involve family members
as partners in goal setting and
care planning
We will encourage our
patients to be part of
life at the centre and the wider
community of their choosing.
20
Our Patients will
• Be kept safe
• Be treated with dignity and
respect
• Have their privacy respected
• Be able to make their own
choices about how they live
their life whilst staying in one
of our centres
• Be empowered to be as
independent as possible
wherever possible
• Have their rights to
confidentiality respected
We will assess each patient’s
capabilities on admission and on
a regular basis and
together agree individual goals
We will identify the support
required by each individual to
achieve their goals and enable
access to the right support at the
right time.
The care plan and goals will
remain “live” - we will be flexible
and modify the care plan
according to the patient’s
changing wishes and needs by
listening to our patients and
putting into action what they
want for their lives.
Tell us if you are not sure about any aspect of your rehabilitation
or care plan or how to access a copy.
Rehabilitation Timeline
Week 1
Week 2
Week 6
Week 10
Meet with named
nurse and named
therapist to:
• Set rehabilitation
goals
• Share contact
details
• Plan discharge
The therapy and
nursing team
meet
Progress Meeting
Review Meeting
Family & funders
invited
Family &
funders invited
Discuss progress
and predicted
length of
admission
Goals are
reviewed
They plan a
rehabilitation
programme to
work towards your
goals
A decision is
made whether
you need to stay
longer or not
Week 12
If you are being discharged:
• Discharge report completed.
• Referrals to community
teams/organisations
are done if needed
Week 12
If you are staying:
Continue to work towards
goals of discharge with
regular review
21
General Medical Care
Appointments with Dentists, Opticians and Chiropodists
All our patients are registered with a local dentist and, if required, a local optician. We are able to organise your
appointments with these specialists for you.
Medicines (prescribed and non-prescribed)
We are regularly inspected by both the community pharmacist and the Care Quality Commission to ensure that the
strict policies we have in place for the administration of medicine are adhered to and are safe.
Accidents and Incidents
In the unlikely event of an accident or incident during your stay with us, we have a policy in place for these. An
incident form is completed by the member of staff who witnessed the accident / incident and this form is given to
your Centre Manager to take action, if appropriate. All incidents are then reported to the Senior Management Team
on a weekly basis.
Medical and Other Emergencies
Our centre is staffed with qualified nurses 24 hours per day.
Should you become seriously ill or require hospitalisation we will refer you to our nearest hospital following basic life
support at our centre. We will, naturally, inform your nearest relative or representative.
If you do need to go into hospital, we will look after your room and your belongings until you are fit to return or need
to make other arrangements for your continued care.
We have a list of emergency call-out numbers in case of an unlikely non-medical emergency, such as power failure,
loss of heating or water. Our staff will always keep you informed of any such emergency. There is always an on-call
manager who can be contacted at any time for assistance or advice. There are emergency plans in place for major
events requiring temporary evacuation.
22
Confidentiality, Safeguarding and Whistleblowing
Confidentiality
All confidential information held by us will only be shared with our clinical team and other relevant personnel with
your consent and is stored and disseminated in line with current legislation. It may be made anonymous to support
clinical audit and other work which monitors the quality of care we provide. We may ask to record information that
you give for these purposes only. Please feel free to discuss this with your Centre Manager.
Safeguarding and Whistleblowing
During your time with us, your safety and the safety of your visitors is of the utmost importance to us. To ensure your
safety, we have policies and procedures in line with current UK and European legislation.
We will:
• Take every action we can to prevent abuse from happening in our service.
• Respond appropriately when it is suspected that abuse has occurred.
• Ensure that Government and local guidance about safeguarding people from abuse is accessible to all our staff
and put into practice.
If you suspect that abuse is taking place in our centre, you should contact either the Centre Manager or the
appropriate regulatory body immediately. The contact addresses are listed within this welcome pack.
If you want to know more detail about any of our policies related to your safeguarding, you can either ask your
manager or a member of staff or alternatively, look at your centre’s notice board.
23
What’s Included
We are committed to providing value for money for the care that we provide. Our fees are determined by the type of
care you require, your dependency needs and any additional special requirements you may have e.g. one-to-one
nursing care.
For most individuals, their stay at one of our specialist centres is funded either by NHS England or their Local
Authority. Other individuals or their families choose to fund their own care.
Funding by NHS England or Local Authority
covers the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
24
Care and treatment from our specialist team
Fully trained nursing staff in 24 hour attendance
Staffing ratio in line with our regulatory bodies
Individual care planning and risk assessments
Specific therapy treatments, for example, speech
and language therapy, physiotherapy,
occupational therapy, psychology and
neuropsychiatry if required
Home cooking and provision of special diets
Laundry service
Central heating
TV/video in central areas
Minibus for outings and transport for
appointments
Access to leisure and recreational facilities within
the community
Equipped independent living skills kitchen
Assistance with maximising benefits
This funding does not include the following:
• Dry cleaning
• Newspapers (other than those provided) and
magazines
• Meals out
• Payment for trips and social outings e.g. cinema,
bowling, days out
• Visits to hairdressers, barbers, chiropodists etc
• Private phone calls from room, internet costs and
•
•
•
•
•
mobile telephone calls
Carbonated and alcoholic drinks
Maintenance of personal equipment
Taxi services for personal use
Personal annual holidays
Additional one-to-one staff input
17
Our Team
During your time at our centre, you will be cared for and supported by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals and other staff.
Some members of our team wear everyday clothes but other members of our team wear a coloured polo shirt to help patients
and their families identify who does what role within the centre.
Everyday clothes are worn by:
• Your consultant, who is there to help you improve your physical and mental health and to provide leadership
to our multi-disciplinary team
• Your dietitian, who will ensure that you are eating and drinking well to support your recovery and well-being
• Your psychologist, who will help you improve your memory, attention and planning skills and to help you with any
changes in emotions you might have
• Community liaison co-ordinator, who checks that you are receiving the correct benefits and will work with you and your
family to plan your discharge
• Administrative and finance staff, who support our clinical team and who will help you to look after your money and
valuables
A guide to the different coloured polo shirts worn can be found here:
Ward Managers
Our ward managers support the centre
manager with the day to day management
of the centre. This involves support with the
recruitment, day-to-day management and
training of staff and ensuring that the centre
meets all its compliance requirements.
Other duties include finance, deputising in
the manager’s absence and identifying
changes that will positively enhance the
experience of patients staying with us.
Therapy Team and
Rehabilitation Technicians
There are many different types of therapist
at our centre:
•Our occupational therapists help you
become more independent
with everyday activities
•Our physiotherapists help you become
more independent with physical activities
such as sitting, standing and walking
•Our speech and language
therapists help you to understand
and to be understood by helping
you with your speech, listening,
reading and writing as well as
assisting with any swallowing
problems.
•Rehabilitation technicians work alongside
all therapy teams to run rehabilitation
programmes under therapists’ guidance
Qualified Nurse
Our qualified nurses are responsible for
providing high standards of nursing
care, which comply with all legal,
regulatory and best practice guidelines.
They ensure that all medicines are
appropriately received, stored and
administered to our patients. They also
ensure that the care team’s skill and
knowledge levels match the
requirements of the patients and they
take a lead in the development and
review of care plans.
25
Rehabilitation Assistants
Our rehabilitation assistants
work alongside the nursing
team to provide daily care
and interaction in line with
an individual’s abilities and
rehabilitation goals.
26
Activities
Our activities co-ordinators
plan and organise all our
social events, activities and
outings. They visit all our
patients regularly.
Maintenance
Our maintenance team are
responsible for the upkeep
of our centre and the
grounds. They ensure the
smooth operation of all
services such as heating,
lighting, plumbing and other
equipment. They also take
an active role in identifying
any risks around the centre
and garden areas that relate
to patient safety and
security.
Housekeeping
Our housekeeping team are
responsible for keeping our
centre clean and tidy. They
ensure that bedrooms and
communal areas are
cleaned on a daily basis.
They also provide our
patient laundry service.
Catering
Members of our catering
team plan and organise
meals for all our patients
and their visitors. They
design our menus with the
dietitian and speech and
language therapy team to
ensure our patients receive
a healthy balanced and
varied diet.
Our kitchen porters wear red
polo shirts.
Useful
Contacts
This section lists organisations and charities that offer advice,
guidance and support to people with a brain injury or other
neurological condition.
27
Useful Contacts
Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) is a not-for-profit organisation, which exists to fight for the rights of
injured people. APIL offer information, guidance and support for those injured as a result of someone else's
negligence and can direct you to a personal injury lawyer in your area.
Tel 0115 958 0585
www.apil.org.uk
The Brain and Spine Foundation
The Brain and Spine Foundation is a charitable organisation which provides information and support for adults and
children affected by neurological conditions, and helps to develop training and tools for medical and educational
professionals.
Tel 020 7793 5900
www.brainandspine.org.uk
British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers (BABICM)
The British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers (BABICM) is a professional association established to promote
the development of case management in the field of acquired brain injury. It represents the professional interests and
concerns of case managers who work with those who have suffered an acquired brain injury or other complex
condition that requires co-ordinated rehabilitation, care and support.
Tel 07002 222426
www.babicm.org
Connect
This is a charity for people with aphasia (or dysphasia), a communication disability that can be caused by stroke, brain
haemorrhage, head injury or tumours.
Tel 020 7367 0840
www.ukconnect.org
Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK is the leading charity that cares for, connects with and campaigns on behalf of every person affected by or
at risk of diabetes. They help people manage their diabetes effectively by providing information, advice and support.
Tel 0345 123 2399
www.diabetes.org.uk
Different Strokes
Different Strokes is a registered charity providing a free service to younger stroke survivors in the UK. The charity is run
by stroke survivors and offers self-help and mutual support to enable stroke survivors of working age to optimise their
recovery, take control of their own lives and regain as much independence as possible.
Tel 0845 130 7172
www.differentstrokes.co.uk
28
direct.gov
Information for people with disability
www.direct.gov.uk/disability
Information for carers
www.direct.gov.uk/carers
Disability Alliance
Disability Alliance is a national registered charity which works to relieve the poverty and improve the living standards of
disabled people.
Tel 020 7247 8776
www.disabilityalliance.org
The Encephalitis Society
The Encephalitis Society is a UK based charity set up by people affected by encephalitis. They offer support and
information to adults and children affected by encephalitis, produce evidence-based information on all aspects of the
condition, raise awareness about the condition and conduct research into the condition.
Tel 01653 699599
www.encephalitis.info
Epilepsy Action
Epilepsy Action is a UK member-led epilepsy organisation, which acts as the voice of people with epilepsy, their
friends, families and health professionals. As well as campaigning to improve epilepsy services, they also offer
support and assistance.
Tel 0808 800 5050
www.epilepsy.org.uk
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Tel 0845 604 6610
www.equalityhumanrights.com
Headway-The Brain Injury Association
Headway is a charity that provides help and support to people affected by brain injury both locally and nationally. A
network of local groups throughout the UK and Channel Islands offer a wide range of services, including rehabilitation
programmes, carer support, social re-integration, community outreach and respite care. Nationally, Headway helps to
deliver high quality services through guidance on policies, procedures, standards and training.
Tel 0808 800 2244
www.headway.org.uk
Stroke Association
This organisation supports survivors of stroke to make the best recovery they can. They campaign for better stroke
prevention and care and fund new research to develop new treatments
Tel 0303 3033 100
www.stroke.org.uk
29
Notes
30
Notes
31
About You
Below are the names of your key contacts during your time at our centre. This should be completed on your arrival
and changed when required.
Your name:
Your room number:
Your Centre Manager is:
Your Named Therapist is:
Your Named Nurse is:
Your GP:
Your Dentist:
Your Centre:
Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre
80-82 Blackheath Hill
London
SE10 8AD
T: 020 8692 4007
F: 020 8694 8316
E:[email protected]
For more information, please refer to the centre noticeboards or our website www.huntercombe.com