need. The securing of vital core funding, from the Department of Health, in 2004 enabled the company to further address need through the establishment of its national framework or regional structure. ABI Ireland’s four Regional Hubs relate to the four HSE regions across the ROI. Each is led by a Regional Manager and supported by an interdisciplinary team made up of a range of rehabilitation professionals. The Regional Hubs are designed to respond efficiently and effectively to identify local need and work closely with the HSE to address needs. The interdisciplinary teams not only carry out assessments, but also provide rehabilitation and ongoing evaluation. The teams supervise and train staff and provide ongoing support for all Acquired Brain Injury Ireland services in that region. In addition, they also provide outreach services including ABI specific training to other organisations within their communities.The team ensures that the client and his/her family have access to appropriate services in a timely and effective manner. Within this overall team working model there are a number of key elements including the role of the Case Manager. The Case Manager: Acts as single point of contact and provides a clear care pathway from acute settings through post acute and into community rehabilitation service. • Links with the Primary Care Team (PCT) the HSE first point of contact. The Case manager identifies the clients in hospital and acts as a bridge between them and the community and effectively links up services. • Reduces the number of clients that ‘fall through the net’ and provide support appropriately. • Provides ongoing case management through a monitoring service/role as part of the team. • Advocates on behalf of the client when there are service gaps. The Interdisciplinary Team
Core team members include: Case/Community Services Manager, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Rehabilitation Assistants, Neuro Rehab Occupational Therapy, Specialist Social Work/ Family Liaison, Speech & Language Therapist and Physiotherapist. In cases where the clients needs require additional services and/or supports the ABI Ireland networks with acute, post acute and community services to address these needs. This is particularly essential when there is dual or multiple diagnoses (e.g., mental health difficulties, alcohol drug addiction).
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Acquired Brain Injury Ireland Services 2009
The following gives a brief overview of the range of ABI Specific services currently provided by the Acquired Brain Injury in the Republic of Ireland today. • Supported Living – home from home in the community (14 Residences at present across all the HSE regions, including Transitional Living residence in Sligo). • Community Rehabilitation/Outreach Services (15 Services currently across all HSE regions) • Case Management (7 Case Managers in place) • Day Resource Service (3) Based on the Clubhouse Model. • Family Support Services (includes therapy groups, education and general support). Currently 240 family carers are involved in ABI Irelands ABI specific training the programme run over six days and offered in various regional locations. • Psychological Services (includes assessment, behavioural programmes, counselling and cognitive rehabilitation, cognitive behavioural therapy and parenting programmes.) • Home Liaison/Social Work (includes counselling, mediation, community access, grief and loss support groups. • ABI Awareness, Information, Training & Education Programmes (both internal & external) ABI Ireland is working with BIAA/AACBIS and has had thirteen ABI professionals complete the CBIS training programme – 2009 will also see two ABI Ireland staff trained as trainers to help ensure further ABI specialists receive this vital training. Addressing Unmet Need
The current strategic objectives of ABI Ireland are as follows: •
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The work of the Team
Included in the interdisciplinary team work are the following key roles: • • • •
Conducts a comprehensive needs’ assessment of all clients referred. Engages in a joint decision making process based on the needs assessment and joint planning to ensure the most appropriate services are made available to the person. Ensures the range of specialist and non-specialist services required by the person and family is coordinated centrally by the team. Monitors to ensure communication between services and the individual’s integrated person centered plan that addresses all the person’s needs.
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Reviews the person’s overall progress, supports and ongoing needs (jointly with all stakeholders).
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To ensure continuous ABI Quality Assurance. Having achieved international recognition through CARF for ABI specific service provision, the ABI Ireland strives to ensure continuous quality improvement which promotes real and meaningful outcome measures including value for money for all stakeholders. To continue to develop a range of pioneering flexible and tailor-made services for people with ABI in response to local needs, ensuring equal geographical spread by strengthening the four regional Hubs. This facilitates a timely flexible response to an often traumatic event. Reduces the strain on the NRH, allows access to specialist rehabilitation in the community ensuring people can remain at home. It develops regional expertise which can be shared across the disability sector. Ultimately, reduces costs by developing a national framework, allowing local development which responds to local identified need. To get Acquired Brain Injury recognised, established and funded as a named category aside from Physical and Sensory Disability. This will assist with service planning as the population will be identified and proper assessment of need can be assessed. To secure appropriate additional funding for this hidden and complex disability group which is currently considerably under-resourced. The cumulative effect of lack of recognition has resulted in a very significant build up of unmet ABI needs across the country. To support the development of a National Framework for