Why every social worker needs to understand brain injury

First conference of its kind highlights need to train social workers about the condition
image depicting brain injury
Image: Headway

Brain injury is a silent epidemic, with someone in the UK admitted to hospital every 90 seconds. An estimated 1.3 million people are affected, according to charity Headway.

And yet research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research has found that the majority of social workers receive no training on brain injury and can struggle to match services to clients’ needs.

Issues such as homelessness, mental illness and behavioural problems can mask the fact a person has a brain injury.

Recently, initiatives have been launched to increase understanding and awareness of the condition among social workers.

Last month, the Brain Injury Social Work Group (BISWG) and the Head Injury and Homelessness Research Group (HIHRG) held a conference at Sheffield Hallam University attended by more than 120 delegates.

BISWG is also a partner in Heads Together, a new collaboration which brings together brain injury experts to help improve social workers' knowledge of acquired brain injuries.

Brain injury survivor Annie Ricketts is part of Heads Together’s experts by experience group. She says she spent “a long time sitting on the sofa being angry and upset” after her injury.

“I’m fully aware that it’s there, I know the impact and the effects that I struggle with – particularly fatigue or sometimes trying to find my words. I’m definitely blunter these days.

“Work has always been a huge part of my identity, I was always really busy and fairly competitive, but for 15 months I couldn’t really do anything.”

Steph Grant shared his lived experience of an acquired brain injury at last month’s conference. He said a lack of support following his brain injury led to years of chaotic living.

Things changed for the better when a specialist brain injury social worker refused to leave after he turned down her support. She gained him access to specialist NHS neuro-assessment and rehabilitation.

“I am just so pleased that the social worker didn't just go away that day,” said Steph. “She was sensitive and brave enough to know I needed help, and she didn’t just leave me there.”

Caroline Bald, social work academic at the University of Essex, said: “Every social worker needs to be a brain injury social worker as part of basic decent practice. People still think of brain injury as niche, but it is in fact the leading cause of death and disability in the UK for those aged 0 to 40.

"We are keen to build a community of practice across social work and social care, to push for rehab as a right and to better ensure social workers are trained and resourced to support people with brain injuries and their families."

Dr Mark Holloway, who has worked with individuals and families affected by acquired brain injury since 1991, said social workers should understand the association between brain injury and housing and homelessness.

He stressed maintaining a home can be incredibly difficult for people with an acquired brain injury: “Keeping a home is a matter of resources, abilities, and skills. It is vital the impact of a brain injury is recognised because as we know many people will look unimpaired, but their injury will mean they may state they have no difficulty in doing something but then may not act in accordance with that.”

For more information see BISWG’s website at www.biswg.co.uk