Client B was referred to HCML after being involved in a road traffic collision which left him with a traumatic brain injury. They were 11 years old and had been in hospital, unresponsive in a coma for 12 months.
The hospital was under increasing pressure due to lack of beds and were planning to discharge Client B to another hospital without specialist rehabilitation. The parents wanted to care for them at home, but the family would need to be rehoused with significant specific adaptations made to the property.
When Bob conducted the initial immediate needs assessment, Client B was unable to actively participate or express their needs in any meaningful way and was totally dependent on others.
Bob quickly developed a rehabilitation programme that focused on small improvements with the overall goal to secure a specialist paediatric neurorehabilitation placement and appropriate schooling.
Bob worked very closely with the hospital multi-disciplinary team to secure an extended hospital stay of 6 months with intensive acquired brain injury residential rehabilitation while he negotiated a placement at The Children’s Trust (TCT), a specialist community rehabilitation centre for children.
Having a good relationship with Client B’s parents was integral to their rehabilitation, and Bob built this trust through continuous reassurance, enabling access and including them in all the decisions regarding Client B’s care and development from the outset.
By engaging with the NHS England Lead Commissioner and the business and clinical leads at TCT, Bob secured Client B a placement at TCT within 3 months of referral to HCML where they will be supported until the age of 19.
Client B has continued their recovery beyond expectation, gaining independent communication and physical movement that were previously not thought possible.
