Enter and view: Headway Somerset

Healthwatch Somerset conducted a series of announced Enter and View visits to the three Headway centres located in Bridgwater, Henton, and Yeovil. The visits were carried out on 25 April, 29 April, and 6 May 2014, with a full day spent at each centre to explore the service user experience of the support provided by the Headway Brain Injury Association.

The Enter and View Authorised Representatives heard that a head injury whether it be from an accident or aneurism, a stroke or tumour, often presents as an invisible disability that affects not only a person’s cognitive ability but often their whole emotional state, social life and wellbeing. Clients at all three centres said that they felt Headway Somerset provided a place where they felt accepted, understood, supported, and valued.

This report highlights several areas of good practice to be shared among all three centres so that staff, volunteers, and clients can ensure a consistent offer.

Clients reported gaining a lot from receiving and giving support to each other along with the time and encouragement from staff and volunteers. The Enter and View Authorised Representatives heard that that many people felt that attending the centre had prevented them from developing conditions such as depression and that it helped maintain their sense of wellbeing. The outreach one to one support was particularly valued by those who received it and Healthwatch Somerset encourage Headway Somerset to continue to seek the funds to develop this aspect of service.

Service users told Healthwatch Somerset that they had not been given information about Headway or support services when they were discharged from hospital, and many also said they were not told how their brain injury may affect them. The report recommends that Headway Somerset contact the Patient Engagement Leads in each of the main acute hospitals in Somerset to ensure that leaflets about brain injuries, and about Headway's services are provided to patients upon discharge.

The report was published before being sent to Headway Somerset so no response was attached.