18 October 2019
During a routine inspection
Head First (Assessment, Rehabilitation and Case Management) LLP, referred to as ‘Head First’ throughout this report, is an independent organisation specialising in providing assessment, rehabilitation and case management for adults, and some young people and children, with an acquired brain injury. The organisation works with approximately 100 brain injured people, their families and care workers, and over 40 people are directly supported by the service. This includes supporting people who use the service to directly employ support workers, some of whom may provide personal care. The service primarily supports people in their own homes but also people in rehabilitation centres and care settings. The majority of people who receive a service live in Sussex (West and East), Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, Essex, Hertfordshire or Berkshire. The service also supports some people who live further afield across England.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People’s care and support needs were personalised and they received a bespoke service from Head First. People spoke very positively about the service and the staff who supported them. In addition to people the service directly supported, Head First were proactive in helping people and their families who had not received compensation through legal channels, but were living with an acquired brain injury. This was achieved through sharing knowledge about acquired brain injury, in this country and around the world, to improve people’s lives and support professional knowledge and development.
The service had been instrumental in setting up conferences about brain injury in the UK, invited speakers, including people and their families, at local and national events. Campaigning and promoting the use of bicycle helmets had also helped raise awareness for people about the risk of cycling without head protection, and fund-raised for a local group and the national charity. All these initiatives, and more, had a positive influence and impact on people living with an acquired brain injury.
People were complimentary about the service and staff who supported them. One relative had written, ‘My uncle has some fabulous support workers and they always seem to be trying new ideas to support his progress and improve motivation and quality of life. They show a genuine interest in him and talk positively about him’.
Staff were recruited at the point people were assessed as being suitable to receive a service at Head First. People’s specific needs were identified, new staff were recruited and training was tailored according to what people needed and wanted. Staff had regular supervisions with their line managers. Staff enjoyed working at the service and felt well supported in their roles. Working practices were discussed and areas for improvement were identified at staff meetings.
People were protected from the risk of harm by trained staff. Risk management was pre-emptive and people’s risks were managed effectively.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were supported by kind and caring staff who knew them well. Overall management of people’s care and support needs was overseen by case managers. One person commented, ‘Head First have been my happiest care. I feel they’re trained well and know how to assist me specifically’. People told us that their support staff arrived on time.
People were involved in all decisions relating to their care and support needs. Care plans were detailed and personalised. People knew who to contact if they had any concerns or wished to make a complaint.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (report published 17 March 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow-up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information, we may inspect sooner.