expectations
Letter from the CEO Dear Reader, You are very welcome to Headway. Since 1985 Headway has brought positive change to our clients, people who are affected by brain injury. This includes both the person with acquired brain injury and their support network of family and friends. We developed “Expectations” because you are becoming part of the Headway team. By reading “Expectations” you will see what you can expect from us and get an idea of how you will be an active participant throughout your time with Headway. These 12 expectations form the foundation of all of the work we will do together as you progress through and beyond our services. We look forward to working with you and learning from you on your journey. Thank you for choosing Headway.
Sincerely,
About Headway Headway Mission: To bring positive change in the lives of those affected by an acquired brain injury. Vision: To be an internationally accredited organisation that contributes positively to the lives of people affected by brain injury, no matter who or where in Ireland. Values: Integrity is at the very core. Dignity, Respect, Responsibility and Accountability are the spokes in the wheel that give the wheel its strength. Headway’s clients are people who are affected by brain injury-both the person with acquired brain injury and their support network of family and friends.
Headway Strategic Objectives 2013-2016 ❱ To be an internationally accredited organisation that contributes positively to the lives of people affected by brain injury. ❱ To empower our clients to maximise independence and develop meaningful roles in their own community; through rehabilitation, advocacy, personal and social development. ❱ To support our clients to access education, vocational training and work opportunities to progress through and out of Headway’s services. ❱ To enhance services provided to existing clients and develop services to reach new clients. ❱ To communicate effectively internally and externally to enhance awareness of brain injury and support service development.
“The staff at Headway understand and listen to me and do their best to help meet my needs.�
1. support for making choices and plans From the day you decide to become a Headway client you will be presented with accessible information and options to make informed choices to determine and plan how your time with us will proceed and be supported.
“Headway staff are doing a great job, and we as clients have a great rapport together. Headway helps me to have structure in my day and helps me to regain IT skills and FETAC awards that otherwise I would not achieve.�
2. support for making transitions and progression Headway understands the challenges you will face as you settle in and move through our services. We acknowledge every positive step big or small, and together we will set challenging but attainable goals, so you can attempt and learn from new experiences.
“Headway is a vital and very important service in the community. I have found my association with it to be really helpful in my situation and would hope that I will be able to continue to access its services. To all involved in Headway – I say thank you so much.”
3. support for inclusion in one’s local community Headway staff helps to promote and facilitate community inclusion for you to participate in normal, everyday community activities. With your participation and according to your needs, we will explore ways to help you regain the confidence to develop relationships, enhance your social skills and engage in community activities.
“I only attend Headway for computers class on Friday and this is what I requested myself. I was offered other services but didn’t feel able to participate. I would like to attend more computers classes if available. Thanks for everything.”
4. support for accessing education and formal learning The Headway team will support your wishes, interests and abilities to access formal education programmes through a person-centred plan. We want to help you to maximise your potential, so we have classes, modules and established links with third level providers and other mainstream education providers to suit your needs.
“Our lives have been totally changed for the best since I went to Headway. Now I have friends outside the family and enjoy every day at Headway.�
5. support for maximising independence Headway recognises the definition of independence is unique to each individual. Your personcentred plan will encourage learning through participation in our centres, in your home and in the wider community to ensure you can achieve independence in line with your abilities and interests.
“I’m coming to Headway and the craic is ninety. But to be more serious, what the Headway Centre and staff members have done for me on my way back to recovery is enormous. It got me back on my way of living that I used to do before I had my brain injury.”
6. support for personal and social development Your personal and social development is the foundation of independence. We will work with you to develop your capacity to engage in social relationships so you can contribute to all aspects of community living. We have established relationships with a wide range of community services in order to help you achieve your social and personal development goals.
“Meeting/talking to others who have a brain injury has been informative – i.e. made me realise that a lot of what I went through (re emotional disturbances) was quite common. It also helped me understand why I was acting / experiencing these difficulties.”
7. support for health and wellbeing You may have health related difficulties when attending Headway. While Headway does not provide medical services, we will do our best to ensure you understand good health management and have time off to access appropriate health care in line with your identified needs. Part of our service deals with personal health management and we deal with many organisations in this area.
“Headway gave me back the confidence I had lost.�
8. support for accessing bridging programmes to vocational training If participation in internal and / or external training programmes or modules fit with your agreed goals, they will be designed, monitored and evaluated on an individual basis to ensure you achieve your chosen goals. We have links with a wide range of education providers, so along with the specialist supports provided by Headway, you can get the training and experience required to suit your needs, wishes and capabilities.
“Headway definitely helped me to access personal motivation and look at my situation in a different way. My training officer is well able to deal with me trying to wiggle off the hook!�
9. support for accessing vocational training and work opportunities If you aspire to go back to work, we will do our best to give you the specific support you need to participate in and benefit from vocational training to maximise your chances of working in the community. When you transition out of Headway we recognise you might need some form of occasional on-going support in your rehabilitation. Our open door policy ensures you know our supports will be here for you if you require them in the future.
“I like the company, the activities, especially the arts and crafts. I get on well with all the clients and I love them all to bits. I can understand them.”
10. support for personal expression and creativity Like independence, self-expression and creativity mean different things to different people. Headway’s support programmes acknowledge and recognise the value of creative expression and are flexible to facilitate your unique personal preferences. Our client’s work has appeared across Ireland in public art and craft exhibitions, theatre and video productions.
“I like when volunteers come in on work experience, as we can help them understand ABI.�
11. support for having meaningful social roles As a Headway client, we will encourage and facilitate you to explore, identify and take up meaningful social roles through participation in our services. These social roles can vary and may include being a family member, advocate, peer, friend, parent, volunteer or employee.
“I like that Headway are interested in my suggestions and opinions.”
12. support for influencing service policy and practice Headway’s services are built around the needs, rights and dignity of our clients. Your feedback is very important to us—we want to ensure the services you receive make your quality of life better. The National Advocacy Group, made up of Headway clients, annually present their ideas to the Board of Directors. We have very popular advocacy training modules to help you to get involved too!
Š Headway 2012 | Charity No: CHY 7417 Registered Premises: Headway, Blackhall Green, off Blackhall Place Dublin 7 www.headway.ie | Tel: 01 604 0800 | fax: 01 604 1700