Call us now on 0330 128 1722
Mar 22
Love0

Crash Pad: Pioneering Hospital Admission Avoidance

By Articles, Charity and Community

Empowering U’s Crash Pad was recently showcased in an ITV News investigation, highlighting the need for hospital admission avoidance strategies to reduce the number of adults, living with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), being institutionalised as in-patients.

Pioneering Hospital Avoidance Strategies

ITV News recently aired an investigation, shedding light on the vital issue of adults living with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorder and the need for hospital avoidance strategies. The investigation centres around the pioneering partnership between Empowering U and Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHNFT). Together, we are dedicated to offering community-based support to help individuals living with learning disabilities and ASD avoid institutionalisation.

Empowering U’s collaboration with the BCHNFT has made significant strides in supporting those living with learning disabilities and ASD. Rather than institutionalisation and hospitalisation, Empowering U provide empathetic, community-led support through our experienced care team to ensure every individual receives the highest level of care.

Industry Leading Solutions: The Crash Pad and Emergency Response Team

In 2021, the community Transforming Care Partnership (TCP) team was created to provide care within service users’ homes or within their usual care settings. The Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHNFT) partnered with Empowering U to create the ‘Crash Pad’ in June 2023, which provides an intense, short-term, safe, and supportive haven for TCP clients. While the Crash Pad is a short-term solution, the Emergency Response Team (ERT) is committed to providing long-term support.

Additionally, Empowering U provides valuable support and advice to the TCP/ERT through a proactive “eyes-on” approach, effectively minimising hospital admissions. This collaboration to provide support and advice has played a significant role in the development of this partnership with the BCHNFT, to create the Crash Pad.

From January to March 2024, Empowering U has supported 24 individuals through the Crash Pad. This short-term solution provides alternative options for adults, living with learning disabilities and / or autism spectrum disorder, who are at threat of hospital admission.

The length of support and stay is as unique to an individual as their needs and can range from a few days up to a few weeks. This pioneering approach offers a secure environment, away from home and mental health units, where local people can receive effective treatment. The aim is to identify and address behavioural and mental health issues whilst allowing individuals to retain their independence.

Personal Stories: Transforming Lives

“I have been ignored whilst having a meltdown, stepped over, and walk past. I felt very distressed a lot of the time, isolated and lost because there wasn’t the staff there to support me and make me feel better. As I was having a meltdown, they didn’t understand so they just sedated me”

Daisy, a Crash Pad service user living with autism.

Empowering U and the Crash Pad have provided Daisy with the community-based support she required. Prior to using the Crash Pad, Daisy’s meltdowns would often result in her being sedated. Through Empowering U and Crash Pad support, Daisy is now able to live a happy and independent life.

“When in the community, I’m just me. I’m just being myself and I don’t feel like just a number. I feel like who I am”.

Through the support of Empowering U Care Manager, Andrea Welsh, Daisy has been able to enjoy freedom and fulfilling her needs by showering, cooking, and going to the shop independently.

“Our goal is to offer a holistic approach to care by creating a comfortable and calm atmosphere in our crash pads. Situated on a quiet street, opposite our day centre in Willenhall, we understand that we cannot prevent every admission. Therefore, we also utilise our crash pads to support hospitals in addressing their bed waiting lists as well as”.

Andrea, Care Manager at Empowering U.

Supporting Hospital Systems: The Role of Empowering U

The collaborative approach of the Empowering U and BCHNFT partnership focuses on delivering individualised 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 support along with comprehensive care for individuals living with a learning disability or ASD. Understanding the constraints faced by NHS Mental Health Units (MHU), the Crash Pad aims to identify and address the specific needs and requirements of each individual.

When contacted, Empowering U promptly travel to the emergency departments throughout the West Midlands to assist in transporting to the Crash Pad and providing support for. The Crash Pad effectively minimises the occurrence of out-of-context mimicry and repetitiveness behaviour in service-users. This is not characteristic of their normal behaviour which may be presented during their admission in hospitals.

The importance of Empowering U’s Mental Health Team cannot be understated and, in conjunction with the Crash Pad, works to provide comprehensive clinical care. The ultimate aim is to provide a robust support system that is specific to an individual’s, enabling personal transformation and recognising the uniqueness of every patient’s journey.

📹 Check out our ITV News segment here!

Mar 21
Love1

Empowering U to Feature on ITV for a New Documentary

By News

Empowering U to Feature on ITV for a New Documentary Highlighting Hospital Admission Avoidance Strategies

ITV News is set to air a compelling documentary tonight featuring an interview with Andrea, one of Empowering U’s care managers. The piece will shed light on the vital issue of learning disabilities and hospital avoidance.

ITV News broadcast times:

  • 6PM
  • 7PM
  • 10PM

Andrea will highlight the organisation’s unique approach to how Empowering U’s dedicated team takes the time to listen and engage in both casual conversations and in-depth discussions with TCP users, creating a calm environment specific to each individual.

The feature will centre around the innovative collaboration between two pioneering companies, Empowering U and Black Country Healthcare Foundation Trust. Together, we are dedicated to offering alternative solutions to help neurodiverse individuals, such as those living with autism spectrum disorder, avoid hospital admission.

Empowering U’s collaboration with the Black Country Healthcare Foundation NHS Trust has made significant strides in supporting hospital avoidance for those with learning disabilities. Rather than hospitalisation, Empowering U is dedicated to providing empathetic support and treatment through our experienced care team to ensure every individual receives the highest level of care.

Tune in to ITV News tonight to learn more about Empowering U’s transformative work and the ground-breaking initiatives led by the Black Country Trust; working together to showcase hospital admission avoidance strategies.

Mar 19
Love0

Understanding Brain Tumours: Brain Tumour History Month

By Articles

Taking place annually in March, Brain Tumour Awareness Month highlights the often debilitating brain injury and the impact it can have on people’s lives. Symptoms of a brain tumour, range from: dysarthria (slurred or slow speech), fatigue and tiredness, to reduced awareness states such as locked-in syndrome.  

In the following article, we explore the cause, types, effects, and the support our fantastic team delivers to people living with a brain tumour, or are living with the post-treatment impact of a brain tumour. 

What are Brain Tumours? 

Brain tumours are abnormal growths of cells within the brain or the central spinal canal. They can be classified into two main categories: 

  • Primary Brain Tumours: These are tumours that originate in the brain itself or in tissues close to it, such as the brain-covering membranes, cranial nerves, or glands like the pituitary gland. This category of brain tumour (PBTs) can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). 

Benign brain tumours typically have clearly defined borders and are not usually rooted deep within brain tissue, making them easier to remove. Although they are easier to remove, they can put pressure on the healthy tissue in the brain and subsequently this can compress and damage healthy tissue. 

Unlike benign tumours, malignant brain tumours grow and spread rapidly. These cancerous brain tumours ‘invade’ surrounding tissue and eventually erode this. 

  • Secondary Brain Tumours (Metastatic): These are tumours that have spread to the brain from other areas of the body, such as lungs, breast, or colon. Metastatic brain tumours are always cancerous and commoner than PBTs. 

What are the typical symptoms of Brain Tumours? 

The symptoms of brain tumours often depend on the size, type, and location. However, there are some typical symptoms: 

  • Headaches that are often worse in the morning 
  • Nausea or vomiting 
  • Changes in speech, vision, or hearing 
  • Problems with balance or walking 
  • Changes in mood, personality, or ability to concentrate 
  • Memory problems 
  • Seizures or convulsions 
  • Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs 

What are the differences between Brain Tumours and Other Brain Injuries? 

Although a brain tumour is classified as an acquired brain injury (ABI), there are clear distinctions between brain tumours and other types of acquired brain injury: 

Aspect  Brain Tumours  Other Brain Injuries 
Cause and Origin  Abnormal cell growth; unclear causes, possibly genetic or environmental factors  External force such as a blow, stroke, aneurism, or lack of oxygen 
Nature of Condition  Can be benign or malignant; involves cell growth within the brain or adjacent structures  Result of physical trauma or acute events affecting the brain; not related to cell growth 
Symptoms and Progression  Develop slowly; includes headaches, seizures, cognitive changes, depending on tumour location  Can appear immediately or evolve; include loss of consciousness, confusion, memory loss 
Treatment  Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or combinations  Emergency care, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, life-long support, and disability management 
Long-term Implication  Possible recurrence, the need for ongoing monitoring; malignant tumours can shorten life expectancy  Range from complete recovery to permanent disability; dependent on injury severity and location 

How Empowering U supports those with brain tumours? 

Brain tumours are considered to be a type of ABI. They affect people differently, based on their location, size, and type of tumour. The effects can range from mild to severe symptoms – headaches, seizures, personality chances and will vary from person-to-person. These effects are unique to each person, so tailored treatments and care plans need to be developed to meet each clients’ needs. 

The removal of malignant brain tumours will often involve treatment such as: 

  • Chemotherapy 
  • Radiation Therapy 
  • Surgery 

Although effective, the use of these techniques can result in diffuse brain injuries – affecting a large area. Some of the subsequent symptoms of this ABI (acquired brain injury) may be temporary, however there may be times when the symptoms become severe. 

Following surgery and once ready to be discharged home, clients will often seek the support of care managers to assist them as they transition home. At this stage, our expert team will provide all of the support that is required for the client’s needs. Working with the client, their family and loved ones, and healthcare professionals, our specialist team guide them through the care and rehabilitation process. Through creating an understanding of what the client’s rehabilitative journey may look like, our team ensure communication and transparency is paramount. 

“At Empowering U we focus on collaborating with individuals, their families and healthcare professionals to set realistic and achievable goals for the person’s rehabilitation and recovery journey” comments Rachel Cox – Clinical Lead within our Complex Care team.

“Our trained and experienced care teams foster a nurturing and motivational approach that encourages individuals to actively participate in their own rehabilitation.” 

Our aim is to ensure a client regains full independence, however, there are case where this is not the outcome. For some clients, they are keen to return to work, live independently, and potentially study again. In these instances, we will work with the client and those involved with their care to ensure their requirements and needs are met.  

However, for some clients this may not be possible. Therefore, bespoke care plans need to be introduced to meet individual goals. This may range from support in learning to dress themselves, self-care, socialising, or parental support. As with any brain injury, support is individualised and tailored to each client’s needs and requirements. 

If you would like to speak about our services, please contact our friendly team on: 

0330 128 1722 or email hello@empoweringu.co.uk

Mar 11
Love0

Ramadan 2024: A Q&A with Nadia Hussain

By Articles

Who is Nadia Hussain?

Nadia is an Occupational Therapist and Case Manager at Empowering U Case Management with over 6 years of clinical experience.  

She is also a practicing Muslim and is observing Ramadan in 2024. We recently asked Nadia to speak about what Ramadan means for her, the advice she has for non-Muslim colleagues and clients, and advice for workplaces during the month. 

What is Ramadan?

The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is one of the holiest events for Muslims around the world. The Islamic calendar follows the cycles of the Moon with Ramadan starting 11th March 2024, the first appearance of the new Moon, and ending 9th April 2024. 

During this month, most Muslims observe a strict fast from dawn until sunset and those who do fast, are unable to eat or drink during daylight hours. Fasting allows Muslims to devote themselves to their faith and is thought to teach self-discipline. 

What does the month of Ramadan mean to you? 

The month of Ramadan for me is a month of spirituality and connecting with ourselves. The purpose of Ramadan is to give us one month in the year to reflect and think about those less unfortunate in the world who do not have the same privileges and luxuries that we take for granted every day.  

We learn self-discipline by adhering to fasting times which then makes us feel mentally strong as the days go on. It’s also a month where families and communities come together to cook for one another, share food and eat together! Many people tend to say there’s just ‘something peaceful in the air’ during this month. Everything feels calm, joyful and rewarding. We have a celebration to mark the end of Ramadan and our achievements called ‘Eid-ul-fitr’ which can last up to 3 days of celebrating. 

Do you have advice for colleagues and clients who are non-Muslim?

Be Mindful: 

Muslims practice their religion all year round, however some people find Ramadan as a good opportunity to start practicing stronger with their prayers. It is important to make sure Muslims are able to take time out for daily prayers in their working day and they should be accommodated a quiet space/room to pray if they work in an office. 

Also, people with health issues, young children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are usually exempt, but it is up to the individual if they choose to fast. While some may not be fasting, they may be observing other spiritual aspects of Ramadan, such as prayers and giving to charity.

Sometimes people feel the need to apologise if they’re eating in front of someone fasting. I know it comes from a place of wanting to be respectful but when we are fasting, we are not usually phased by that as we build a lot of self-discipline and resilience up! 

What role can a case manager play when a client is fasting?

  • Start off by wishing them ‘Ramadan Kareem’  
  • Be mindful when scheduling any meetings in case they clash with prayer times or the time of breaking their fast. 
  • Ask them if they require any support 

How can an employer support Muslim employees who are fasting?

Ask Questions:

Muslims are happy to discuss and explain their faith especially Ramadan as it is such an important month for them. It is a positive thing to increase our knowledge of different faiths and backgrounds so don’t be shy to ask questions. 

Flexible Working:

Fasting starts from sunrise to sunset which means we wake up quite early just before sunrise to have something to eat (suhoor) and then we do not eat until sunset (iftar). Therefore, people might be more tired than usual in the day without food and drink in fasting hours and may need flexible working hours. For example, they may benefit from moving their shift hours temporarily to 10-6pm as opposed to 9-5pm.