West Heath House, Birmingham
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West Heath House is a 25-bed
residential rehabilitation facility for adults with acquired brain injury
run by the Brain Injury
Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT).
We offer a range of specialist assessment and rehabilitation
programmes undertaken by skilled dedicated staff.
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View the West
Heath House photo gallery
Read John's story - about his recovery at West Heath House following an assault in 2007 which left him with a severe brain injury
Download our annual
report 2009 (pdf 253KB).
Download a flyer for our free educational seminar (jpg 312KB)
By adopting a broad neurobehavioural
approach to disability, we work at a personal level with all service users
to help them overcome barriers to independent living and community participation.
We aim to provide a warm, welcoming therapeutic
environment that promotes diversity and is sensitive to the needs
of service users and their families.
Our Service Users
Our rehabilitation programmes are individually designed
to address debilitating problems with thinking, emotions and behaviour that
are often experienced after serious brain injury. With our help
service users can re-learn lost skills, acquire new skills and increase their self-awareness
and confidence.
Many people come to West Heath House straight from hospital to continue their
recovery and rehabilitation with us before moving back to the community. Other
service users have already left hospital, sometimes several years previously, and
may be going through a difficult period within the family or may be struggling
to cope alone.
We have worked successfully in supporting people
many years after their original brain injury. Since opening
in 1999 over three-quarters of our clients have returned to
living in the community.
Referrals
We accept referrals from anywhere in the UK and from many
sources such as medical consultants, social workers, solicitors
and case managers.
Written referrals are preferred, enclosing
some clinical information and clarifying the reason for referral.
We also welcome telephone enquiries and are pleased to discuss
the suitability of our service with potential referrers.
New referrals and forthcoming admissions are
discussed at a weekly referrals meeting. Admissions are arranged
according to the availability of a suitable placement and
in the context of other demands on the service at any time.
Funding
The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust is a registered charity
and placements within the service are usually funded by health
authorities, social services departments or sometimes through
insurance payments.
The cost of an admission is specified in advance,
based on pre-admission clinical screening and risk assessments.
Written confirmation of funding is required prior to admission
to the service.
Assessment
We are pleased to accept service users for an assessment of their
rehabilitation potential or their support needs. This is undertaken
in two stages:
Either: an
off-site visit to home or hospital by one or two members of
the rehabilitation team.
Or: a half-day
screening assessment for potential service users carried out at
West Heath House by the rehabilitation team
Followed by:
a comprehensive residential assessment based at West Heath
House and usually carried out over 12 weeks.
At the end of the residential assessment
an assessment meeting is arranged to which the service user, their
family and other stakeholders are invited. At this point discharge
planning arrangements may be finalised or a service user may remain
in the service for further rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation
Each service user has their own rehabilitation plan which
sets out clear goals and the procedures for their implementation
and evaluation.
Service users are encouraged to participate actively in setting their
goals and evaluating their progress. A weekly service user forum provides residents
with an opportunity to express their views on all matters relevant to the operation
of the service.
All service users have a structured daily routine according to their
abilities. Treatment programmes focus on the development of everyday living
skills, addressing intellectual and behavioural difficulties as they affect
social relationships and independence in the home and in the community, at work
and at leisure. Consequently, much of the rehabilitation takes place outside
the unit in the community. Where appropriate clients may attend college or work
placements.
Individual progress is reviewed weekly by the team and formally evaluated
with families and other agencies every three months in review meetings.
Community services
We are developing additional community-based transitional rehabilitation services
and continuing care facilities for adults in Birmingham. In addition we work closely
with BIRT’s community services, which provides supported housing facilities in
North Birmingham.
Our staff
At West Heath we have a highly skilled inter-disciplinary
team of dedicated professionals, based around 24-hour/day provision
of rehabilitation by rehabilitation support workers and clinical staff (occupation
therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, clinical psychology and
neuropsychology).
Medical support is routinely provided from psychiatrists and our GP practice.
Additional specialist medical support is obtained when required.
We recognise the importance of skilled motivated staff to
the success of our service, and the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust has a
strong commitment to training at all levels.
Environment
West Heath House offers:
- 25 single bedrooms with en-suite
facilities
- fully wheelchair accessible facilities
- one adapted bathroom
- spacious attractive lounge and dining
area
- dedicated games room
- dedicated computer/technology room
- well-equipped therapy resources
A variety of shops and amenities are
within a mile of the centre, and easily reached on foot. The
local shopping/leisure facilities of Rubery and Kings Norton
are a short drive away. The bustling heart of Birmingham city
centre, with its vibrant shopping and entertainment scene,
is easily reached by bus, train or car.
How to find us
West Heath House is located at the centre of the Britian’s motorway network,
and is easily reached from the M6, M5 or M42. The unit is a single-storey building
situated on the corner of Ivyhouse Road, which lies off the A441 Redditch-Birmingham
road (J2 of the M42).
For a more detailed information about the location of West
Heath House please view our on-line
map.
Further information
The latest report on West Heath House by the National Care Standards Commission
is available to all our service users and anyone wishing to access our services.
Download our annual
report 2008 (pdf 253KB).
For further enquiries about the service please contact:
Brian Warr
Service Manager
West Heath House
54 Ivy House Road
West Heath
Birmingham B38 8JW
Tel. 0121 459 0909
Fax: 0121 459 0910
b.i.r.t@btconnect.com
Events and news from West Heath House
March 2009
West Heath House held a free half-day education seminar for professionals at The Westmead Hotel, Hopwood, Birmingham on Friday 27 February. The subject of the half day seminar was: Accentuate the positives: Making the Mental Capacity Act work for you in brain injury rehabilitation. Addressing clinical, legal and financial implications of the Mental Capacity Act, the seminar suggested ways stakeholders could use this complex legislation to get the best out of rehabilitation with minimum compromise.
The seminar was attended by 70 delegates from a range of professional backgrounds. Comments about the seminar included: "Very relevant to my role as a psychologist"; "Very interesting, informative and useful to my role [as a social worker]";
"Very clear presentations. It is the first time I feel I have had the Mental Capacity Act explained in a way I understand".
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January 2009 |
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Brian Warr has been appointed as the new Service Manager
at West Heath House, Birmingham. ‘I am really looking forward to managing
and supporting the staff group to deliver the service and enhance the
reputation of West Heath House’, says Brian, who has worked in adult and
child care for over 30 years. |
| January 2009 |
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Volunteers from two local
companies have been helping to transform the grounds at West Heath House,
including creating a new barbecue area and flower garden.
Last year, teams from financial services provider Zurich
and Anthony Collins Solicitors spent several days at the unit clearing
away overgrown garden areas.
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‘The layout of the unit means we’re quite short of garden space so it’s been really helpful having their help to improve the open areas,’ says assistant manager Andrea Matthews.
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photo gallery
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| West Heath House
- a 25-bed wheelchair-accessible rehabilitation unit |
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| Large, attractive
communal areas |
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| All service users
have their own rooms |
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| Gardens to relax
in
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| Spacious dining
area |
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| Service users are
able to prepare their own meals |
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| Enjoying the games
room |
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