Where does Richardson Care fit in the Brain Injury Care Pathway?

Richardson Care is a family-owned and run residential care service in Northampton. It has three specialist homes that provide neurorehabilitation and care for adults with acquired brain injury and delivers positive, life-changing outcomes for the people in its care.

Service users are often admitted to Richardson Care following a period of acute rehabilitation in a specialist hospital or secure in-patient setting. They may also be transferred from other residential settings that are less able to meet their needs.

During the admission process, the team at Richardson Care carefully considers which home will best meet the needs of the individual, as each home is a different size and has different characteristics. It is equally important to consider the existing residents and how someone new will fit into the home. 

As the organisation has three different homes for adults with acquired brain injury (one of which is male-only), an individual can move from one home to another with very little disruption if their needs change. Below is an example of the rehabilitation journey that someone may take within the Richardson Care services.

Admission

The Coach House is the primary ABI assessment and complex diagnosis service, which has been designed for patients discharged from secure or inpatient services and where there is potential for further neurorehabilitation. The individuals have marked cognitive and behavioural difficulties and comorbid conditions, and they may present with moderate challenging behaviour.

The Coach House is a purpose-built home that has been specifically designed to contrast with hospital settings – but still taking into account accessibility.

Attention to detail has created a unique homely feel, and generous-sized rooms with plenty of natural light are designed to help service users feel safe, comfortable and at home. This supportive environment is crucial in enabling service users to settle in and stabilise.

They may associate hospital or other residential settings with traumatic past experiences, and only when they have stabilised is the multi-disciplinary team of therapists fully able to assess their ongoing needs and rehab potential. This may take three to six months.

The therapeutic input initially focuses on cognitive rehabilitation and behaviour/risk management to improve the individual’s quality of life. The goal is for the individual to be discharged to a more open home environment where they are able to continue their rehabilitation and thrive.

However, if they are more likely to thrive by remaining at The Coach House, then there is no requirement for them to move on.

Continuing Rehab and Transitional Service 

The Richardson Mews is located adjacent to The Coach House, within the same large enclosed garden. It offers a larger more open home environment and may be the next step along the care pathway for a service user.

Alternatively, someone may be admitted directly to the Richardson Mews from secure or acute inpatient services where their rehab potential is moderate to high.

This brain injury service is suitable for adults who have acute ABI presentation (moderate to mild) and an established diagnosis of acquired brain injury.

They may have marked cognitive difficulties and comorbid conditions (such as mild to moderate symptoms of mental illness and personality disorder, or progressive neurological conditions). In addition, they may present with moderate challenging behaviour and may have a forensic history but with risks being well managed in a residential setting.

This high-quality residential service for men and women focuses on cognitive rehabilitation and behaviour/risk management to improve quality of life. It forms a transition from the dedicated ABI assessment and diagnosis unit to more independent living. 

Director, Greg Richardson-Cheater, explains: “There are no time constraints for any individual to move on to a different service, or to supported living.

"Everyone is different and we will always support each service user to achieve their personal goals in a structured and continuous way to enable them to fulfil their potential.

"One of our core values is to actively support each individual’s right to experience growing autonomy – whether this is within our services or enabling them to move on.”

Long-Term Community Neuro-Rehab

144 Boughton Green Road is Richardson Care’s long-term community neuro-rehabilitation service. It is suitable for men who have an established diagnosis of acquired brain injury (ABI), associated cognitive difficulties and co-morbid conditions. These may include mild to moderate symptoms of mental illness and personality disorder and progressive neurological conditions.

This service provides a long-term stable home environment in a community setting for men with acquired brain injury. The focus is on long-term rehabilitation, quality of life, development of daily living skills and behaviour/risk management.

A Place That Feels Like Home

All homes have the signature style of Richardson Care – attention to detail and a high quality comfortable and homely environment. The requirements of providing a safe, accessible and practical environment are combined with interesting artworks and beautiful soft furnishings. Meticulous thought and planning means that interiors are created that are appropriately calming or stimulating to enhance the well-being of the people who call them home.

Richardson Care provides specialist residential and rehabilitation services for adults with acquired brain injury or learning disabilities and complex needs in Northampton.

For more information go to www.richardsoncares.co.uk or call 01604 791266.