Improving support in Greater Manchester
We work collaboratively with the stroke/neurorehabilitation teams, voluntary sector and job centres to improve delivery of vocational rehabilitation (VR) across Greater Manchester. An audit of our clinical teams in 2017 highlighted:
- Professionals would welcome further training to improve their knowledge and understanding
- No standard pathway or assessment tools across the region
- Teams are unable to always provide effective support due to resource limitations, with time restrictions of the service also a factor
- No funding for services provided by the voluntary sector who often support people following discharge from NHS teams
The network will continue to:
- Upskill local healthcare professionals in supporting people with neurological conditions in vocational rehabilitation
- Develop a pathway of best practice, with access to specialist vocational rehabilitation support
- Encourage better links and working with other agencies including the voluntary sector and job centres
Training of staff
The network has commissioned a training programme for Greater Manchester healthcare professionals supporting people with neurological conditions. The training has been cascaded within teams and can be purchased for delivery outside of the region.
North West Vocational Rehabilitation Steering Group
We have been working collaboratively with the other two North West ISDNs on exploring service delivery models for specialist level VR and have developed a VR model for clinicians providing vocational rehabilitation to patients with neurological conditions.
Working with job centres
We have been working with job centre staff to help them understand how they can better support people with neurological conditions in returning to work. We are encouraging our community teams to establish links and provide teaching to local job centres and have developed an online training package and an information pack (found in the VR Toolkit below).
Vocational Rehabilitation Community of Practice (CoP)
We have set up a quarterly forum for clinicians providing VR services across GM meet and share resources, knowledge and skills through discussion of complex VR cases. A recent confidence rating survey has highlighted an increase in clinician’s confidence in delivering VR since the CoP was set up.