How We Work

A group of acquired brain injury survivors, carers, front line professionals and policy makers who wish to advance the brain injury agenda locally.

Background
The acquired brain injury (ABI) forum originated from a discussion between Mike Hope (ABI Co-ordinator for East Sussex, Brighton & Hove at the time) and Francis Lacy Scott, Partner Solicitor from ASB Law around the challenges of providing a co-ordinated approach for survivors of brain injury. It was envisaged that interested parties could meet on a regular basis to share experiences and knowledge to encourage improvement of ABI services.

After canvassing opinion a steering group quickly formed; and SABIF’s initial meeting, held in May 2002, attracted around 100 interested people including brain injury survivors and their carers. Since then, SABIF has met every two months, with attendees from a wide spectrum of interests and backgrounds.

We are affiliated to UKABIF (United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum).

Terms of Reference
SABIF’s activity is guided by its terms of reference, which are as follows:-

  1. To be a focal point for better consultation between health, social care, voluntary organisations and those affected by acquired brain injury, to achieve more equitable brain injury services across Sussex.
  2. To contribute to the development of care pathways for people with acquired brain injury.
  3. To contribute to the development of localised community services for those affected by acquired brain injury.
  4. To foster and facilitate greater awareness and understanding of current services and future developments for those affected by acquired brain injury.
  5. To promote and encourage education and training for professionals who work in the field of acquired brain injury.

Achievements so far

  • Groups now exist in a number of district general hospitals, which have started to make the patient journey more timely and clearer to all involved.
  • SABIF actively contributed to evidence collected by the Working Groups of the National Service Framework for Long Term Conditions.
  • SABIF has raised awareness of important services, eg., supported living, specialist home support, vocational rehabilitation, workforce training and rehabilitation services.
  • SABIF has provided opportunities to debate different points of view in the presence of decision makers about proposed changes to the provision of local ABI services.
  • SABIF has produced a Gold Standard Care Pathway, which is intended to be best practice for Care Pathways. We are now promoting this and hope that it will be put into practice locally and beyond.
  • SABIF has organised and hosted two major conferences and will be planning national conferences in the future
  • SABIF has supported training locally to raise awareness of ABI issues, which included providing training on ABI to the GP Training Group locally.
  • SABIF has inspired the formation of similar groups in other parts of the country eg. KABIF in Kent –, but also nationwide.
  • SABIF has hosted discussions and information sharing between acquired brain injury professionals and those directly affected.

Aims for the future

  • To maximise the opportunities afforded by the National Service Framework for Long Term Conditions.
  • To promote a better understanding and service response to the needs of carers and those affected by acquired brain injury.
  • To consider the needs of children and older people with ABI.
  • To organise or assist in other conferences at regional and national level.

How we work
Meetings are held every three months at different venues across Sussex, usually during the afternoon. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Where possible we communicate by e-mail, but can send information by post if you do not have access to the Internet. Meeting dates, minutes of previous meetings, forthcoming events and useful brain injury information can all be found on the website.