Case Management

Tania Brown Ltd provides case management services nationally for both adults and children with a wide range of complex physical, emotional and social issues. We have a highly experienced team of case managers from various clinical backgrounds who are available to co-ordinate and monitor our comprehensive packages of care and rehabilitation Services. When considering which case manager to introduce, Tania Brown Ltd places your needs at the centre of the process and will endeavour to identify the best possible fit between you and your case manager at all times.

What is Case Management?

Case management is pivotal in providing a clear and co-ordinated pathway of services to meet the clients individual needs and goals.

The aim of case management is to implement, monitor and review a range of care and therapeutic services all focussed on enabling you to achieve the best level of independence possible. Our case managers will be instrumental in making sure that the recommended intervention is introduced at a pace which is acceptable to you as our case managers know just how important it is to develop a therapeutic and trusting relationship and will always act in your best interests involving you and your family in the decision making process.

What does a case manager do?

Meet you and your family to assess your current and future needs.
Prepare an integrated, coordinated plan designed to meet your individual needs and personal goals.
Will monitor and review your progress with timely submission of documentation to support intervention.
Provide a regular review of your needs and goals.
Ensure that all intervention is cost effective.
Recruit, co-ordinate and manage your support team including training and supervision.
Problem solving and risk assessments.
Liaise with your clinicians and therapists to ensure they are all working towards same goals as part of integrated team approach.
Make referrals to other services including statutory and private services.
Assist you to access the right benefits.
Help you to access educational and community resources in your area.
Act as an advocate for you.
Will attend interviews, appointments and meetings with you.
Will liaise and assist your solicitor in providing witness of fact evidence and if necessary will attend court.
Will liaise with the Court of Protection and Deputies.
Provide support for your family.
Will provide brain injury education/spinal cord injury/cerebral palsy training for care staff and family members.

At Tania Brown Ltd we have years of experience providing case management services to a wide range of clients with differing levels of need and we know for certain that each client is different. We work hard to accommodate our clients differing needs at different times and therefore this list is not exclusive.

For more information regarding specific conditions please click on the links below:

Brain Injury

Following a brain injury you may find that you experience a variety of problems that affect the way you live your life and your relationships in general.

You may have some significant problems with your memory or have some physical restrictions or issues with fatigue and/or concentration. You may also have problems managing your anger and this may have caused problems with your family or caused you to become isolated and withdrawn. At Tania Brown Ltd we have many years of experience with working with people with a range of physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural problems. Our Case Managers can help you to identify what you want to achieve and then incorporate these goals into a structured, outcome based, rehabilitation programme via an inter disciplinary team approach to ensure everyone is working towards the same goals for you.

Our Neuro-Rehabilitation programmes are led by a clinical neuropsychologist who will work with the case manager to monitor the effectiveness of the intervention. If you require additional support, at Tania Brown Ltd we can help with the selection and recruitment of your individual care team and provide training and supervision on the service your support staff provides. This is to ensure you receive the best and the most appropriate support or care that you need.

As a result of your brain injury you may find that you need to make adjustments to your home or consider specialised equipment to help you to live your life more comfortably and in the way that you want to. At Tania Brown Ltd we can support you to access the appropriate professionals to enquire about the bespoke assistance and guidance that you require.

Neurological Conditions

There are many Neurological conditions that can cause significant and long lasting physical, emotional and /or cognitive problems. We have identified a few more common conditions for you however the list is not exhaustive and we would ask that you contact us directly to discuss your individual needs.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is more commonly known as Motor Neurone Disease (MND). In motor neurone disease (MND), motor nerves become damaged and eventually stop working. Therefore, the muscles that the damaged nerves supply gradually lose their strength. MND causes a progressive weakness of many of the muscles in the body. Although there is no cure for MND, treatments can help to ease symptoms and disability.

Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare long-term condition of the autoimmune system that causes certain muscles and nerves to become weak.
It mainly affects muscles that are controlled voluntarily often those controlling eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, chewing, swallowing and talking.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an inherited (genetic) condition which affects the muscles, causing muscle weakness. It is a condition which starts in early childhood. The muscle weakness is mainly in the ‘proximal’ muscles, which are those near the trunk of the body, around the hips and the shoulders. This means that fine movements, such as those using the hands and fingers, are less affected than movements like walking.

Huntington’s disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited (genetic) condition that affects the brain and nervous system. It can interfere with movements of your body, can affect your reasoning, awareness, thinking and judgment (cognition) and can lead to a change in your behavior.
Treatment is aimed at trying to control symptoms as much as possible when they develop.

At Tania Brown Ltd our case managers can support you by liaising with your team of healthcare specialists or GP to help co-ordinate your care.

Other team members may include a specialist in brain, nerve and muscle problems (a neurologist), a physiotherapist or occupational therapist. A Physiotherapist for help with exercises for your balance and exercises to help you move around more easily. An Occupational Therapist may be able to help you with any adaptations that you need to make your day-to-day life easier. For example, they can help with adaptations to your home such as wheelchair access, rails, and changes to your bedroom and bathroom. A speech and language therapist may also be engaged in order to help with speech and/or swallowing difficulties.
If you decide you need some support with personal care, washing and dressing or domestic chores, at Tania Brown Ltd we can take care of the recruitment and selection of an appropriately trained care team that you feel comfortable with. We will provide the training and regular supervision of your selected staff in order to ensure you receive the best bespoke care package that you need.

Spinal Cord Injury

Clients with Spinal Cord Injuries often require practical help and support to access appropriate accommodation and equipment. At Tania Brown Ltd our case managers will help you through the process of identifying a suitable property and will also liaise with your architect and builders to ensure that any adaptations you require are completed to meet your specific needs.

We actively work with all our clients with a Spinal Cord Injury and their families to ensure that they achieve as much independence as possible. This could mean working with you and your physiotherapist on a programme that you can follow at your local gym. You may need the assistance of a support worker or a personal trainer to help you achieve your goals and we can help you with the recruitment (Link). As your case manager we could work with you and your treating team to identify specific pieces of equipment that would help you with your rehabilitation goals. We would facilitate assessments and liaise with funding bodies in order to secure the purchase of the equipment and treatment programmes. We can also facilitate assessments around your daily living activities with an Occupational Therapist as well as provide ongoing advice, training and supervision to your support team. It may be that you need Botox, splinting or dynamic hand therapy to help you to be more independent and we would be able to help you with this.

As someone with a Spinal Cord Injury you will know that with the correct support you can maximise your potential towards a more independent and autonomous lifestyle. At Tania Brown Ltd we are able to assist you to make the very best choices for support to suit your lifestyle. We will also take into account your feelings about your injury and any impact this may have on your mood and/or close relationships. Your case manager can discuss these feelings with you and may suggest psychological therapy support to help you through your most difficult periods.

Historically we have taken a great interest in clients with a spinal cord injury at all stages of their rehabilitation journey. We have supported the inter-unit spinal games at Stoke Mandeville Spinal Cord Injury Unit and work closely with the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA), Backup and other voluntary organisations. We have always been very keen to promote the exchange of information between professionals working in the statutory, independent and third sector organisations. Tania Brown has recently founded the United Kingdom Spinal Cord Injury Forum aimed at facilitating the exchange of knowledge.

Amputee

People of all ages can experience the loss of a limb due to a variety of different reasons such as trauma, medical conditions or complications and also congenital conditions. Following an amputation you and your family will find yourself in a very new situation.
At Tania Brown Ltd our case managers will support you as an individual to access the most appropriate services to promote your independence and restore your mobility. Our aim is to help you to restore/maintain your quality of life and promote timely intervention to access the bespoke prosthetic services, rehabilitation programmes and equipment that you may need.

People who undergo an amputation often experience anxiety regarding their new body image and also the different way in which they move. We may ask that you attend a specialist physiotherapist for an assessment called a bio-mechanical assessment for support and guidance with your specific needs and to help you cope with the new challenges that you will face. Our case managers will work with any existing treating professionals to ensure a collaborative approach when meeting your needs in order to maintain your general health/well being and reduce the risks of any further complications.

Complex Orthopaedic

In cases of severe trauma where someone has been involved in an accident at home, work or in the community, its is most likely that they will suffer with not only the emotional distress from the accident but will also present with an array of various injuries, often including multiple fractures to their bones and also a degree of bruising and soft tissue injuries. It is vitally important for our case managers to adopt a proactive approach as early as possible to determine your rehabilitation needs from the outset and to identify/focus on your longer term goals for the future.

At Tania Brown Ltd our case managers nurture a holistic approach to their assessment style and case management, in order to aid your recovery and will ultimately support you to restore your independence and return you to your pre-accident state of health and well being as much as is possible.

If you have treating health practitioners already in place we aim to create a cohesive working partnership and will support and assist them to provide the most appropriate and realistic rehabilitation programme that meets your specific needs.

Cerebral Palsy

The symptoms of cerebral palsy vary greatly from child to child and the level of support you may need will depend on the type of cerebral palsy your child has. Cerebral palsy can affect physical, cognitive and emotional wellbeing of your child. Some children have problems walking, while others are profoundly disabled and require lifelong care. Children with cerebral palsy often have other related conditions or problems, including, epilepsy, learning difficulties, incontinence, visual/hearing impairments, difficulties with speech or understanding what is said to them, delayed growth and various other physical disabilities.

As a result of the condition and as your child gets older it can put a great deal of strain on their body, which can cause additional unforeseen difficulties for them and for you as a family.

At Tania Brown Ltd our case managers actively work with you as a family and can work with appropriate treating practitioners to support you and your child by facilitating a range of treatments that can help relieve symptoms with the aim to increase your Childs sense of independence and self-esteem. These may include physiotherapy, occupational therapy and maybe medication review with GP to relieve muscle stiffness and spasms.

As Case Managers we would work with you to identify what’s really important for you as a family. We can work to support you with any existing issues or help you to facilitate assessments and liaise with funding bodies in order to purchase specialised equipment for your child. If required we can also assist you with recruiting an independent support team of care staff to assist with your child’s every day needs to allow you the time to be just parents.

Others areas of support that your family may need from our case managers would be

Statement of Educational Needs
Working with school therapists
Resourcing specialist equipment
Occupational Therapist support
Accommodation/Housing adaptations
Vocational programmes at schools, colleges, residential colleges
Promote supported and independent living

Chronic Pain Conditions

Chronic pain symptoms can very often become extremely debilitating to an individual. Chronic pain is pain that persists for long periods and it is resistant to most medical treatments and can therefore cause severe problems. Pain can appear suddenly or build up slowly over time, however if left untreated can lead to chronic pain. Living and managing your chronic pain can be extremely challenging for both you and your family.

At Tania Brown Ltd our case managers can support and encourage you to seek access to specialist clinicians in the field of pain management and also Neuropsychologists. They will help you to develop and use appropriate coping strategies to help you to manage your pain effectively and live your life the way that’s best for you.

Our case managers would be able to work with you to identify what tasks of your life are particularly difficult for you to perform and assist you by recruiting and providing support staff that you are comfortable with to assist you to perform daily tasks such as washing, dressing, cleaning, and shopping.

End of Life Issues

The World Health Organisation (WHO) – states:
‘Palliative care is an approach which improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing life-threatening illness, through the prevention, assessment and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems.

Palliative care:

Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms;
Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process;
Intends neither to hasten nor postpone death;
Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care;
Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death;
Offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness and in their own bereavement;
Uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including bereavement counselling, if indicated;
Will enhance quality of life, and may also positively influence the course of illness

Many people as they reach their end journey of life require advice and support/guidance to allow them to die with dignity in a place of their choice. Caring for someone at the end of their life can be distressing for everyone involved and at this difficult time it is often hard to know where or who to turn to.

There are a range of options of support available to fulfill the wishes and needs of a dying person and their family .Palliative care focuses on trying to make the end of a person’s life as comfortable as possible often by relieving pain symptoms and other distressing complaints. Palliative care includes physical, psychological and practical support to both the client and their family.
At Tania Brown Ltd our case managers work collaboratively with existing support packages to compliment statutory services where possible.

We will work alongside your existing health care professionals and identify key contacts for you to engage in such as MacMillan support nurses, palliative care consultant, Oncology support, social services, district nurses, counsellors as required. We will assist you to source the most appropriate equipment to ensure your comfort and safety at all times such as specialist beds, chairs and respiratory monitoring.

In addition, if you and your family feel that you require support from a care team we can alleviate the worry of the recruitment and selection process by doing this for you. We can ensure that we engage with carers that you and your family feel comfortable with and you can be involved as little or as much in this process as you wish. We will ensure all their training needs are met and that your carers receive supervision from us so that they are able to care for you in a professional way and also the way that you want them to.
At this emotionally difficult time our case managers will also be there as a support network for your family and they will ensure that they too receive any support or counseling that they require.

Industrial Disease

Industrial diseases are a group of conditions resulting from long term exposure to an occupational hazard in the workplace and this can include;

Asbestosis – is a lung disease caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres. It can become harder to breath and some people develop a cough and may require oxygen therapy. The condition can not be reversed or cured but the symptoms can be managed.

Mesothelioma – (malignant mesothelioma) is a rare form of cancer that develops from cells of the mesothelium, which is the protective lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. Mesothelioma is most commonly caused by exposure to asbestos

Pleural Plaques – These changes occur after people have inhaled asbestos fibers for an extended period of time. Pleural plaques are areas of calcification on the lining of the lungs, chest wall, and diaphragm.

Pleural Thickening – A lung disease that describes a scarring, calcification, and/or thickening of the pleura (the lining surrounding the lungs) often as a consequence of the inhalation of asbestos into the lungs. If the asbestos fibers work their way into the pleura, they can cause the pleural thickening condition. Pleural thickening tends to cause sufferers a tightness of the chest or breathlessness which is attributed to the reduced lung function that the thickening causes.

Hand or Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) previously known as Vibration White Finger (VWF) – HAVS is a disorder that affects the blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and joints, of the hand, wrist, and arm. Its best known effect is vibration-induced white finger (VWF),

Vibration white finger (VWF), also known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) or dead finger, is triggered by continuous use of vibrating hand-held machinery. The symptoms of vibrating white finger are the vascular component of HAVS. Symptoms would include loss of manual dexterity, change in colour and sensation of fingers due to damage to nerves, muscles and blood vessels.

There are a number of different occupational diseases that give rise to a range of issues including work related cancers, musculoskeletal disorders, orthopaedic injuries, psychological issues and circulatory problems.

At Tania Brown Ltd our case managers are able to identify your specific individual needs by adopting a holistic approach to our assessment of your injuries or condition. We will work with you to help restore your health well being and independence, whilst also liaising with treating specialists or therapist to ascertain the most appropriate treatment or support for you. Our case managers will encourage you to reach your maximum potential and achieve your own personal goals. We can also assist with Vocational training programmes to optimise your potential or identify training requirements for alternative employment.

Learning Disabilities

A learning disability happens when a person’s brain development is affected, either before they are born, during their birth or in early childhood. As a result of this a person may have a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities for example relationships, responsibilities, household tasks, socialising or managing money , this will affect someone for their whole life. People with learning disabilities need the right kind of support so they can make their own choices and decisions about the things that affect their lives.

Some people with a learning disability also have other physical and emotional conditions, and may receive more than one diagnosis.

Learning difficulties can be classed as mild, moderate or severe and therefore the level of support will differ greatly from person to person.

Autism affects the way a person communicates and relates to other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.

Everyday life for people with autism can be confusing, frightening and lack meaning. People with autism often find understanding and communicating with others particularly difficult, which can leave them feeling isolated.

People with autism may also experience some form of sensory sensitivity or lack of sensitivity, for example to sound, touch, taste, smell, lights or colour.

Asperger’s syndrome is thought to fall within the spectrum of Autism. It affects social communication, social interaction and social imagination. Individuals with Asperger’s syndrome have communication difficulties and may talk at great length about a topic that is of particular interest to them irrespective of the reaction of those around them. It can be difficult to for them to interpret social signals, interact with others and respond in an appropriate manner. They often excel at memorising facts and figures and prefer structured routines. Individuals with Asperger’s may show a love of routines, have special interests that they can obsess about and display sensory difficulties with sight ,smell, touch, i.e. bright lights, loud noises, over powering smells.

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that typically causes some level of learning disability and a characteristic range of physical features. In some cases, babies with the condition are identified before birth as a result of antenatal screening, however some children will be diagnosed in early childhood due to specific characteristics and developmental delay.

All of these conditions require specific tailor made support for the client, families, friends, partners, to better understand and manage their individual needs and behavior.

As case managers at Tania Brown Ltd we can help assist and integrate appropriate support services in order to establish a bespoke framework to support individuals who display challenging behavior or maybe present a risk to themselves or others. They may require specific support from a Neuropsychologist in order to set clear and simple guidelines and a structured and systematic approach to the identification, assessment and management of risks associated with challenging behaviours.

If a support worker team is required at Tania Brown Ltd our case managers can assist you with the recruitment and selection of appropriately trained care staff to promote independence and help to develop useful strategies that are required for everyday life. To help to develop skills to enable clients to be able to deal with domestic, personal, financial and social aspects of the world they live in. We are also able to monitor an individual’s progress and titrate their needs of support as required, referring onto the relevant health practitioners/support groups as needed, and focusing on their own aims and goals for the future.