An investigation into the vocational rehabilitation practices provided by brain injury services throughout the United Kingdom

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate the contributions and process of vocational rehabilitation in health based brain injury services in the United Kingdom. It addresses traditional forms of vocational rehabilitation and job coaching. In relation to these approaches, the research focuses on the process of assessment, intervention and outcome. It also identifies which staff are involved in vocational rehabilitation and reasons why some services do not address vocation. Data was gathered via a postal survey questionnaire. Of the 70 services who agreed to participate, 54 responded. The raw information provided a variety of nominal, ordinal and interval data and was mainly subjected to descriptive analysis. The results suggest that there is a limited range of suitable assessments and outcome measures that can be used in relation to vocational rehabilitation. In contrast, there is a dearth of intervention methods being implemented. Occupational therapists, followed by psychologists constitute the main disciplines involved in this provision. Reasons for not providing vocational rehabilitation are commonly due to insufficient staff, training and funding.