Child and Family Support Update

Child and Family Support Update

Welcome to the first Child and Family Support Officer Blog, where there will be updates on our work, and what we’ve been up to. We are a rare breed, much like the duck-billed platypus, and like our animal friend, we are highly adaptable to our surroundings. Thus we are to be found both advocating for families at meetings, training education professionals, visiting young people in hospital or at school, and even making tattoos at Family Events:

These posts are our way of shining a torch on our day-to-day role, and hopefully providing some insight into the breadth and depth of the work we do with families. In the space of one day, we often find ourselves switching hats at various points, from family meetings, to multi-disciplinary meetings, to school meetings. We keep a cool head on our shoulders and we try to make a difference. It’s as simple – and as difficult – as that!



Last week I had a new referral, and met a courageous young lad who’d had a brain haemorrhage, and his little brother, aged 3. Sitting on the sofa enjoying their cereal, they both had his Mum, Dad and me in fits of laughter, and it was just lovely to see him doing so well. We were able to introduce our brand new All About Me Portfolio to the young man in question, and he wrote his own Personal Profile on the computer to slip into the front of it, whilst his Mum and I had a coffee. These Portfolios are a new Child Brain Injury Trust Publication, free to families, which holds section of information about the Young Person, which they themselves can contribute towards. It also acts as a useful place to hold all medical letters/reports etc., so that parents know everything is in one place.

Here is the front cover, although it looks better in colour on the real thing - including a space for your favourite photo!

Another recent project has been going into schools and talking to different year groups about the importance of wearing bike helmets when cycling. In many countries it is illegal to ride your bike without wearing a helmet, and the Child Brain Injury Trust believes it should be the case in Britain as well, especially for those under 16. In the North East we have teamed up with Headway and are presenting the facts to young people of all ages (6-18) along with demonstrations using eggs and polystyrene helmets. Last week we spoke to over 1,000 pupils in total, which is quite a feat. However prevention is the key here, and we hope that in doing these talks, not only will they be more aware of road safety, but also be more tolerant and accepting of other pupils who may have had a brain injury, and need that bit more support.

Check in next time for more Child and Family Support updates!

Your comments please

We would love to hear your comments about our website, social media and of course our blog. Please send your comments via this blog and we'll do our best to meet your expecations.

Also if you have an idea for a blog or you would like to write a diary or some poetry, please let us know by contacting us.


We are always looking for inspirationals stories and expereinces that may help families through uncertain times, so please get in touch.


Thanks for your support and enjoy the summer

Play it Safe this Summer

As schools break up and children go out on their bikes, scooters, rollerblades and skateboards, the risk of head injuries among youngsters rises. The Child Brain Injury Trust estimates that during the summer holidays the number of head injuries among children will increase by 30%.


“A rise in head injuries and accidents is hardly surprising with many more children out and about during the summer holidays,” admits Lisa Turan, Chief Executive Officer of the Child Brain Injury Trust (http://www.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk/). “But what IS surprising is the amount of children who set out for summer fun without wearing any protective head gear. Youngsters don’t think about the risk of brain injury when they jump on their bikes or head to the skate park. But if they saw some of the children we support whose lives have changed in a split second through acquiring a brain injury, they would definitely think again,” she says.
Play It Safe
One of the best ways to avoid a brain injury is to guard against the most common causes. Wearing a protective helmet could absorb up to 63% (Thomas S, Acton CH, Nixon J, Battistutta D, Pitt WR, Clark R. BMJ, 1994) of the impact. That could make all the difference between a mild or serious brain injury, or between life and death.
“At the moment it isn’t law for children to wear a helmet while cycling and skateboarding so it’s hard for parents and carers to insist on children wearing a helmet,” says Sally Dunscombe, Director of the Brain Injury Group (http://www.braininjurygroup.co.uk/). “We would like to see the law changed but, until it is, we would strongly urge parents to reinforce these dos and don’ts for safer summer fun,” she says.
• DO wear a protective helmet when cycling, rollerblading, skate boarding or using a scooter
• DON’T dive headfirst into lakes, ponds or pools
• DO up your helmet properly BEFORE you move off, get onto a horse or start to zip wire
• DO tell an adult if you hit your head
• DON’T leave your friends if they hit their head (and DO tell their parents what happened as they may not recall it).
AHow to spot a brain injury
“A brain injury can be sustained even if your child doesn’t lose consciousness,” warns Neurologist and Consultant to the Brain Injury Group Professor Lindsay McLellan. “In some cases, a child can continue acting normally for hours before they show any symptoms,” he says. “If a child is knocked out it’s pretty obvious they should go to hospital,” he continues. “But if they bump their head in a playground or while mucking about in the garden and don’t lose consciousness but continue to feel unwell, it can be tricky to know whether they have a more serious injury,” says McLellan. “If they continue to experience one or more of these symptoms, seek medical advice,” he advises.
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or disorientation
• Trouble speaking clearly
• Irritability and/or tearfulness
• Blurred vision/dislike of bright light
• Extreme tiredness
“If one of more of these symptoms is severe, go straight to hospital,” advises Professor McLellan. “But if the symptoms are milder or come on more gradually you should see your GP.”

If you have been affected by brain injury, the braininjurygroup.co.uk provides comprehensive support services for brain injured individuals and their families.

The Child Brain Injury Trust is a national charity that provides support for families following childhood acquired brain injury.

Find out more at childbraininjurytrust.org.uk or call the helpline 0845 601 4939 (helpline@cbituk.org).

Wimbledon

TENNIS

Conferences and events from UKABIF

Badby Park has organised a half day programme focusing on inside perspectives on Critical Care and Brain Injury Care on June 29th.

Speakers include:

· Professor Keith Willett: National Clinical Director for Trauma Care, Professor of Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery at Oxford University, Founder Kadoorie Centre for Critical Care Research and Education ‘Impact of Regional Networks on Trauma and Rehabilitation’

· Dr Nicola Brain:Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine, Derby Foundation Hospitals Trust ‘Planning and Delivering Patient Outcomes from the Time of Diagnosis’

· David Henderson-Slater: Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine, Oxford Centre for Enablement ‘Managing the Long Term Consequences of Head Injury – A Medical Perspective’

Refreshments will be provided throughout the morning and the Conference will conclude with a Lunch served (weather permitting) within our impressive grounds This half day seminar promises to be informative and insightful at a time of great change within the NHS and the care sector at large. Attendees will be able to pose questions to distinguished key individuals at the heart of the changes within the NHS.  Spaces are limited so please call to book your place now.  There will be no charge made but a collection will be made on behalf of a brain injury/physical disability charity.

For any enquiries please contact Trish Doherty Trish.Doherty@badbypark.co.uk. Places are limited - please call today to book your place.

The National Brain Injury Centre St Andrew’s Healthcare, Northampton is holding an open day on Tuesday 5th July, 2011 designed to give an overview of the holistic service provided for young people with brain injuries.

The Elgar unit is the first dedicated brain injury rehabilitation service for adolescents and will be officially opened on the day by Professor Nick Alderman. The open day includes a half day program of speakers and a tour of the unit.

Contact for details: kseabrook@standrew.co.uk 01604 616 767

The fourth international conference from The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) will look at the latest developments and strategies for the treatment and rehabilitation of people with acquired brain injury.

The first day’s plenary sessions will provide an opportunity to hear international speakers present their latest research and theories.

Day two is devoted to symposia and practical “hands on” workshops, enabling delegates to participate in debate, discussion, learn new techniques and share good practice.

Inspiring excellence in Brain Injury Rehabilitation will give delegates new ideas, approaches and inspiration to use in their work with people with acquired brain injury.

Full programme details and a booking form can be found here  http://www.birt.co.uk/content.asp?page_id=214 or contact Frances Pitwell on 01924 224472 or email frances.pitwell@thedtgroup.org. Discounted rates are available until the end of June.

The 3rd Annual UKABIF Conference takes place on 10th November in Birmingham This conference provides a comprehensive annual update for all those working in the field of acquired brain injury and rehabilitation. Speakers are drawn from our international network and focus on a range of topical subjects. Add to this a lively exhibition and fabulous networking opportunities and you have an unmissable event.

Book now online at: http://www.ukabif.org.uk/ukabif-annual-conference - early bird rates are available until the ene of June.

headsmart campaign - launches http://www.headsmart.org.uk/home/

http://www.headsmart.org.uk/home/

The new launch of a campaign is urging parents to know the warning signs of brain tumors, which are considered to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in children.

In one year, 500 children and young people will develop brain tumor and a quarter of all child cancers occur in the brain.

Warning signs include fits, recurring vomiting and headaches, blurred vision, abnormal eye movements and trouble seeing. A child may also experience troubles with coordination and balance, as well as fatigue and other behavioral changes.

The campaign, HeadSmart is a joint project with the Children’s Brain Tumor Research Center at the University of Nottingham, the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health and the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumor Trust.

In Britain, it has been reported that it can take as much as three times longer to get a correct diagnosis for a brain tumor than places such as the US and Canada.

Professor David Walker from the Children’s Brain Tumor Research Center states: “The longer the delay between symptoms onset and diagnosis, the greater the risk of early death and the greater the risk of brain injury which may not subsequently fully recover”.

The campaign hopes to promote awareness for parents to be aware of the warning signs of a brain tumor in efforts to reduce the risk of cancer or brain damage.

Kelly-Ann's story

Girl, 15, whose skull was crushed in horrific riding accident is back on her horse after making miraculous recovery Kelly-Ann suffered a huge rip across the bone of her forehead Lucky teenager says 'I just saw it as a bit of a blip'.

 
Kelly-Ann Challinor's face was crushed after her horse fell on top of her six years ago. She is riding and competing again

A 15-year-old whose whole face was pushed into her skull in a horrific horse riding accident has made a miracle recovery - and is even competing in national eventing competitions.

Kelly-Ann Challinor was just nine when she went out riding on her friend's horse, which reared up unexpectedly and landed on top of her.

The force of the fall left her with multiple fractures to her jaw, cheekbones, eye orbits, nose and skull.

Doctors warned Kelly-Ann's devastated parents that she could die from her injuries and would have severe brain damage even if she survived.

But the youngster was back in the saddle just three months later and is now competing in the British Riding Club Junior National Eventing Championships.

Mother Carol, from Exning, Suffolk, recalled the harrowing incident from April 2005.

She said : 'I honestly didn't believe it was my daughter lying there. It was the most horrific thing - her face was completely crushed.

'One of her eyes looked like it was coming right out. There was blood coming out of her nose and her ear and she was thrashing around.

'It seemed the pony had reared up, gone over backwards and its head had hit Kelly in the face.
'It was just the most awful thing I've ever seen. I heard someone saying 'Kelly, breathe' and I knew something was majorly wrong.

'It wasn't until we got to the hospital that it really hit me and then my wheels just fell off. I was convinced that, if she survived, she would be severely brain damaged.

'When she looked at herself in the mirror and didn't say a word; the tears just rolled silently down her cheeks.

'But she's amazed us all with her recovery. To be honest, we couldn't be more proud.'

Kelly-Ann was rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where doctors performed emergency surgery in an attempt to save her life.

A team of 15 medics placed Kelly-Ann into a five-day coma and carried out a series of x-rays which revealed that her face had been pushed back into her skull.

Amongst the most serious injuries was a huge rip across the bone of her forehead and a split at the base of her skull.

Kelly-Ann is pictured in hospital with her brother Robert and her mother Carol after her riding accident. Doctors thought Kelly-Ann was sure to have brain damage Kelly-Ann's father Noel, 42, said: 'Those fractures occurred either side of her riding hat.

 

'If she hadn't been wearing that everything in between would have been crushed too. Without a doubt that hat saved her life.'

 

As the swelling in Kelly-Ann's head subsided doctors planned a complex three-hour operation to reconstruct her flattened face.

 

Surgeons inserted metal plates into her forehead and cheekbone before pulling her bones back into place and securing them with metal wires.

 

3D CT scan of Kelly-Ann's skull: The youngster suffered a huge rip across the bone of her forehead.

 

Kelly-Ann suffered some eye problems and needed a second operation on her sinuses but has astonished experts by slowly making a full recovery.

 

Kelly-Ann was finally discharged from hospital last year and is now able to focus again on competing in horse riding events.

 

She came fifth in the Junior Novice trials at the British Riding Club Junior National Eventing Championships last summer and hopes to become a three-day event rider.

 

Kelly-Ann said: 'I actually don't remember anything about it, not a thing.

 

'To start with I thought I was having a dream. I dreamt I was flying then I heard all these voices around me.

 

'I woke up and all my hair was gone. It sounds silly but that seemed really awful. That was one of the worst moments, second only to removing the plaster from my head.

 

'The nurses let me do it myself, it was so painful and it took me forever.

 

'For months I couldn't bathe or dress or walk unaided. I had to literally crawl up the stairs.

 

'As well as having a headache I was really dizzy, so I couldn't even walk in a straight line. Going from being a really sporty person to that was a bit of a shock.

 

'But I just saw it as a bit of a blip, which meant I couldn't ride for a while. For me it's always been horses ever since I started riding at about five or six.'

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1388649/Girl-accident-gets-horse-compete-national-competition.html#ixzz1MsigD1N6

Cerebra Awards 2011

After the triumphant success of last year’s Children Awards held at London Zoo we are very proud to announce that nominations for 2011 are now open.

This year’s event will be held at in a magnificent Cotswold’s country house hotel situated in South Gloucestershire. Set in 30 acres of beautiful parkland with its own arboretum, this luxury Cotswold’s hotel will host a gala dinner for our award winners. The event will take place on Monday 24th October 2011.

If you would like to nominate a member of your family or someone you know, please send a 3 minute video nomination, or written nomination to: Melanie Dean, Cerebra Awards 2011, Second floor Offices, The lyric Building, King Street, Carmarthen SA31 1BD.

The deadline date for nominations is the 1st June 2011. This year, for the first time, we are encouraging short video nominations (no more than 3 minutes) that tell the story behind the nomination. Please give as much detail as to who you are nominating, their name, their age and why you feel they should be given the award. We regret to inform that we cannot return any video footage or photographs.

To find out more information regarding different categories and our terms and conditions please visit our website http://www.cerebra.org.uk/ or Contact Melanie Dean on 01267 242556 or by email at melanied@cerebra.org.uk

Many thanks

MelanieDean

Children's Corner & Awards Coordinator

Tel: 01267 242 556

Email: MelanieD@cerebra.org.uk

www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk

http://www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk/

Medicines for Children – Information for Parents

What is Medicines for Children?

Medicines for Children is a programme developed through a joint initiative by the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG), the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and WellChild. The Medicines for Children website provides information leaflets specifically about the use of medicines for children. They have been written for parents and carers but are also suitable for older children.

It was launched in spring 2009 with a small number of medicine sheets and the site has now grown to hold about 75 information leaflets on a range of different medicines.

Every medicine is supplied with a patient information leaflet which is written by the pharmaceutical company. However these leaflets are often written about the use of medicine by adults and are often very complex.

 Medicines for Children therefore set out to produce easily understandable information leaflets for parents and carers. The leaflets are written by paediatricians and pharmacists, and reviewed by parents and carers like yourself. Leaflets will continue to be added to the website about other medicines relevant to children.

We want to make sure that our leaflets are accurate, well written, and useful to parents and carers. We use something called the Information Standard, to make sure that this happens. You can find out more about the Information Standard at http://www.theinformationstandard.org/.

Involving Parents

Parents editorial panel

Parents have been at the heart of this project from the very beginning and have directed paediatricians and pharmacists on how the information should be presented and what type of information should be included on each sheet. They have also been involved with the review and editing of new information, however as new sheets are being produced more parents are now urgently needed to be part of the editorial panel. You will not be asked to comment about the medicine itself, or the details of how and when it is given - it is simply a case of making sure that the information is understandable before it is made available on the website.

As we are now developing a new website to be launched later in 2011 we would also like parents to be involved in reviewing and evaluating the new site. This input will ensure that the new site is both practical and appealing. 

We appreciate that your time is probably very limited and to make sure that your involvement is made as easy as possible and without committing you to attend any meetings the proposal is to use telephone and email to communicate with you.

If you decide to join the panel, we will email you draft information sheets from time to time and ask for your feedback within two weeks. Your suggestions will help us make sure the leaflets are helpful to parents and carers.

If you would like to get involved in this exciting project or have any questions about taking part then please contact:

Amy Wright

Family Networks Co-ordinator, WellChild

amywright@wellchild.org.uk

01242 530007

Baby Walkers - care - article from the Belfast Telegraph

Baby walkers can do more harm than good, putting a child at risk of brain injury, according to doctors.

"Despite their name, baby walkers do not help a child learn to walk and, in fact, use of a walker can inhibit walking ability," wrote the doctors of Dublin's Temple Street Children's Hospital in the 'Irish Medical Journal'.

"In countries where baby walkers are used, there has long been controversy about their risks and benefits.

"Parents give various reasons for using walkers -- to keep the infant quiet and happy, to encourage mobility and provide exercise."

They pointed out that baby walkers are often used by parents and care-givers for children aged between five months and 15 months.

Most parents, the doctors said, think that a walker is a safe place to keep children entertained while they tend to other tasks, or they believe the walker will help a baby learn to walk.

"Babies who used walkers scored lower on locomotive development tests than babies who did not use walkers. Furthermore, use of a baby walker puts a baby at increased risk of injuries, which almost always occur to the head," they wrote.

"Given the high rate of injuries combined with their lack of tangible benefit for child-rearing, and the wide availability of safer alternatives, we question why they are allowed to be sold at all.

"In many European countries, baby walkers are linked to more injuries than any other type of nursery equipment, causing an unacceptably high number of severe falls, burns and scalds, and poisonings."

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/baby-walkers-increase-risk-of-brain-injury-doctors-warn-15138708.html#ixzz1IjaiSrb8