Our aims:

• to provide both practical and emotional support for people who have had an acquired brain injury

• to provide respite for carers

• to be a meeting place where people with brain injury can share experiences

• to provide suitable activities that will enable people to maximise independence

• to be a social outlet where people with brain injury can enjoy themselves and have fun

Brain injury is a long and difficult road. Surviving the initial trauma is only the start. Many of the more subtle neurological disabilities, such as memory loss, communication and organisational skills, lack of insight, loss of motivation, depression and inappropriate behaviour, only become apparent as the survivors and their families try to resume their ‘normal’ lives.

Individuals and family members are often discharged from hospital with very little understanding of the possible effects of brain injury, or in some cases, even the knowledge that they have suffered a brain injury. Therefore people are often ill-prepared to deal with the challenges they face.

Brain injury rehabilitation services throughout Wales are piecemeal and under-resourced and so Headway Cardiff has developed its day services over the last 20 years to try to fill the gap in services.

Our Headway House day centre offers a programme of activities and opens on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Owing to the individual nature of the days and the demand for places, clients are only able to attend one day a week.

Each of the days is run by our staff team who are ably assisted by a number of volunteers, without whom we could not run our service. The role of the volunteer is to facilitate participation in activities and support our clients.

We ask clients to do as much for themselves as possible.
Our aim is to increase independence, not diminish it!

Friday Day Centre

This service is for people who meet our overall client criteria. The maximum number of attenders for this day is 30.

The primary benefits for the people who attend this day are increased social interaction, peer group support which leads to an increase in confidence and self-awareness, and help in modifying inappropriate behaviour.

People can choose whether to join in a wide variety of programmed activities which may include creative writing, drama, arts and crafts, cookery, swimming and bowls.

Each Friday we employ a specialist computer tutor, with whom clients are able to work towards achieving CLAIT Levels 1 and 2 or simply improve their knowledge of Word, e-mail and the Web.

The session runs from 10.00 until 4.00, at a cost of £37.00 per session
A light lunch and refreshments are included in this, along with all activities.

Transport to and from Headway House is not included and must be arranged on an individual basis.

Tuesday Day Centre

This is a smaller, more structured group, (maximum 14), who are for the most part under 45. This day enables people to follow a personal programme designed to develop individual skills.

Again, computer training is available each week, where clients can work towards a CLAIT qualification or simply improve their knowledge.

We also support the clients in developing their cognitive skills and follow a programme of varied activities, similar to those provided on a Friday.

This day is again for people who meet our overall criteria and have a high level of independence.

The session runs from 10.00 until 4.00, at a cost of £37.00 per session
A light lunch and refreshments are included in this, along with all activities.

Transport to and from Headway House is not included and must be arranged on an individual basis

Wednesday Day Centre

This is our smallest Day Centre based group (maximum 10), who all have high support needs and benefit from more individual attention.

The programme focuses on small group work, such as ball and word games, with the day being well structured and activities limited to short periods to help retain attention and energy levels and to avoid over-tiring.

This day is again for people who meet our overall criteria.

The session runs from 11.00 until 3.00, at a cost of £37.00 per session.
A light lunch and refreshments are included in this, along with all activities.

Transport to and from Headway House is not included and must be arranged on an individual basis.

Headway House Day Centre Referral process

Referral: referrals will be accepted from any source provided that the person referred has given their permission and meets our criteria.

Documentation: all referrals will be recorded

Information: details of our service will be sent to the referrer and potential attender

Premises: Headway Cardiff will ensure that these are wheelchair accessible and that car parking is available

Assessment: If the applicant is considered to meet with our attender criteria, the person will be offered an appointment for assessment within a fortnight of the initial contact. This process usually takes about an hour. If appropriate, a date will be set to begin attendance.

Headway Cardiff reserves the right to refuse a referral if:

• our service does not meet the person’s needs
• funding is not available
• the person does not agree to attend
• the person does not agree to accept our guidelines on unacceptable behaviour etc.
• our day centre is full, in which case the potential attender will be placed on a waiting list which will operate on a first come first serve basis