The tapestry of life with brain injury
This innovation is designed to empower employees and employers, prevent early ill-health retirement, reduce lost time and intervention costs and prove the value of neuro OT intervention and early return to work planning. 
Krysalis Clinical Director, Jo Throp
Tagging the latest winners of the annual awards presented by the UK’s Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF), Consultant Psychologist Paul Mooney dug up exactly the right words.
“Innovation and inspiration in spades!” he tweeted, having presented the 2022 awards in his role as Clinical Director of Elysium Neurological, which sponsored them.
It was an apt tribute to the five winners, all of whom were recognised for their innovation and inspiration in brain injury rehabilitation.
And it was warmly welcomed here at Krysalis after we were named the winner of the coveted Mike Barnes Award, which celebrates innovative projects in managing acquired brain injury.
The accolade was given for our newly launched digital health platform and bespoke vocational rehabilitation service solution, Neuro Logical.
It is the 3rd award Neuro Logical has notched up since it was added to multi-award-winning protection brand Guardian’s specialist support service, HALO, after we partnered with them earlier this year.
Neuro Logical enables critical illness claimants to access tailored guidance in managing the challenges of stroke, brain, spinal cord or central nervous system injury, motor neurone disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Our Clinical Director, Jo Throp, conceived the idea for the service in recognition of the need to extend occupational therapy provision to as many people as possible.
Welcoming UKABIF’s award, Jo said, “One in four stroke survivors are working-age adults [1]. Acquired brain injuries (ABIs) carry a significant burden for employers, employees, the NHS, and society [2].
“Vocational rehabilitation provision is inadequate in the UK [3], and research regarding the role of OT in this area of practice is limited.
“We recognise that reintegration into work is impacted by poor understanding of the consequences of ABIs.
“The specialist team at Krysalis supports individuals who are struggling at work and those who wish to make a return.
Neuro Logical, developed through our clinical insights and expert knowledge, will improve the experiences and functional outcomes for many people impacted by these life-changing conditions.
“This innovation is designed to empower employees and employers, prevent early ill-health retirement, reduce lost time and intervention costs and prove the value of neuro OT intervention and early return to work planning.”
“Same You needed something to capture their message and aims. I developed this concept to do just that…I then edited over 30 voices into one cohesive tapestry.” Animator, Jess Mountfield [4]
Pioneering advances elsewhere in the brain injury rehabilitation realm are our fellow 2022 UKABIF Award winners, as follows:
- UKABIF Film Award – The Untold Story of Brain Injury, a remarkable merging of over 30 voices into “one cohesive tapestry” by Jess Mountfield, Flo Layer, Clare Roberts, and Jenny Clarke with actor Emilia Clarke, founder of the brain injury charity, Same You [4].
- Stephen McAleese Award for Inspiration – Charlie Fogarty MBE beat the odds after a severe brain injury by not only walking and talking again but by making a comeback as a footballing ace and motivational speaker. Read his incredible story here: [5]
- UKABIF Poster Award for Public Engagement – Kerry Rose Watts
- Lifelong Achievement Award: Lord David Ramsbotham was lauded as a dedicated advocate for ABI survivors and a vocal and effective parliamentarian for vulnerable people.
Further reading
Say ‘HALO’ to our brainchild, Neuro Logical and its first partner in the protection market, Guardian…
The Krysalis neuro OT net widens
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We are passionate about neurological rehabilitation; our neuro OT blog has been designed to help us share our collective wisdom to influence, educate and spark moments of discussion and reflection.
If you are interested in, or have been affected by brain injury, or are passionate about occupational therapy, brain injury and neurological rehabilitation, you are very welcome… come on in and join us!
References
- NHS England: Clinical Policy - Stroke
- All-party Parliamentary Group on Acquired Brain Injury: Time for Change 2018
- VR - The Way Forward (bsrm.org)
- The Untold Story of Brain Injury - Emilia Clarke’s Same You and Jess Mountfield
- Charlie Fogarty and the football factory: how pure OT imagination helped net a golden goal ticket after brain injury. (krysalisconsultancy.co.uk)