West Sussex ABI

v     To start work on any of these ideas, we need to hear from at least 3 interested members who are willing to be part of a working group that would address the project. The working groups can include members from more than one country. 

v     The process for Members is to:            -           Read through the ideas             -           Choose a project that you would like to work on            -           Mark the reply form at the end of this document and return it to either                            Grahame or Patti            -           Members who have indicated their interest in working on a particular                             project will then be put in contact with each other, and a group facilitator                             identified from among the group who will take overall responsibility  

List of possible projects 

            1. Establish an international register of group programs 

Aim: To develop a register of groups run by INSWABI members.

Different INSWABI members may be involved in various types of group (carer support group, information about BI group, spouses group, sexuality group, anger management etc.).

The working party would develop a structured protocol (e.g. type of group – education/support, service setting, diagnostic group, age range, no. sessions, topics etc.). The protocol would then be circulated to INSWABI members to complete for groups they are involved in.

The working party would then collate the responses and the information about different types of groups would then be uploaded onto the INSWABI website to act as a resource for members.

2. Establish a social work ABI Researcher network 

Aim: To identify social workers involved in research in the field of ABI.

INSWABI members involved in research would provide information about their backgrounds, research interests, current projects and any relevant conference presentations or publications of relevance to the field of SW and ABI.

This would enable INSWABI members to keep up to date with current or new SW research in the field. INSWABI members who are interested in research would be able to identify other social workers with similar research interests, or access advice from researchers who have expertise in their area of interest 

3. Identify the Training needs for social workers practicing in ABI 

Aim: To develop an approach for identifying the training needs of social workers coming into the field of ABI and ways to address these training needs.

Many social workers who come to the field of ABI find that there are few resources to assist in their orientation to the field or how social work is practiced in the field.

This task may involve:

(i) surveying INSWABI members about any existing SW education programs that address SW practice in the field of ABI;

(ii) survey INSWABI members about training needs; and then

(iii) examine ways that these training needs could be addressed.

4. Develop a peer support network for challenging Clinical issues 

Aim: To examine the viability of developing a forum/identify resources for addressing challenging clinical issues in the field of ABI.

There are many challenging aspects of SW practice in the field of ABI (e.g. family conflict, challenging behaviours, lack of insight, substance abuse, etc.).

The aim would be delineate a number of challenging areas for clinical practice; identify resources (in terms of INSWABI members who have expertise in these areas and would be available for consultation; or articles/information about approaches to managing such problems); and explore the possibility of setting up a chat room where SWers could log difficult clinical issues and receive peer mentoring/ suggestion from INSWABI members.

 5. Develop peer support network for specific advocacy / policy issues 

Aim: For social workers to pool their knowledge, resources, experiences and ideas in relation to social justice issues affecting their clients with ABI

People with ABI and their families face many difficulties arising from inadequate support, resourcing, service availability, and inappropriate or discriminatory organisational and human service policies (e.g. resulting in young people in care homes for the elderly).  

The aim would be delineate a number of challenging areas for clinical practice; identify resources (in terms of INSWABI members who have expertise in these areas and would be available for consultation; or articles/information about approaches to managing such problems); and explore the possibility of setting up a chat room where SWers could exchange experiences/ideas about tackling challenging issues of social injustice that need advocacy.

6. Organise an INSWABI meeting as part of the 2008 International Brain Injury Association (IBIA) conference in