We’re delighted to introduce a new position at Headway Thames Valley: Hospital Liaison Adviser. This role aims to ensure people receive brain injury support immediately after hospital discharge, avoiding families going home without knowing how to navigate their new life.
By having a presence in hospitals, we can provide information early and, as a result, guide families through available services and reduce the uncertainty that so often comes at this point.
It’s a significant step in helping more people across South Oxfordshire and Berkshire access practical support after brain injury.
Your rehabilitation doesn’t stop at discharge
Many brain injury survivors are discharged from hospital when they are physically stable or no longer need immediate medical care.
That’s a critical moment. After all, the effects of brain injury are often invisible and dealing with them can be an unfamiliar territory.
For example, this is what happened to Lucy:
“There was nothing for a surgeon to fix.
But I knew there was something different about me.”
Sadly, this is not uncommon. On average, we estimate people reach out to us around six months after hospital discharge. For some, it takes much longer. Lucy reached out to us about a year after going home.
Our goal is to close that gap and connect with people sooner. So survivors and families aren’t left at home without strategies or support.
That’s why we now have a dedicated professional, Lillie Cleaver, working within hospitals. There, people approaching discharge can ask questions, understand what lies ahead and connect with us straight away.
You can reach our Hospital Liaison Adviser Lillie directly at lcleaver@headwaythamesvalley.org.uk or on 07584 345397.
As Lillie explains:
“A large part of my role is helping families understand what a brain injury means in practical terms.
Not just medically, but in terms of what they might see day to day, and how this could affect their loved one’s behaviour, memory, emotions or independence.”
What does our Hospital Liaison Adviser do?
Our Hospital Liaison Adviser works directly alongside hospitals across South Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Such as Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford or Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey.
“My day usually begins by checking in with hospital wards and clinical teams to see if there are any new admissions or updates for patients already being supported”. Lillie Cleaver, Headway Thames Valley’s Hospital Liaison Adviser
The role is about being in the right place at the right time, so that brain injury survivors and their families know what support is available before they leave hospital.
More specifically, this means we can support you with:
- Understanding your brain injury
- Managing recovery expectations
- Connecting with community services
- Accessing grants and finances
- Emotional and wellbeing support
- And much more
This understanding can help reduce anxiety and prevent families from feeling completely lost in an unfamiliar system. Lillie adds:
“Early support for families is vital because a brain injury is usually sudden, unexpected and overwhelming.
Families are often trying to process complex medical information while also dealing with shock, fear and uncertainty about the future.
Having support in those early stages helps to provide clarity and reassurance. It allows families to begin making sense of what has happened, what it might mean in the short term, and what questions to ask.
Recovery is often a long-term process, and for many people it involves learning to adapt to a “new normal,” rather than simply returning to how things were before.
Greater awareness of this can make a huge difference in how people are supported and understood.“
Get in touch with our Hospital Liaison Adviser
If you or a loved one is approaching discharge, or if you’re a healthcare professional looking to make a referral, we’d love to hear from you.
You can reach our Hospital Liaison Adviser Lillie directly at lcleaver@headwaythamesvalley.org.uk or on 07584 345397.
Alternatively, simply send us a message to find out more about our services and how we can help.
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