Brain Injury Occupational Therapy Service (BIOT)

It is very common to feel tired after a brain injury.

It can be useful to start keeping a diary.

We can work with you to understand and manage fatigue to allow you to do the activities most important to you.

Here is a weekly fatigue diary sheet that you may find useful to start filling in.

Here are some useful ways of understanding fatigue, the spoons analogy and the battery analogy.

Here are some useful tips for managing fatigue.

Information:

For more information, please visit the Headway website and the Stroke Association website.

If you have work related goals we can work with you, your employers and neuropsychology.

We complete assessments with you to find out your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

We can plan activities to build you up for your work roles.

We can provide an AHP Health and Work report and may be able to provide Fit Notes in certain circumstances.

If your brain injury has or is likely to have a significant effect on your abilities for more than a year you can register as disabled. You will receive a "yellow card" which can support you with VAT exemption for expenses required due to your disability and ensures you are protected under the Equality Act.

For more information, please visit the Hampshire County Council website.

If your brain injury has an effect on you lasting longer than 3 months you can apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

For more information, please visit the GOV.UK website. There is a helpful guide to applying on the Carers UK website.

Once statutory sick pay (SSP) comes to an end you may be able to apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) either on its own or through Universal Credit.

If your brain injury has an effect on you and you need support you can apply for Attendance Allowance.

For more information, please visit the GOV.UK website. There is a helpful guide to applying on the Carers UK website.

You need to tell DVLA about some medical conditions as they can affect your driving.

For more information, please visit the GOV.UK website.

If you have had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) you cannot drive for at least 1 month.

Whether you can return to driving depends on what long-term disabilities you may have and the type of vehicle you drive.

It's often not physical problems that can make driving dangerous, but problems with concentration, vision, reaction time and awareness that can develop after a brain injury.

Your GP can advise you on whether you can start driving again after your brain injury, or whether you need further assessment at a mobility centre.

For more information, please visit the Driving Mobility website.

If you need to apply for a Blue Badge please visit the Hampshire County Council website.

If you cannot currently drive due to your brain injury you can apply for a bus pass online. For more information, please visit the Hampshire County Council website.

Access to Work may be able to provide grants related to getting to work. For more information, please visit the GOV.UK website.

Disabled toilet keys (or "Radar key") are available to purchase online. There is a helpful guide on the Motability website. Motability recommend the Disability Rights UK website for purchasing keys.

If you need replacement, servicing or collection of your equipment you can contact Hampshire Equipment Services.

Telephone: 01256 476 800

For wheelchair services you can contact AJM Healthcare.

Telephone: 0808 196 2008

If you need short term hire of toileting equipment or a wheelchair please contact the British Red Cross.

For more information, please visit the British Red Cross website.

Anyone who may need support in their caring role has a right to a carer's assessment. You can contact Adult Services and request a carer's assessment.

For more information, please visit the Hampshire County Council website.

If you care for someone for more than 35 hours a week and they receive certain benefits you may be entitled to Carer's Allowance.

For more information, please visit the GOV.UK website.

It is important to look after yourself when you are a carer and you may benefit from support from a Self-Care for Carers Class.

For more information, please visit the Talking Therapies website.

Headway, the brain injury association, have opportunities to meet other carers at local groups, carer support groups, outreach support and some respite opportunities.

For more information, please visit the Headway website.

Occupational Therapy for other conditions in the community: For more information, please visit the our Occupational Therapy page.

Occupational Therapy for major adaptations: For more information, please visit the Hampshire County Council website.

Speech and Language Therapy: For more information, please visit:

• Speech and Language Therapy - Portsmouth and South East
• Speech and Language - Southampton and South West 

Headway Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

Headway provide support to people with brain injury and other forms of acquired brain injury, their family members, carers, and interested professionals.

For more information, please visit the Headway Portsmouth and South East Hampshire website.

Brain Injury Identity Card

The Brain injury identity card is designed to help identify brain injury survivors and ensure that they receive an appropriate response and support. The card can also provide brain injury survivors with added confidence in everyday social scenarios.

For more information, please visit the Headway website.