Aims and Objectives

To promote understanding of all aspects of brain injury and to provide information, support and services to people with a brain injury, their families and carers.

Staff

Mel Akers

Mel’s previous career involved leading a Bristol based charity and working for local authorities.  He is a qualified social worker with a master’s degree in Business Administration.  He has lived in Worcester for 30 years and joined Headway in 2013. His interests include music (jazz and soul) and travel.

Laura Hall

Laura has worked for Headway for over 13 years.  Laura is a deputy Director and works tirelessly with Social Services and NHS Commissioners to make sure adults with acquired brain injuries can access services they need across Worcestershire.  Laura is also responsible for co-ordinating all of Headway’s day services as well as being a Registered Care Manager.

Tracie Finnegan

Tracie has worked for Headway for over 13 years starting as a support worker in Worcester and progressing to Service Manager.  Tracie is currently a deputy director and oversees the assessment and outreach side of the organisation.  She visits all new referrals and helps to set up their care/support packages.  Tracie’s strong personal ethics are a big part of how she carries out her work.  Brain injury does not discriminate – it can happen to any one of us at any time and Tracie treats others how she would want to be treated if she were in the same position.  Tracie describes herself as ‘down to earth’ and likes to laugh.

Simon Guest

Simon is an A.A.T qualified accountant who has previously worked for an accountancy practice as well as for several local charities. He joined Headway in 2013 and is interested in most sports but especially football (despite supporting Kidderminster Harriers).

Mary Gleaves

My name is Mary Gleaves and I have been a trustee for Headway since 2006 and in October 2013 became the chair. Coming from a ‘hands on’ health and social care background I was able to use my skills and help ‘behind the scenes’ with more of a long term view.  The trustees have a duty to ensure that Headway is run in a responsible manner, accountable to both service users and stakeholders.  We bring a variety of skills and knowledge, both personal and professional, and work together with commitment, imagination and respect to ensure we make the best possible decisions for Headway and its service users.

Becoming a trustee

KEITH ALLEN

We are always interested to hear from people who would like to become a trustee.  Our charity is likely to provide better services from a diverse board of trustees with a diverse set of qualities and skills.  We are looking for people who are interested in or have experience of acquired brain injury for example service users or carers and particularly individuals who have experience and expertise in one or more of the following fields:

• Human resources management
• Heath and social care
• Running a business, or experience of senior management in the statutory, private or third sector
• Law, in particular charity law and/or employment law

Annual Report

The annual report can be downloaded in pdf format here

Working in Partnership

The needs of a diverse society cannot be met by one agency alone and by working in partnership, Headway can ensure our services are evolving and contributing in ways that are beneficial to the local community.
People with brain injury are more likely to be dependent on spouses, parents and other people close to them, more than they were before their injury, putting additional strain and pressure on relationships.  We know how important it is to have support to keep these relationships positive and meaningful which is why we work with families and carers as well as individuals.

We are a member of Worcestershire County Council’s ‘preferred provider’s list’ and work closely with them.  We are proud to run an ‘open office’ where NHS professionals (speech and language therapy and occupational therapy) are based, enabling joined up and multi-disciplinary working.  We host monthly ‘clinical meetings’ (a type of think-tank) where professionals from across Worcestershire meet up to discuss the real issues facing our service users.  We have close working relationships with local colleges and The University of Worcester and provide volunteering and student placements within our services, raising the profile of acquired brain injury.   We also utilise our Day Services as drop-ins for Onside Advocacy and the British Red Cross so our service users receive top quality services, when they need them most.

Lynne Matthews (Employer & Community Links Officer, Worcester Sixth Form College) 

“I would like to thank Headway for providing our students with such  valuable work placements to the students at Worcester Sixth Form College.  Our Btec Health & Social Care students and `A’ Level students pursuing a career in medicine have all benefited. They have engaged directly with service users and worked to raise much needed funds in the charity shop.  Their learning outcomes are always achieved with the added bonus that the students discover their own qualities of empathy and compassion too!”