Neurosciences Team (Community) – Warrington

General introduction

The Community Neurosciences Team consists of experienced health professionals with the knowledge and skills to provide a highly specialist rehabilitation service for people with stroke, acquired brain injury (ABI) and other neurological conditions.

The service offered is specific to each client, depending on their needs, and may involve different professionals from the team. Therapy is provided in the home and in local community environments such as the gym, shopping centre and social amenities.

As a team we aim to:

provide advice and education about your condition
support you and your family with adapting to the effects of your condition
provide information and signposting to other teams and services
provide Early Supported Discharge for stroke patients from hospital
complete an assessment of your ability to carry out a range of daily living activities (for example, self-care, leisure, productivity tasks) and support you to reach the optimum level of independence in these areas
provide specialist assessment and treatment / management of:
- cognitive skills (for example, memory, problem solving)
- physical skills (for example, mobility and function)
- emotional needs (for example, anxiety / low mood)
- behavioural issues (for example, temper, impulsive behaviour)

Our services

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapists believe there is a link between what people do and their health and wellbeing.

They support patients to be as independent as possible, develop skills and strategies for daily activities, manage time and routines, access work, education, hobbies and leisure, take part in community life, and establish new roles and daily routines.

Physiotherapy

The physiotherapist will help you move as well as you can. They will check how you move, get in and out of a chair or bed, walk, and manage falls. They will give you exercises to help your muscles work again, advice on how to sit and lie safely, and support to help you improve your walking and balance.

They can also provide home exercise programmes, educate patients and carers on safe mobility, supply appropriate walking aids and splints, and help you access exercise in the community such as the gym or swimming pools.

Clinical psychology and neuropsychology

Clinical psychology and neuropsychology support is available for people with stroke or acquired brain injury. Clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists assess, understand and treat behavioural, cognitive and emotional difficulties.

The service can offer a range of support. This includes psychological assessments, advice for professionals, risk and capacity assessments, help to understand psychological difficulties, therapy for emotional and mental health needs, positive behaviour support, help with thinking and memory, and support for relationships and families. Therapy can be offered for both short-term and long-term needs.

Neurological conditions nursing

The neurological conditions nursing service is delivered by a neurological conditions nurse and a staff nurse.

They provide medication and symptom reviews. They also give people with neurological conditions, and their families or carers, information, advice and support. They work with other health professionals to make sure people receive joined-up care. They can also help patients find local voluntary organisations that may be able to support them.

How to access this service

The service is designed for adults aged 18 years and over who live in Warrington or have a Warrington GP (clients aged 16 to 18 will be assessed on an individual basis).

Referrals

To access the service, a referral form needs to be completed and sent to the team.

The form must be completed by a health or social care professional such as a GP, social worker or nurse.

People with a confirmed diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease can self‑refer to the neurological conditions nursing service.

All referrals will be screened and assessed on an individual basis to ensure they are appropriate. If appropriate, a letter will be sent inviting the recipient to ‘opt in’ to the service.

Depending on the information provided on the referral form, further details about current medical or rehabilitation needs may be requested. Please inform the team if you are not happy with this.

Download the community neurosciences referral form.

Inclusion criteria

a confirmed neurological diagnosis such as stroke, acquired brain injury, spinal injury

Exclusion criteria

anyone without a confirmed neurological diagnosis
brain tumours (grade 3 and above)
congenital conditions
primary presentations that are better seen by other services, for example mental health or musculoskeletal (however, the presence of these conditions would not automatically exclude patients from our service)
therapy aimed primarily at maintaining functional level
patients who do not meet the Warrington eligibility criteria

Appointment information

An appointment will be made for an initial assessment, which will last approximately 45 minutes and allow us to identify your needs and the professions best suited to support these.

For some patients with complex needs, the assessment period may be longer and take several appointments.

At your assessment you will be asked about your past medical history and your current problems, and your mobility, balance and transfers may be assessed. You may also be asked to complete assessments such as questionnaires or checklists.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions or discuss any concerns at any point in the assessment process.

Following your assessment we will discuss options for support and rehabilitation that may help you achieve your full potential, and we will create some short‑ and/or long‑term goals that are important to you.

During treatment your progress will be reviewed regularly up until discharge.

If you are unable to attend your appointment, please contact us as soon as you know.

About the team

Our team is made up of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, clinical psychologists, neuropsychologists, a neurological conditions nurse and staff nurse.

Useful information