University conference explores capacity, communication and challenging behaviour following a brain injury

The University of Northampton, in partnership with Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, will be hosting a Brain Injury study event, which will explore capacity, communication and challenging behaviour on 3 December 2015 at Sunley Conference​ Centre.

There are around 500,000 people in the UK living with long-term brain injury disabilities. Men are known to be two to three times more likely to have an injury than women, increasing to five times more likely between the ages of 15 and 29 years old.

Bringing together researchers and clinical specialists from Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Neuropsychology, Case Management alongside legal professionals from industry and academia, the conference will explore capacity, communication and challenging behaviour.

Sara Simons, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at the University of Northampton said: “Joining together clinical practitioners and industry for this conference will create a holistic look at the impact brain injury has on client care.”

The conference has been generously sponsored by Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, with whom the Occupational Therapy Subject Group have worked closely on numerous projects including Karen Beaulieu’s PhD research looking at the lived experience of return to paid work following brain injury.

Hilary Wetherell, Partner in the Serious Injury team at Irwin Mitchell said: “This is the second study day that we have hosted with the University and forms part of a superb long term partnership that we have established with the common aim of ensuring that we continue to share up to date knowledge, information and support for those working in the field of brain injury and other long term health conditions.  It promises to be a thought provoking and enlightening day.”

A joint Master’s module developed by the University of Northampton and Irwin Mitchell will be available in 2016, which will explore Advocacy for individuals’ with long term conditions. If you would like further information about this new module please contact: Karen.beaulieu@northampton.ac.uk