Developing an evidence-based framework for vocational rehabilitation in early transitional brain injury service

About the Project

The project aims to develop an evidence-based framework to support teams to provide vocational rehabilitation (VR) to adults with acquired brain injury (ABI) as part of their rehabilitation. The framework is proposed to benefit clients of the Acquired Brain Injury Transitional Rehabilitation Service (ABI TRS) who have vocational goals, and also ABI TRS rehabilitation clinicians working to support clients with vocational goals. For clients transitioning on to other services following ABI TRS, the framework helps provide a structured summary of completed VR activities and progress, and identify ongoing needs to continue clients' ABI VR in a systematic way. This new approach is expected to enhance clinical practice and service delivery for ABI VR across the BIRS continuum and beyond. Aspects of the framework should translate to and support clinicians in other BIRS services for (non-ABI TRS) clients identifying vocational goals, including the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, BIRU Day Hospital and ABIOS, and be able to be utilised across clinical contexts. We anticipate that the framework will also benefit the clinical practice and service delivery of other ABI rehabilitation clinicians across Queensland (and Australia) who have ABI clients with VR goals.

Read an update on the project in the latest article

Aims

This study aims to develop and implement a new evidence-based framework for delivering vocational rehabilitation (VR) for adults with acquired brain injury (ABI) during the immediate post­discharge transitional rehabilitation period; i.e., with the Acquired Brain Injury Transitional Rehabilitation Service (ABI TRS). This is the first early VR framework to be developed for people with ABI in Queensland. 

Outcomes

This project produced 4 publications, with findings which can improve VR services for adults with ABI and have informed the development of a framework to support the delivery of ABI VR in Queensland.

Clinically, the ABI VR framework is currently being implemented in practice in ABITRS. It is also the basis for the ‘Framework for ABI Vocational Rehabilitation’ translation and implementation workshops that the ABI TRS team presented last year to clinicians in Brisbane (supported by Hopkins, and funded through a THC implementation seed grant FY 21-22).

Publication 1 of 4

Consumer perspectives of vocational rehabilitation and return to work following acquired brain injury in Queensland

The study identified 5 key themes from consumers experiences, plus consumer views on ideal vocational rehabilitation (VR) services for adults with acquired brain injury (ABI).

1. The need to target VR during ABI rehabilitation.
2. Facilitators of recovery and returning to work.
3. The importance and experiences of working again.
4. The impact of ABI on identity (including family / relationships).
5. Addressing access through services, systems and policy.
6. Early ABI VR services should be intensive and individualised, and involve education, employer liaison, workplace supports and peer mentors.

Publication 2 of 4

Identifying models, processes, and components of vocational rehabilitation following acquired brain injury: a systematic scoping review.

The study identified 16 models, 9 process steps, 8 components plus 4 service-delivery components used in providing ABI VR.

Publication 3 of 4 

Clinician Perspecitves of ABI Vocational Rehabilitation in Queensland

This study identified clinical practice in providing vocational rehabilitation (VR) to adults with acquired brain injury (ABI) in Queensland, including pathways and services; models, frameworks and tools; and recommendations for ideal / future services.

Publication 4 of 4

A Framework to Support Early Team-Based Provision of Vocational Rehabilitation for Adults with Acquired Brain Injury. 

The study developed an evidence-based framework for ABI VR which details the key service delivery features, activities and components of ABI VR. It supports ABI rehabilitation clinicians to deliver VR as part of clinical practice, and better address client return-to-work goals.

The framework was developed for early community ABI rehab in Queensland using local and international evidence. It should translate to other services and settings and also support future client outcomes.

The study developed an evidence-based framework for ABI VR which details the key service delivery features, activities and components of ABI VR. It supports ABI rehabilitation clinicians to deliver VR as part of clinical practice, and better address client return-to-work goals.

Workshops

Improving Transitional Vocational Rehabilitation Support for People with ABI

Deliverables of this project also included the development of a suite of clinical tools and resources to support the implementation of the ABI vocational framework into clinical practice, including developing the ‘ABI TRS Vocational Rehabilitation Framework Implementation Manual’ resource; and creating a two-part workshop series that supports clinicians to translate and implement the ABI vocational rehabilitation framework and associated tools to other clinical settings in Queensland.

The two-part workshop series was delivered in November 2022 and held at Griffith University, Southbank Campus.

This study was supported by a Seed grant from The Hopkins Centre (2018), involving clinicians and researchers from ABI TRS and Griffith University.