Our Team

Joanne Pendlebury

Senior Brain Injury Case Manager

Specialism

Adults and young people with Acquired Brain Injury
Rehabilitation

Geographical Area

Sussex, Surrey, Kent, South London

Career History

I qualified as a HCPC registered physiotherapist in 1999 and worked in the NHS specialising as a neurological physiotherapist, mostly at the regional neurological rehabilitation unit, Sussex Rehabilitation Centre where I treated adults with complex neurological conditions including brain injury. There I developed my skills and knowledge of neurological conditions and their effective management and treatment through working in a team of highly specialised professionals dedicated to patient centred, goal focused, evidence-based rehabilitation to optimise outcomes.

I joined Head First as a Case Manager in 2016 in order to continue to work within the area of brain injury and to continue to widen my knowledge and expertise. I became the Rehabilitation Lead for Head First in 2019.

Current work

My caseload includes young people and adults with complex brain injuries. I work closely with the clients, their families, therapists, support workers, medical professionals, solicitors, educators and social services, bringing together private and statutory services to provide the best, most timely interventions possible to enable my clients to thrive and live life to their full potential.

As the Rehabilitation Lead, I support, teach and advise fellow colleges on the principles of effective rehabilitation, interdisciplinary working and how to provide the optimum rehabilitation for our clients.

I am also keen to promote understanding and knowledge of brain injury and have presented to schools, colleges, within the NHS, and at a national conference.

Competencies and Skills

Established leadership, management and teaching skills enabling effective and successful team working, development and exemplary standards.
Established communication skills working closely with clients, families and professionals of all backgrounds. Experience of facilitating difficult, complex situations and ability to employ a variety of communication styles or aids to allow progress. Ability to apply negotiation, listening and empathy to all situations.
Experience of successful independent living trials. Including finding property, adaptations for disabled living, recruitment and training of a full team of support workers and team leader, formulation, management and coordination of specialised MDT.
Extensive experience in training, supervision and appraisals for support workers, therapists and Case Managers
Passionate about effective and timely interventions, both private and statutory, for rehabilitation to ensure maximum potential is achieved and maintained.
Extensive knowledge of statutory clinical pathways and funding streams.
Tenacious advocate for the provision of evidence-based interventions in accordance with NICE guidelines for rehabilitation.
Extensive knowledge and experience of delivering client-centred, holistic, interdisciplinary rehabilitation and how to implement rehabilitation principles to clients with complex needs.
Ardent belief in my duty of care to my client. Advocating for their rights and wishes, with knowledge and experience of working within the mental capacity act and coordinating best interest decisions.
Experience of formulating complex risk assessments and safeguarding procedure.
Knowledge and understanding of EHCPs, writing and use of, to ensure provision of services for young people.