Irwin Mitchell Supports Headway Gloucester At Family Support Day

Lawyers from Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham and Bristol offices came together to support the Headway Gloucester Family Support Day last month and provided legal advice to those caring for someone who has suffered a brain injury.

Irwin Mitchell worked in partnership with Headway Gloucester and the Brain Injury Team at the Royal Gloucester Hospital to provide the day which saw 30 people attend and was deemed a success.

Public Law expert Polly Sweeney and Client Liaison Manager Helena Bryant gave a presentation on ‘Accessing Statutory Services and your rights as a carer’.  The session provided an overview of carer’s legal rights, a step by step guide to accessing statutory services and challenging cuts to care packages.

Other topics of the day included:

• How has brain injury impacted on you and your family?
• How can you cope with these changes in your life?
• Coping with the changes in a loved one
• The physical, cognitive and emotional impact of brain injury
• What are your rights as a carer?
• Accessing statutory services and entitlements to care and support

Polly Sweeney, a public law expert at Irwin Mitchell’s Bristol office, said: “Many of my clients have been affected by brain injury and I have seen how this can turn people’s lives upside down, not just those of the injured person, but also those of the friends and family around them as they often find themselves taking on the role of carer.

“Recent changes to services and the threat of cuts can cause carers even more worry as they face losing the vital services that they and the person they care for rely on.

“It was a pleasure to meet so many wonderful people at Headway Gloucester and be able to share some of my knowledge and experience in the hope that armed with the right information, they are in a better position to cope with the demands that being a carer can present.”