Headway Outreach Team

Paul Winfield, Outreach Team Leader. After returning to full-time education in the 1990’s Paul graduated in Psychology at Leicester University. He worked in the fields of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Older Adults before starting as an Outreach worker at Headway in 2000. He became Outreach Manager in 2003 but still has a hands-on role based in Charnwood and N.W. Leicestershire. He line manages a team of 5 workers who together support in excess of 170 people with brain injuries each year.His job is to ensure that each person referred receives a professional and productive service which helps in rehabilitation from their brain injury to the best level of recovery possible.	Nicola Rowe joined Headway in January 2003 having moved to Leicester from Brighouse in West Yorkshire. She says “Yes, I know what you’re thinking, didn’t they have a brass band?” Prior to working for Headway she worked at a residential school with children and young adults with profound physical and mental disabilities. Her role as Headway Outreach Support Worker involves 1:1 or group support to people with acquired brain injuries in the community. She covers Leicester city, North Leicestershire and Rutland and is one of only three full-time members of staff. “I like the way my work changes from day to day and enjoy the challenge presented by the different clients I work with.”
Dawn Gray Prior to coming to Headway Dawn was a child care officer at a residential school in Derby for children with learning disabilities. After moving to Leicester she decided to gain further qualifications at Leicester College and whilst taking her BTEC in Social Care she joined Headway as a volunteer and then went on to working in Headway House as a Day Centre Worker. When a new Outreach Service was set up Dawn was one of the first members of staff involved and continues to be part of the Outreach team covering South Leicestershire.	Julie Page joined Headway as an Outreach worker in 2000. She has worked as a C.P.N. and as a Counsellor in a G.P. surgery as well as nursing in a residential home but feels she found her ideal job at Headway. She is responsible for working with people in hospital who are recently injured offering family and carers support, advice and information. Julie also sees people at home after discharge from hospital where she loves the challenge of assisting people to build up their lives again and feel good about themselves. She feels very lucky to be a part of the Headway team and how they all work together with members and clients.
Padma (Pam) Ram Pam’s past employment was working as a team leader specialising in the crafts trade as a qualified bookbinder. She has worked for Headway since 2003 as an Outreach Support Worker helping members get back into the community and supporting individual needs. In addition to this role she also works with clients who are in rehab at the Younger Disabled Unit at the General Hospital.
Zina Visa Black and Ethnic Minority Support Worker. Zina joined Headway in July 2008 as a Black & Ethnic Minority Support Worker. She has a GNVQ in Social Care and her interest in brain injury began when a close family member suffered an acquired brain injury. She has worked as a volunteer with young cancer patients and before starting at Headway was at home with a three year old son. Zina feels that language and cultural barriers together with a lack of accessible information can present difficulties for people who come from BME backgrounds when trying to access healthcare, support services or even basic information.	Madhu Parmar Ethnic Minorities Support Worker Madhu joined Headway Leicester in June 2005 as a part-time ethnic Minority Support Worker supporting people in the community from various backgrounds with different cultural and religious needs. Madhu has also had first hand experience in dealing with the effects of brain injury having cared for a close family member with an acquired brain injury. She says “My work can be quite challenging at times but the rewards of seeing someone succeed with determination, perseverance and positive attitude despite their brain injury makes it all worthwhile.” Madhu feels that working at Headway has been a very positive learning curve and she looks forward to future developments.
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