• PG Diploma in Applied Psychology
• Philosophy BA (Hons)

Christopher has completed the Community Case Management Services comprehensive training pathway to include understanding the litigation process and what is required of the case manager.

Christopher has worked in case management for approaching 10 years and has worked up to his current role as a Practitioner Case Manager, assisting clients from a range of backgrounds including both adults and children with a range of needs, primarily as a result of complex brain injury.

• Acquired brain injury (Adults and Children)
• Cerebral palsy
• Altered body image
• Severe and/or profound disabilities (Adult and Children)
• Behavioural difficulties (Adults and Children)
• Concurrent alcohol and drug difficulties
• Mental health difficulties

Christopher has experience of working with clients with a range of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, frustration and challenging behaviour, often related to complex injury, and has supported them to identify and achieve wants and needs they wish to address, as well as in planning and introducing appropriate therapeutic support. Christopher has strong communication skills and has developed good relationships with clients, families and other professionals over the course of his career, using this as the foundation for effective progress with each client. Over this time, Christopher has developed a particular interest and skill set in supporting clients with presentations that can be challenging. While clients often present variably in terms of circumstance and need, Christopher has developed the ability to identify these differences and work with each client in a manner that builds rapport and enables them to develop in a positive manner.

Other areas of focus and issues that Christopher has worked with clients on include:

• Therapy focussing on traumatic events (including their index brain injury events)
• Support with personal relationships and capacity considerations
• Depression and behavioural issues
• Supporting clients to develop and progress with bespoke independence programmes
• Support through school transitions and EHCP development
• Supporting clients through rehabilitation for drug and alcohol abuse

These examples represent more regular and recent issues that Christopher has personally worked through with clients over his career but they are far from exhaustive.

Prior to working in case management, Christopher gained experience as a support worker and through this role, he gained experience of brain injury rehabilitation from the perspective of those on the ground, directly involved in providing support on a day to day basis, which has proven to be extremely valuable. Additionally, Christopher spent a number of years working with children with challenging behaviour and a range of special educational needs such as learning disabilities, speech, hearing and visual impairments and autism, through which he had the opportunity to implement psychological theories, such as mindfulness training, and to run regular speech and language, social skills and occupational therapy groups for these children.

Christopher previously volunteered with Headway North London, a brain injury charity, and was involved in facilitating peer support groups. Through these meetings, he gained initial insights into life after serious brain trauma from the perspective of those directly involved and also of the benefit of intergroup support, particularly with regard to social anxieties relating to brain injury.