My career path to becoming a brain injury expert started after I graduated. I have a BSc Psychology and the day after I graduated I had a job interview for a brain injury support worker in the community in South East London. I became assistant manager of the Brain Injury (BI) service and studied my MSc Cognitive Neuropsychology full time when working full time. I like to cram!
The charity I was working for suddenly closed and so the Brain Injury Support (BIS) Services was born over the weekend back in 2006. I’ve grown the service to be the leading provider of cognitive rehabilitation in the UK.
In 2022, I began to work with more people across the globe online, to provide education and programs to those unable to access them in their local area.
What my job is like day to day
It varies. The service is very busy and every day there is a client crisis or problem to solve, alongside the general running of the business. I have a great team who keep the boat sailing smoothly while I run and strategise our programs and growth. I still do one-to-one work with clients in their homes alongside the running of the business, and I sit as a trustee for a charity too.
We have nearly 70 staff to manage as well as the clients. I’ll also spend time daily on social media to raise awareness, promoting my fatigue journal or hanging out answering questions in my group.
Is this a job you’ve always wanted to do?
Well yes and no. I always wanted to work in some field of psychology but originally I wanted to go into forensic psychology and prison settings.
The challenges I had to overcome
Well, the company I run was born over a weekend when I was 24 I had no idea of business or money. I didn’t pay myself for months but I knew it was going to work.
In business, there are challenges to overcome constantly, from recruitment, cash flow, growth, and all that comes with it. But what remains at the core is that the people I work to support have far more challenges to overcome after their brain injuries.
My greatest achievement
Growing my business to over £2 million income and building an organisation with integrity. On a personal level, it has to be running the London Marathon! And of course my two wonderful girls.
The best advice I’ve been given
Copying is the greatest compliment, so don’t ever be annoyed if someone does what you do, just continue to grow and improve more and hope more follow suit.
My advice
Have a sense of humour, don’t offend easily and keep true to your desire to help others.
Remember that you might want experience but when you work with people with life-changing events, their needs are very much greater than yours. Practice self-care, you can’t help others without it. Educate yourself, keep on top of the latest developments in neurotech and know that you still don’t know it all.
In five years…
I’ll still be very much in neuro-rehab. I will be growing the business but diversifying as well to support other individuals living with complex conditions such as functional neurological disorder. I have plans to open a CIC later this year for women who have sustained a brain injury through domestic violence, and a neurocafe to aid vocational rehabilitation.
In five years the company will have expanded further across the UK and internationally and will be leaders in brain injury training provision.
I am Director of BIS Services in the UK and known online as The Brain Injury Therapist.