George’s Place - an invite only hub to support stroke survivors: highlighting a pedagogical imperative

This poster was prepared for the World Federation of Neurological Rehabilitation, Special Interest Group in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation conference Summer 2024 I have been working with Body Activation and Leanna Luxton and fabulous University of Essex Students thinking about how prepare the next generation of therapists with appropriate digital skills Bateman, Andrew1 and Luxton, Leanna2 Community Stroke Lead at NGH and Clinical Director Body Activation Ltd 1 School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom 2 Body Activation Ltd a national community provider and training company working in partnership with Northamptonshire Community Stroke Team, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton, United Kingdom Background and Objectives: George’s Place is an invite only hub for stroke survivors facilitated by Body Activation Ltd. It is currently being piloted with the team and patients at NGH. The community provided has been co-constructed with patients to provide a timetable of live and asynchronous activities. It has a clear theoretical and philosophical approach to empowering stroke survivors, and it enables a safe space to share ideas, take part in yoga, art work, exercise, and conversations with clinicians, other survivors and – for the first time – trainee Allied Health Professionals. Clinical placements for training health professionals traditionally involve face-to-face observation and involvement in therapy provided in various clinical settings. Involving students in the network has revealed the opportunity and need to develop new digital clinical skills. Progress In January 2024 at the University we hosted a new cohort of five students who took part in a placement that included time learning how to navigate the network. Students arranged interviews with participants as a way of building their clinical skills, and to gain exposure to people who could share the challenges of living with the consequences of stroke. Results Students enjoyed meeting stroke survivors who are keen to help the next generation of therapists develop their skills. They developed awareness of the need to co-construct resources. Students have considered the different needs of participants including those who choose to “just lurk”, the need for technical support for those having difficulty accessing the technology, and the potential benefits of membership of the network. Conclusion Clinical training needs to include opportunities to work with patients in social media spaces in addition to traditional training in face-to-face encounters. Online platforms that support life after acquired brain injury provide exciting possibilities to reduce isolation, improve accessibility of resources, and they provide important developmental opportunities for students and stroke survivors alike. The training needs for clinicians to be equipped to work in this social media era deserve elucidation. Read less