It is our mission that all children with brain injury and neurodisability live the best life possible. In our annual impact and outcomes report we look at the difference our work makes to the lives of those we support.
Our impact and outcomes report, covering the period of April 2021 to December 2023, is split into three sections reflecting our core services:
The following provides some highlights from our 2021-23 impact and outcomes report. Alternatively, a copy of the full report is available to download.
As one of the only services that can provide the most complex neurorehabilitation to children and young people with acquired brain injury (ABI) outside of a hospital setting, our work sees us support children from right across the UK.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, colleagues in trauma hospitals reported that the number of children sustaining a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) decreased nationwide, as children had pandemic-related restrictions on their activities. We also saw this pattern reflected in the admissions to rehabilitation over this time, and this pattern has continued since.
Figure 1: Admissions to rehabilitation with TBI diagnosis
Figure 2: Percentage of admissions to rehabilitation with TBI diagnosis
At the start of a replacement placement each child and their family are asked to set five goals that they want to achieve during their time with us. These are integrated into both individual and group therapy sessions and throughout the day. It is encouraging to see that from the 667 individualised goals, jointly set by children, families and the teams supporting the children, so many are met as expected and above. This demonstrates that our rehabilitation service is helping children meet therapy goals and achieve their personal targets, giving them a better quality of life after a brain injury.
Figure 3: Goal outcomes compared each year from 2012/22 to 2023/24*
The children and young people who access the NHS England funded specialist rehabilitation service at The Children’s Trust have a more severe presentation and often require adaptations to their environment at home and at school to participate in daily life following a residential placement.
In terms of a child’s home situation after discharge i.e. whether any adaptive accommodation or rehousing was needed for example, 84% of children returned home from their stay at The Children’s Trust not needing any adaptation or minor equipment. This is an increase from 68% in the previous report.
Figure 4: Percentage of children which returned home after their rehabilitation at The Children's Trust
Figure 5: Home situation on discharge (April 2021 to December 2023)
In the school year 2020/2021, 53 children left the Surrey Teaching Service that supports children with their education during their stay with us. 32 went back to their previous school (60%). The multidisciplinary team supported 17 children and young people into a new school. Four children are yet to return to school.
Figure 6: The percentage of children which returned to their previous school post rehabilitation
Figure 7: School destination at discharge 2022/23 (n=68)
The Children’s Trust has adapted the NHS ‘Friends & Family Test’ to help the organisation understand whether the families of children accessing services are happy with the service provided. The feedback from this measure showed that, in the period from April 2021 to December 2023, 95% of parents responded that they would be ‘extremely likely’ or ‘likely’ to recommend The Children’s Trust to friends, family and other parents if they needed similar care or treatment.
Figure 8: The percentage of families who would recommend The Children's Trust
The Children’s Trust School is a non-maintained special school supporting children and young people aged 2-19 with a wide range of complex health and care needs and multiple barriers to learning.
In the most recent academic year, our pupils met their cognitive targets by 89% and targets for communication, language and literacy by 74%.
Figure 9: 89% of pupils met their cognitive targets
Figure 10: Breakdown of targets achieved and at what level
In late 2022 we transformed the way we deliver community brain injury rehabilitation and our new look Community Rehabilitation Service provides a range of support based on the level of need and identified goals.
Figure 11: Community Rehabilitation Service - children supported in 2023
Bumps Happen offers information and advice to support a child’s recovery and return to activity following a concussion. The aim is to ensure that families can access information in a timely manner.
Figure 12: Website traffic to Bumps Happen
Neurorehabilitation is one of most cost-effective interventions available to the NHS. Substantial and robust evidence supports the clinical and cost effectiveness of neurorehabilitation. Although individuals with complex needs may require a longer hospital stay, the front-loaded cost of providing early specialist neurorehabilitation for these individuals is rapidly offset by longer-term savings in the cost of community care, making this a highly cost-efficient intervention.
For further information on why investment in rehabilitation is important read our impact and outcomes report for 2021-2023.
Download our 2021 - 2023 report
During 2021-23 The Children’s Trust provided rehabilitation and support to over 1,200 children and young people from right across the UK.
Download the reportWe have ambitious plans for the future and want to ensure that every child and young person affected by acquired brain injury has access to the rehabilitation and support they need.
We offer a range of residential brain injury rehabilitation services for children and young people with acquired brain injury (ABI).
For enquiries about a placement or support for a child or young person, find out more here
For further information on our work, please get in touch
