Meet the Team

 CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES

 In line with recommended best practice all our trustees, staff and volunteers undergo either an EDBS (with a barred list check) or a DBS Check depending on their role.  They also complete a range of CPD training to update their professional skills and ensure they have the appropriate levels of Safeguarding Training.

 

CASE MANAGEMENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT

Jan Rock   

CEO & Case Manager

Jan has over 12 years lived-experience of acquired brain injury in children, young people and adults.  She has a degree in Public Service Management, Certificate In Lean Organisation Management and is an experienced Prince2 Practitioner.  Jan also has several CPD leadership qualifications and often speaks at professionally focused Brain Injury Conferences.    Her Continuous Professional Development training includes: Paediatric Acquired Brain Injury; Special Education Needs and Disability; Paediatric neuro-rehabilitation; Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy; ADHD following Traumatic Brain Injury; Spotlight on Modern Slavery & Sexual Exploitation; Understanding and Addressing Trauma in Traumatic Brain Injury, Sleep Training; Sleep and Fatigue After TBI; and Understanding children with SEBCMH issues.  Jan manages the charity day-to-day, oversees a range of complex cases, and she delivers acquired brain injury awareness training to a range of professionals, sectors and organisations.   In her private life she loves spending time with her family and grandchildren and getting out and about in the countryside. 

 

ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS TEAM  (ABI SEN) 

 

Janet Gamesby

Senior SEN Specialist Mentor

Janet has 17 years’ experience of working in secondary education within the SEND team supporting young people with a range of complex disabilities. She is a qualified  Higher-Level Teaching Assistant and holds qualifications in Dyslexia and Safeguarding to Level 3.  Janet is also very aware of the negative impact an acquired brain injury – as a hidden disability – can have on a child’s ongoing development and educational outcomes.  After hearing Callum’s story, Janet initially contacted us about doing some volunteering work.    During this time, she felt inspired by the work we do for brain injured children and young people and saw working here as a unique opportunity to use her skills and experience to support this neglected cohort to achieve their long-term recovery goals.  When the ABI Support Worker post was advertised, she applied and is now excited to be part of this innovative team.  Janet has since completed training in  Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy that she applies to her day-to-day SEN work, which helps to transform the lives of the children and young people that she works with.     In her private life, Janet’s family are very important to her and she enjoys spending time with them.  She also likes to go walking and swimming in her leisure time.

 

Vacant post – (awaiting funding)

Specialist SEN Mentor  (Primary Level)

 

 

Vacant Post – (awaiting funding)

Specialist SEN Mentor (16 – 25)  

 

 

Callum Rock

ABI Support Mentor

Hi, my name is Callum, but you can call me Cal!  I had a rock climbing accident and sustained a brain injury in 2010, just after I left school. After lots of hard work and intensive neuro-rehab support that was provided by my family, I have been to college and even graduated university! I therefore know that what this charity does, works.

Professionally, I commenced a Physiotherapy Degree before deciding that it was not for me. Afterwards, I trained and qualified as an adventure activity leader, gaining a BA in Outdoor Education and Leadership.  I have also completed additional training in First Aid and Understanding Challenging Behaviour.

Volunteering at Matrix has provided me the opportunity to use my knowledge of cognitive rehabilitation, anatomy and muscle groups to help children and young people with physical, communication, cognitive, emotional and behavioural difficulties following an acquired brain injury.  I can also use my lived-experience to provide peer mentoring support to improve behaviour and mental wellbeing.  In June 2023 I joined the Team in an employed role. 

 

Christine Sherred

SEN Administrator/Resource Worker

Christine provides administrative support to the SEN team and creates and coordinates resources for our innovative Cognitive Recovery Programme.  She has lived-experience of acquired brain injury both in children and adults and understands the devastating impact of a lack of recovery support available to children and young people post acquired brain injury.

 

ADMINISTRATION

Lynne Aungiers

Office Manager

Prior to joining Matrix Neurological, Lynne worked in a wide range of both public and private sector organisations, including chemical and process industries, social housing, not for profit, charity, and NHS, amongst others, honing and blending traditional skills with the ever-changing office landscape and its digital progression.

Working independently or as part of a team, Lynne’s vast work experiences, allowed her to build a wide range of skills needed to manage the busy and often complex needs of an office of multi-disciplinary personnel.   She has learned that versatility and patience are a ‘must’ for office management, as the focus of any day can change in a heartbeat, from finding solutions to arising emergencies, to troubleshooting a malfunctioning piece of equipment.

In her spare time Lynne likes to sew, read, craft, and particularly enjoys live music, theatre and going to the cinema.

 

VOLUNTEERS

Our volunteers all live locally and provide a range of essential support functions to the charity and make a significant difference and positive contribution to our work.   

 

Admin Volunteer – Vacancy

 

 

 

         

Callum Richardson

Outreach Volunteer 

I am Callum, and I am volunteering with Matrix Neurological because this charity helped me to recover from my brain injury by strengthening my cognitive function.   Volunteering helps me to give something back and gain work experience in a professional environment.   I am kind and generous person and a true lover of helping all!  I also like music.  I go to gigs whenever I can, I listen to different genres of music and I collect vinyl records. 

 

Fundraising Volunteer – Vacancy

 

              

 

 

STAFF AND VOLUNTEER SURVEY MARCH 2022

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

"Positive and coordinated neuro-rehab interventions for children and young people is proven to bring health improvements; improve independence; reduces the need for sheltered living; decreases vulnerability; decreases drop-out rates in schools; decreases youth offending"
Eric Hermans; Netherlands
"We are impressed with the progress you have made with the individual we referred to you."  Social Worker    
"Strength-based family intervention after pediatric ABI is essential. Parents need to be equipped with the skills to cope and advocate for the child."
Caron Gan; Canada
"When different organisations assess different aspects of a child's neuro-rehabilitation needs, everyone looks at things from a different perspective and have conflicting priorities"
Cathy Jonson; Rehab without Walls; United Kingdom.
"Rehabilitation interventions can lead to positive outcomes for children and their families if delivered in the familiar home environment and applied to everyday situations"
Cerebra; United Kingdom
"There are problems with getting people into neuro-rehab. Those most in need are often those most excluded due to a lack of socio-economic resources."
Vicki Anderson; Australia
"Brain development is complex and prolonged. Brain plasticity is influenced by a range of factors. Plasticity provides a base for neuro-rehab therapies and treatment"
Professor Bryan Kolb; Canada
"NHS clinicians struggle with what intervention to prioritise in paediatric neuro-rehabilitation due to limited clinical time and the complexity of needs. Children, clinicians, parents and schools all have different neuro-rehabilitation priorities"
Recolo; United Kingdom
"We are medical practitioners. The real experts are the parents. Over the last 35 years they have taught me everything I know"
Lucia Braga; Brazil
"My colleague was blown away by the tremendous work your organisation is doing for society."  Social Worker

OUR MISSION: To work to remove inequalities for children & young people affected by acquired brain injury; and provide effective support to their families that makes a real difference.

Council for Disabled Children Community Funded Charity Excellence Lottery Funded Youth Foundation BBC CiN