Question

2. a) Name a relevant POLICY and PROCEDURE to refer to if an intervention was to be included in Tim’s behavioural support plan.

b) Provide an example of an intervention that might be appropriate.

(Below I have included Tim's information for further help)

Tim is a 25-year-old man and is an enthusiastic music festival fan. Every opportunity Tim has to attend a festival he will do so. Tim sustained an acquired brain injury (ABI) when he was 18. He lives in supported accommodation with Indigo Supported Living Services (ISLS) and has four workers who assist him with tasks of daily living (showering, dressing, simple meal preparation, his medication and going on outings).

Tim has an individual support plan that was discussed, agreed and implemented with Tim, his advocate and the service’s supervisor. It is reviewed as needed or every six months as agreed. He lives with epilepsy and when overstimulated is susceptible to having a tonic-clonic seizure. Tim’s support staff are fully trained and competent in the management of Tim’s seizures should they occur.

Tim has limitations to his speech due to his ABI which can be worsened by environmental factors (such as a hot day) resulting in Tim yelling loudly. Staff usually address this by reminding Tim to use his ‘Proloquo2Go’ app on his smartphone as being able to express himself reduces his anxiety. He gets upset if hears someone speaking to him in a patronising manner. Staff are aware of the triggers for Tim and engage appropriate interventions to assist him to manage them.

Tim is looking forward to attending the Falls Festival at Byron Bay. In accordance with the service’s policies and procedures and work health and safety staff have done a risk assessment prior to the visit.

You are attending the Falls Festival with Tim and he is thoroughly enjoying the festival and all the interactive experiences. It is a hot day and there has been a lot of walking around and queuing for the toilet and drinks. Whilst lining up for a snow cone a fellow festival-goer bumps into Tim. Tim is clearly upset by this however you realise quickly what is happening and manage to defuse further escalation by reminding Tim to express himself using the ‘Proloquo2Go’ app, talk to Tim about the next act and remind him about what a great day it has been so far.

After the final act, you realise that Tim’s medication is almost due and whilst you have time you are mindful of getting to the car as quickly as possible to support Tim with it. As you are leaving the tent Tim suddenly drops to the ground and experiences what you recognise to be a tonic-clonic seizure. He has hit his head on the side of the tent pole as he falls and his scalp is bleeding. You note the time and after the seizure has finished (90 seconds) you roll Tim in the recovery position and check his breathing. The security officer witnesses Tim’s seizure and radios for the paramedics who are on-site to come straight to the tent. The Paramedic (Reece Lansdown) commences treatment after it becomes evident Tim is having a second seizure (lasting 45 seconds). After checking with you about allergies and telling Tim what he is doing Reece gives him 30 mg of Diazepam (Valium) intravenously and applies a dressing around his head to stop the bleeding). Reece tells Tim that he will be transporting him to the local hospital for further treatment and asks if he would like you to ride with him.

At the hospital, Tim is seen by Dr Clare van Rooy who stitches Tim’s scalp. Tim is discharged after six (6) hours observation with instructions for dressing changes, a letter for his GP and a referral to Dr Denise Crimmins, Neurologist. All of this is explained to Tim and you check that he understands.

You let Tim know that you have contacted your supervisor Elizabeth Brown at Indigo Community Services and Health Hub and Susan Smith at Indigo SLS as required by Indigo Critical Incident Management policy and procedures.

Elizabeth checks that Tim is not at risk and is ready to return home, praises your responses, asks you to complete an incident report and to tell Tim that she will call to see him in the morning.

there is more than enough information

Answer 1

Ans 2) Part A: Following Policies or Procedures can be added for Tim"s behavioral support plan -

1) As Tim is getting regular seizures, appropriate dosage for that should be with the supporter of the Tim.

2) Highly specialized team should be appointed having full expertize with Tim's behavior.

3) All possible interventions required to deal with difficult situation like Tim's meal, bathing and his seizures must be adopted.

4) Tim's behavior should be monitored time to time by the professionals.

5) Tim must be handled very calmly, keeping in view of his interests.

Part B: There could be several interventions that could be added to support Tim's daily activities :

For eg:

1) Tim must be supported by the family members both physically and mentally, so that he can build confidence.

2) In hard situations, for eg In the time of seizures paramedics staff must be readily available and for the proper availability of Tim's medicine paramedics staff is must.

3) Tim's medications should not be overdue, because this could be fatal to his life.

4) One of the most important intervention is that all the problems by which Tim is suffering from must be examined with utmost concentration.