The Oliver Zangwill Centre

For Neuropsychological Rehabilitation

Most people with brain injury do not receive specialist rehabilitation despite increasing evidence of its effectiveness.

To respond to this need Lifespan Healthcare NHS Trust, with support from the Anglia and Oxford NHS Executive and the Medical Research Council, opened a new neuropsychological rehabilitation centre – The Oliver Zangwill Centre. It offers independence to people with brain injury.

The centre’s approach to rehabilitation

A multi-disciplinary team will provide assessment, treatment, advice and training and will include neuropsychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy, with medical input if required. All team members have been selected because of their contribution and commitment to brain injury rehabilitation.

The care at the Oliver Zangwill Centre will be based upon a model developed in Arizona, USA. This model has gained international recognition for its success, which is based on bringing together clinical neuropsychology, functional analysis and psychotherapy using both group and individual therapy. The aim is to help clients maximise their independence, social functioning and employment skills.

Care planning will be individually tailored to meet people’s needs. Individual programmes will be delivered, primarily, through a day programme model of provision though there will be a strong emphasis on ensuring transfer of skills learned at the centre to home, work and other community settings.

The Oliver Zangwill Centre is unique in providing a service of clinical excellence combined with a commitment to evaluate both the service in general as well as the individual rehabilitation programmes.

Who will the centre benefit?

The Oliver Zangwill Centre is for people aged 16-64 who have non-progressive brain injury and require cognitive rehabilitation.

Typically, they will be at least 6-9 months post injury and have one or more of the following:

• cognitive deficits e.g. problems with memory, thinking and language, attention, problem solving, planning and organisation
• impulsive, socially awkward and inappropriate behaviour
• Lack of awareness of the extent of their difficulties

The Oliver Zangwill Centre is suitable for people who have made some recovery, are independently mobile and may have emotional and social difficulties, but do not have severe disruptive behavioural disorders.

All clients should have potential for improvement in cognitive and social functioning. Without rehabilitation they will probably remain dependent, isolated and unemployed.

The centre aims to bridge the gap between acute rehabilitation and community support.

Main contact details

The Oliver Zangwill Centre
Princess of Wales Hospital
Lynn Road, Ely, Cambs, CB6 1DN

Telephone: +44 1353 652000
Fax: +44 1353 652164