The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has today published its long-awaited guidance on Rehabilitation for Chronic Neurological Disorders Including Acquired Brain Injury — a major milestone for the field of neurorehabilitation and for the case management profession.

A key recommendation within the new guidance is that every person requiring neurorehabilitation should have a single point of contact that bridges organisational boundaries. Depending on individual needs, this may take the form of:

  • A key contact for those who are largely self-managing;

  • A key worker for individuals needing additional support; and

  • A specialist Case Manager for people with complex needs requiring coordinated health and social care across time and settings.

This recognition represents a landmark endorsement of the principles long championed by the British Association of Brain Injury and Complex Case Management (BABICM). It highlights the essential role of specialist case management in delivering truly person-centred, integrated care.

BABICM’s influence is evident throughout the guidance. Of the six academic papers underpinning the recommendation for case management, two were authored by teams led by BABICM members, and four in total from its membership informed the evidence base. In addition, two members of the NICE guideline committee, Jackie Dean and Mark Holloway, are long-standing BABICM contributors who brought extensive professional expertise and insight from practice to the national policy table.

While NICE notes that full implementation of the recommendations could take up to a decade, this publication marks a turning point in the recognition of case management as a cornerstone of effective neurorehabilitation. It validates the vital contribution of skilled, coordinated support for people living with acquired brain injury and other neurological conditions — both within and beyond litigation contexts.

BABICM is poised to play a leading role in supporting the rollout of this guidance, promoting best practice, and continuing to evidence the life-changing impact of case management across the UK.

Members are encouraged to read and share the new guidance, available here:
Rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders including acquired brain injury | NICE Guidance

Key references informing the guidance:

  • Clark-Wilson J, Giles GM, Seymour S, Tasker R, Baxter DM, Holloway M. Factors influencing community case management and care hours for clients with traumatic brain injury living in the UK. Brain Inj. 2016;30(7):872–882.

  • Clark-Wilson J, Holloway M. Life care planning and long-term care for individuals with brain injury in the UK. NeuroRehabilitation. 2015;36(3):289–300.