Earlier this month we held our final Members Meeting of 2025 at the offices of Slater & Gordon Solicitors in Manchester. Thank you for providing a fabulous space to meet.
We were delighted to see so many of our members at the meeting and to hear their latest news and service developments. As always, our meetings provide an opportunity to find out what is happening in our wider sector and connect with new people.
We welcomed a group of expert speakers who provided us with some topical and informative insights.
Thank you to Paul Buckley, Commissioning Review Programme Manager (Specialist / Neuro Rehabilitation), Cheshire and Merseyside; Deborah Dunstan, Head of Service, Specialist Neurorehabilitation Case Manager, Greater Manchester ICB; Jackie Dean Case Manager & OT who was part of the panel for the development of NICE Guideline ‘Rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders including acquired brain injury’ and finally Dr Czarina Kirk, Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist, Forensic Brain Injury Service, Mental Health Network (Secure Services), Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust and Vice Chair Faculty of Neuropsychiatry who provided an update about the network and future plans.
We were also delighted to receive an update from Evie Mason who has achieved her PhD based on music therapy. A mixed methods feasibility study which addresses the emotional challenges of family caregivers of people with Huntington’s disease.
This pioneering three-phase study explored online music therapy for family caregivers of people with Huntington’s Disease, helping to support research in neurorehabilitation. The research was a collaboration between Anglia Ruskin University, Independent Neurorehabilitation Providers Alliance and Chroma Therapies. It comprised a protocol-led rapid literature review, co-design caregiver focus group, and an 8-week online music therapy trial.
Developed in collaboration with Huntington’s Disease carers and a specialist therapist, the digital intervention blended active music-making methods to reduce isolation with receptive techniques to support nervous system regulation. Mixed methods findings demonstrated improved caregiver quality of life, with qualitative data revealing reduced anxiety and enhanced connection among participants, effects were sustained three weeks post-intervention.
The study confirms the model’s feasibility and acceptability, offering a novel contribution to digital health by integrating distinct music therapy approaches tailored to the many challenges experienced by these caregivers. We were delighted to have played an active part in Evie’s research.
Finally, our directors have been working with CareCubed for a number of months now to improve the accuracy of this costing tool. Their team joined us to discuss the progress and gain further insights from our members.
