N-ABLES Meet the Team

Chloe Hayward

Chloe Hayward is the Executive Director of the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum. Chloe helped to reinstate the All-Party Parliamentary Group in 2017 and has since worked closely with the Chair and members of the group to use every opportunity to raise awareness of acquired brain injury in Westminster. She also oversees special interest groups in criminal justice and education and works with the Community Rehabilitation Alliance and the Neurological Alliance on joint issues to improve access to services for people with acquired brain injuries.

Emily Bennett

Dr Emily Bennett is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist specialising in paediatric neuropsychology and neurorehabilitation at the Nottingham Children’s Hospital. Emily’s clinical work involves supporting children and young people with a acquired brain injuries (ABI) and complex neurological, neuro-oncological and neurosurgical conditions. She works closely with education colleagues and has been involved in developing guidance within the region for supporting children to return to education after ABI. Emily has been involved in N-ABLES since it’s conception and has been delighted to play an active role in promoting the knowledge and understanding of acquired brain injury (ABI) within the education sector, as well as in the development of the ABI RETURN best practice guidance.

Joanna Woodhouse

Joanna Woodhouse is a qualified teacher and SENCO with wide ranging experience of working with children and young people with Special Educational Needs. Joanna has worked professionally on the successful rehabilitation of children and young people with complex Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) to mainstream secondary educational settings. This has involved working collaboratively with colleagues in the health, care, and social sectors. Joanna is a member of the Nottinghamshire working group on ABI which aims to ensure schools are informed about students with an ABI and are aware of how to access resources and support. In September 2019 Joanna’s own daughter sustained an ABI following a sudden accident. This traumatic event has given Joanna a unique personal insight into the impact of an ABI on both young people and their families. Insight which she is now keen to share. Joanna recently left teaching to dedicate more of her time to supporting her daughter at university and to share her personal and professional knowledge and expertise. She is delighted to join the steering group of N-ABLES which provides an important opportunity to do so. Joanna is excited to work with a range of professionals towards improving awareness, understanding and outcomes for children and young people with ABI and in sharing good practice with colleagues in education.

Nathan Hughes

Nathan Hughes is Professor of Adolescent Health and Justice at the University of Sheffield. His research examines how young people's risk of involvement in the criminal justice system is influenced by health and developmental difficulties in childhood, including acquired brain injury. Given the important role educational experiences play in preventing this trajectory, Nathan saw the creation of NABLES as a fantastic opportunity to ensure evidence of good practice in supporting young people after a brain injury can be shared with the education sector. Through the partnership with charities and clinicians, the resources produced by NABLES have impact far beyond that which research can have alone.

Petrina Sill

Petrina Sill founded and serves as the chief executive of The Eden Dora Trust for children with Encephalitis and has hands-on experience of the difficulties children and families face with the complexities of Acquired Brain Injury. She joined N-ABLES at its beginning in 2018, and was also part of the Time for Change report. Petrina is a member of the N-ABLES Steering Group. Petrina is thrilled to work with professionals from such varied fields towards a common goal of improving the vital support and understanding available for children with Acquired Brain Injury within the education system. Making a difference together!

Gemma Costello

Dr Gemma Costello is a Specialist Educational Psychologist in Paediatric Neuropsychology. She is currently the Clinical Lead at the Cambridge Centre for Paediatric Neurorehabilitation (CCPNR), working as part of an inter-disciplinary team, supporting children, young people and their families following Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).

Gemma is an active member of special interest groups in both paediatric neuropsychology and neurorehabilitation. She is committed to promoting the role of Educational Psychology in paediatric acquired brain injury, working with services across the UK and more recently contributing to Educational Psychology and Paediatric Neuropsychology training. Gemma is a member of the steering group of the National ABI in Learning and Education Syndicate (N-ABLES) which aims to identify ways to support education professionals in developing a minimum level of awareness and understanding about ABI and the educational requirements of this group of children and young people.