Supported employment and compensatory strategies for enhancing vocational outcome following traumatic brain injury.

This paper describes two approaches to improving the employment prospects of those suffering from head injury. It is noted that unemployment within the first 7 years post-head injury is as high as 70% and that this contributes to the long-term difficulties faced by the head-injured and their families. A 'supportive' approach to employment involving the use of job coordinators or job coaches is described and a number of 'compensatory' strategies described. These two approaches are compatible and are derived from the individual needs of the head injured person in relation to retaining or seeking employment.