• We are a national online vocational assessment and rehabilitation service for those living with an acquired brain injury 

• Our small team is clinically led by Occupational Therapy. Our team comprises of a Program Manager, Employment and Training Liaison, Administrator and Vocational Rehabilitation Assistant. Most of our team are part-time.

• We accept referrals nationwide form professionals and self referrals.

• Step Ahead Plus is under the umbrella of ABI Ireland but we have a separate funding and referrals system. 

• Funded by Workability: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme. This project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland, through the Department of Social Protection, and the European Union.

• Primary diagnosis: Must have a primary diagnosis of an acquired brain injury (ABI). 

• Medical stability: Must be medically stable. 

• Age: Must be 16 years or older. You will need to provide proof of age. 

• Technology access: Must be able to access and use video-call software like Microsoft Teams via a laptop or tablet.  

• Exclusion: The service is not suitable for people with alcohol-related brain injury or progressive conditions like Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and long-term autoimmune conditions.  

• Complex Referrals: As an online service, our capacity to work with people with complex physical, communication or insight issues is limited. Please contact us in advance to discuss suitability. Please consider if a face-to-face vocational service with one of our close colleagues is more suitable:

• • National Rehabilitation Hospital Vocational Service (Referral needs to be made by a health care professional via the Rehabilitation prescription) 

• • Crann centre https://cranncentre.ie/education/  (Munster)  

• • Quest https://rehab.ie/national-learning-network/info-and-support/brain-injury-services-quest/ (Galway, Mayo, Roscommon) 

• • Headway Ireland https://headway.ie/view-our-services/getting-back-to-work/ (Nationwide) 

We are an online service. We operate over Microsoft Teams. 

• Our service is provided over Microsoft Teams calls.  

• We advise that people joining our program can independently use a laptop/tablet or have someone to directly support them in this task.  

• In our experience, a smartphone is not sufficient for effective online vocational rehabilitation.  

• If you/the person you wish to refer prefers face-to-face input, please consider the use of our close colleagues face-to-face services:  

• • National Rehabilitation Hospital Vocational Service (Referral needs to be made by a health care professional via the Rehabilitation prescription) 

• • Crann centre https://cranncentre.ie/education/  (Munster)  

• • Quest https://rehab.ie/national-learning-network/info-and-support/brain-injury-services-quest/ (Galway, Mayo, Roscommon) 

• • Headway Ireland https://headway.ie/view-our-services/getting-back-to-work/  

• We understand entitlements under the Employment Act, but we do not provide individual legal advice.

• We can offer signposting to legal services if needed.

• No, we don’t provide specific career guidance services 

• We do provide signposting to available resources for exploring new opportunities via our New Track programme.  

• Due to the demand for the Step Ahead Plus service as a national programme, we cannot find specific job opportunities for all participants on the New Track programme.  

• However, we do share information and resources with participants so individuals can explore their next steps towards new employment or education independently. 

• Additionally, we can occasionally offer short-term work placements with companies across the country via our New Track Programme.