Frances Pierce, Solicitor

Don displays exceptional compassion and commitment to his Clients and their families.

He leads teams with sensitivity and professionalism. His expertise shines through in all he does.

He makes such a difference to the lives of his Clients because he truly cares and is a joy to work with.

Keith Walmsley, Barrister

Don Young is a truly outstanding Case Manager,and a joy to work with.

Clients,their families, solicitors, Counsel and experts (medical and non-medical) all benefit from the personal gifts and professional skills he brings to any team.

He has the effectiveness that only experience can bring to a case, is unfailingly courteous,and deals with all situations with just the right balance of kindness and steel.

Clare Fazan, Solicitor

I understand that the Parkin family have nominated Don Young for the Case Manager Of The Year Award.

I acted for Kerstin Parkin in the claim for damages arising from the profound injury that she suffered in 1996.

During the course of the litigation, Don Young was appointed as Kerstin's case manager. From recollection, I think this was in the late autumn of 1999. The litigation continued until October 2002. Throughout that time, I was able to see at close hand the very great support that Don was able to provide to Kerstin and her family and the thoughtful way in which he approached the task of setting up and managing the extensive home-based care and therapy team.

I have stayed in close contact with the family since the case ended, and I know that Don has continued to provide key support for them since the end of the case 4 ½ years ago.
Kerstin has, clearly, done remarkably well since being transferred home from hospital to be cared for by her own home-based team, and this is the result of the high quality of care provided to her by all those involved in her care regime and the dedicated attention she has had from those who have looked after her interests since the outset. Not least of this is the care and attention she has received from her dedicated case manager, Don Young.

David A. Johnson - Clinical Neuropsychologist

The person who suffers catastrophic brain injury has a wide range of mental and physical needs, often complex and interacting. This presents many and varied challenges to all concerned – injured person, family, therapists, carers, solicitor, social and welfare services. Moreover those challenges are both changing and chronic, for the remainder of the individual’s life.

In order to ensure optimal functioning, progress and quality of life the injured person needs a high level of trained care and support, consistently provided within a highly structured framework of interdisciplinary care and rehabilitation.

Achieving such a goal is fundamentally important to the injured person and the family but it is not easily accomplished. Indeed, most families are ill-equipped to meet such needs unaided and, in consequence, they suffer unnecessary additional stress to the detriment of their health and quality of life.

Case management can provide the answer but it is more often the source of frustration and disappointment to families and therapists alike. To some, it may also seem a thankless task.

An effective brain injury case manager is equivalent to the driver of the coach and eight horses, coordinating, encouraging, restraining, disciplining but above all leading by skill and knowledge to arrive at the destination on time, safely and ready for the next leg of the journey. The case manager knows and understands the team, helping them to work effectively together.

The continued achievement of progress 10 years after catastrophic brain injury is exemplary, especially when doubt was expressed initially about the potential benefits of rehabilitation in this case. There can be no doubt that such achievement reflects the commitment of the family, carers and therapists, and the efforts of the injured individual; but it is the coordination of that effort that is critical, the adoption of an interdisciplinary approach that ensures optimal cost-benefit at all levels, not least for the injured individual who remains dependent upon the knowledge and experience of the case manager to make improvement a reality.