Moving and handling conference with CPD opportunities and health tech exhibition returns

The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) has announced the return of its two-day CPD event Moving & Handling People conference and exhibition for healthcare professionals to expand their knowledge.

Delegates attend a series of practical workshops, seminars, and talks to learn new moving and handling techniques, pose questions, and solve problems with leading practitioners, with time designed to visit the extensive exhibition and network with peers.

The conference, returning this October, is the first since 2019. DLF has extended the exhibition, with more assistive technology solutions available for professionals to view, alongside talks and workshops by leading practitioners.

The conference will take place from 25-26 October 2022 at the De Vere Beaumont Estate in Windsor. Interested attendees can register here.

The Open Forum, which involves the free exchange of information and ideas, provides the chance to share cases and benefit from the extensive knowledge across speakers and delegates.

Additionally, four practical hands-on workshops led by expert practitioners in the field deal with reducing handling, a practical approach to risk assessments, handling plus-sized people, and a slings special.

The keynote talk from Michael Mandelstam, an independent legal training provider on health and social care, will discuss recent case studies, how the studies serve as a touchstone in health and social care, and what they mean for current and future practice in moving and handling people.

Seminars at the DLF Moving & Handling People conference include a talk on complex assessments and an inspiring presentation from a respected moving and handling practitioner about her own recent personal journey as a patient with a spinal cord injury.

See the list of speakers at this year’s conference below:

Michael Mandelstam

Michael has provided independent legal training on health and social care for over 25 years.

Using selected case studies, Michael will illustrate aspects of manual handling, how these serve as a touchstone in health and social care, and consider what conclusions may be drawn for both present and future.

‘Manual Handling: a touchstone within health and social care?’ will take place in the main auditorium on Tuesday 25 October.

Gill Creighton

Gill is an OT with 12 years’ community experience specialising in moving and handling, bariatric care, reablement and equipment.

She will present the ‘Moving and Handling and me!’ seminar, in the main auditorium on Tuesday 25 October. She will discuss her journey through acute services, rehabilitation, and the interventions she has received.

Penny Townsend

Penny has worked as a children and young adults moving and handling adviser for the last 16 years for a local authority, which entailed training, advice and problem solving for complex needs, advice on equipment provision to schools and respite care settings.

Penny will bring her experience and knowledge to review the essentials of complex risk assessment, what tools can be used to support the process, and how it can be conducted safely.

‘Complex Assessment – the essentials’ will be held in the main auditorium on Wednesday 26 October.

Melanie Sturman

Melanie Sturman, Moving and Handling Lead for Norfolk County Council, specialises in dementia care.

The workshop, titled ‘Hands off approach to moving with dignity’, will work through case studies to decide whether support can be provided with hands off the person, held in the practical workshops area over both days.

Ben Salmon

Ben began his career as a home carer and has experience of direct care delivery process across older people’s services, physical and learning disabilities services and disabled children’s services. After time as a Manual Handling Advisor, Ben moved into training delivery and has now been operating in this field for over 12 years.

His workshop, titled ‘Risky business’, held in the practical workshops area over both days, will use collaborative working and problem solving to help de-mystify risk assessment, build on experience, and inform future practice.

John Humphray

John is a lead moving and handling adviser specialising in the moving and handling care of bariatric service users.

This workshop, titled ‘Dignified minimal handling approach with the plus size person’ held in the practical workshops area over both days, will look at the practical considerations when supporting a plus size person to move and mobilise.

Dennis Du-Cro

Dennis is a moving and handling advisor specialising in the movement of people of complex needs.

Dennis and his team will review the types of slings that are available and discuss the considerations when choosing a suitable sling.

The workshop, ‘All about slings’, held in the practical workshops area over both days, will also feature a wide range of delegates to try out.

Get in touch with the DLF at info@dlf.org.uk for more information about the conference