Hello, My name is Gavin Wright and I have been involved with safer systems of work in the manual handling of people for the past 30 years or so. During this time, I have taught one to one with individuals wishing to assist their spouse, healthcare workers in all settings from care home staff to fire and rescue departments, as well as operating theatre staff, airline cabin crew and mountain rescue.

In the past I have held the post of Professional Development Officer for the National Back Exchange (the organisation responsible for the research that goes into safer patient moving and handling), National Moving &Handling Coordinator for South Africa and am currently a non executive director for a company working closely with South African Governments' National Health Ministry.

This short course looks at some of the principles that I have picked up along the way that will facilitate anyone involved in moving and handling of people training. Typically this is Safe Patient Moving &Handling and Health &Safety trainers. However everyone who moves people as part of their job, would benefit from this course. Its primary focus is to look at the elements that often get overlooked by trainers. For instance, how to rapidly assess the level of risk someone places themselves in when performing a task, utilising natural patterns of movement in assisting another person to move and how to ensure that your duty of care is not compromised once your students leave the classroom.