I was a non-clinical educator in the NHS and there had been an absence of moving and handling provision in the trust, and I suggested that I could provide some form of training.
I was invited to interview for my role and given the entire back care function to manage and not just train. On the advice from the person leading the interview, I was advised to complete this course and the location of preference was Loughborough. The interviewer was a previous student and stated that Loughborough is considered the premier university for this subject.
My final project was focussed on the moving and handling in urgent treatment centres. I am the moving and handling instructor for Lincolnshire Community Health and this is a department with several interesting challenges, staff backgrounds, lack of equipment, perceived levels of moving and handling, and staff attitudes.
Skills learnt included the use of Ergonomic tools such as NLE Calculations, REBA and RULA, understanding of cognitive and physical functions, employment of system research tools such as Acci-Map, sociotechnical system view, SEIPS V1,2,3, and understanding safety culture.
Since completing the course I’ve had a big smile on my face because Loughborough has helped me to achieve something that I never thought possible. To anyone considering this course I would say there is no hesitation, it fits in so many ways and opened my eyes to other areas of industry that I didn’t know.