Tania Hemstock,
Moving and Handling Trainer
Hello,
My name is Tania Hemstock. For 22 years until October 2021, I worked at Addington School in Woodley, Reading, Berkshire.
Addington School is an ‘outstanding’ special school for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Over the years, I have had many roles at the school. From 2012, my role was a Moving and Handling Training Advisor (Centaur Training and Development Ltd from Durham), training me in “Handling People with Special Educational Needs (Education)” and attending annual re-accreditation.
My role also involved being the school’s Occupational Therapy Assistant, which included training staff on correctly using wheelchairs and passenger occupant restraint systems on the minibuses.
I love being outdoors, walking, exploring and spending time in the countryside, hills and mountains of the United Kingdom.
Let’s Work Together. Let’s Get It Right.
My Courses
As a Moving and Handling trainer, all staff would come and see me for half a day of generic moving and handling theory training.
All staff members in all organisation settings should be aware of correct Manual Handling techniques, no matter their role.
When staff attend a course, you educate or remind them to adopt good working practices holistically in their lives, not just in the work setting.
This training makes staff less likely to be off ill with an injury.
You can also inform the staff of the legislation governing staff in the workplace.
Hopefully, this educates them that standing on a chair must not happen!
(I’ve seen someone standing on a chair that was on a table!).
Guide, advise and educate
I loved delivering these courses; I’m passionate about having the right content.
My courses are not a dry PowerPoint delivery but include games, discussion, and staff having fun.
Many staff have proudly told me that they took something away from these courses and improved something in their lives, and some would often say.,” You would be proud of me. I’ve changed this in my life, or after your course, I have changed the way I do this..”.
For me, that’s what I aim to do.
Guide, advise and educate.
Staff would also have specific training relevant to their job roles. For example, hands-on training when assisting a young person with a transfer or hoist training.
I worked collaboratively with the staff, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists to create Moving and Handling plans for the children and young people.
When I started that role, we did not have these plans; creating safe work systems for the staff helped create a better, safer working environment for everyone.
Going Solo
Local physiotherapists and occupational therapists have told me there is a lack of specialised training and support with the paperwork involved in managing moving and handling when working with children and young people with temporary or permanent physical disabilities.
I believe that is true; not all training companies offer staff working with these young people the same targeted advice and training or help with the paperwork, such as creating specific moving and handling plans.
I decided to set up my own business offering these services to all organisations for children and young people up to 19 years old with temporary or permanent physical disabilities, including those with special educational needs (SEND) or complex handling needs.
My experience working hands-on with children and young people can help me relate to professionals’ situations.
Working with the staff, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and the children/young people. I can guide, advise, educate, and help the team working around the young person by having better working practices.
Supporting the Community
I can support you and your staff in your settings with any moving and handling requirements.
All support and recommendations provided will follow legal guidelines. It may include:
*creating and delivering training programs to large groups or small groups of staff,
*reviewing staff practices, including hoisting,
*helping staff to complete risk assessment,
* creating moving and handling plans for students etc.
