Moving & Handling Instructor · Trainer & IQA · Animator

Safer movingand handlingof people.

For over 25 years I've studied and taught the safe moving and handling of people. I train and assess healthcare staff, quality-assure training courses, and create explainer animations and e-learning that make the message stick.

Portrait of Gavin Wright in glasses, a grey suit and a green patterned tie
Gavin WrightPeterlee, UK · Remote
Role
Moving & Handling Trainer / IQA, TDF Training · since 2019
Board
Non-Executive Director, Impact Medical Solutions · since 2022
Based
Peterlee, County Durham · open to remote

01 — About

A career spent helping people move each other safely.

I'm a very experienced moving and handling instructor. I train healthcare workers in a range of related subjects, but my specialism is the moving and handling of people, which I've studied continually for more than 25 years. I'm also an Emergency Medical Technician, which has given me some quite unusual moving and handling experiences, and I hold a diploma in moving and handling instruction.

From 2005 to 2015 I was National Moving & Handling Coordinator for the South African Moving & Handling Project, set up with the approval of Dr Molefi Sefularo to help develop safe patient-handling policies in South Africa. That connection continues: I was invited to speak at the inaugural colloquium for South Africa's National Health Insurance, and Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi quoted me in a national address.

For eight years I edited and distributed the Moving and Handling Instructors newsletter and ran the moving and handling instructors group on LinkedIn. I've served as Professional Development Officer for the National Back Exchange, which sets professional guidelines for moving and handling. Alongside training, I make whiteboard animations and explainer videos through Web Animate, often as part of e-learning modules, and I drive Class 1 HGVs.

Principles
  1. 01Frontline care feels different from a policy, a plan or a protocol
  2. 02Teach with people's natural patterns of movement, not against them
  3. 03Assess the risk and the posture before choosing the technique
  4. 04Duty of care is a legal standard, not just a phrase
  5. 05Clear visuals make training stick

02 — Experience

Twenty-five years in safe patient handling.

years studying safe patient moving and handling
25+years studying safe patient moving and handling
coordinating the South African Moving & Handling Project
11 yrscoordinating the South African Moving & Handling Project
editing the Moving & Handling Instructors newsletter
8 yrsediting the Moving & Handling Instructors newsletter
followers on LinkedIn
11.9Kfollowers on LinkedIn
  1. Apr 2022 – Present
    Klerksdorp, North-West, South Africa

    Impact Medical Solutions

    Healthcare
    1. Non-Executive Director

      Freelance
      Apr 2022 – Present
    2. Feb 2019 – Present
      United Kingdom

      TDF Training

      Healthcare training
      1. Moving and Handling Trainer / IQA

        Freelance
        Feb 2019 – Present
        • Assesses moving and handling training courses through desk-based reviews and on-site internal quality assessments.
        • Teaches healthcare staff moving and handling.
    3. Dec 2016 – Present
      United Kingdom

      Web Animate

      Animation & video
      1. Producer / Director

        Dec 2016 – Present
        • Designs and produces animated videos that promote goods and services.
        • Creates whiteboard animations and explainer videos, often used as part of e-learning modules.
    4. Jan 2009 – Mar 2020
      Peterlee, UK

      Moving & Handling Instructors

      Healthcare training
      1. Managing Director / Owner

        Jan 2009 – Mar 2020
        • Trained people up to instructor level in the moving and handling of people.
        • Delivered freelance training in safe patient handling, and spoke at and organised conferences on moving and handling.
        • Designed e-learning courses for institutions and training companies.
      2. Moving & Handling Trainer

        Jan 2016 – Jun 2019
        • Delivered moving and handling consultations, training and assessments.
    5. May 2018 – Apr 2019
      Sunderland, UK

      Harkers Transport Limited

      Logistics
      1. HGV Class 1 Driver

        May 2018 – Apr 2019
      2. Jun 2018 – Dec 2018
        Peterlee, County Durham, UK

        Durham Medical

        Healthcare
        1. Marketing Manager

          Jun 2018 – Dec 2018
          • Wrote, maintained and updated the company website, and ran digital marketing.
      3. Apr 2016 – Jun 2018
        Peterlee, County Durham, UK

        Searby Transport Ltd

        Logistics
        1. Managing Director

          Apr 2016 – Jun 2018
        2. Feb 2018 – Mar 2018
          United Kingdom

          National Care Group

          Social care
          1. Regional Trainer

            Feb 2018 – Mar 2018
            • Trained staff in the moving and handling of people and Mental Health First Aid.
        3. Feb 2015 – Dec 2015
          Towcester, UK

          National Back Exchange

          Professional body
          1. Professional Development Officer (Publications)

            Feb 2015 – Dec 2015
            • Served the organisation that provides professional guidelines for moving and handling.
        4. Jan 2005 – Dec 2015
          South Africa

          South African Moving & Handling Project

          Public health
          1. National Moving & Handling Coordinator

            Jan 2005 – Dec 2015
            • Helped develop safe patient-handling policies in South Africa through a project set up with the approval of Dr Molefi Sefularo.

        03 — Skills

        Practical skills for safer care.

        Moving & handling

        • Moving and handling of people
        • Safe patient handling
        • Risk assessment
        • Postural risk analysis (REBA)
        • Duty of care

        Training & quality

        • Training
        • Instructor training
        • Internal quality assurance
        • Staff development
        • Coaching
        • Mental Health First Aid

        Healthcare

        • Healthcare
        • Hospitals
        • Nursing
        • Healthcare management
        • Healthcare consulting
        • Emergency medical care

        Animation & e-learning

        • Whiteboard animation
        • Explainer videos
        • E-learning design
        • Web design
        • Digital marketing
        • Software development

        Leadership

        • Leadership development
        • Non-executive director
        • Conference speaking
        • Event organising
        • Newsletter editing

        04 — Credentials

        Qualified to teach, assess and respond.

        Qualifications
        • Diploma in Moving and Handling Instruction
          Professional qualification
        • Emergency Medical Technician
          Emergency medical care
        Instructor & licences
        • Mental Health First Aid Instructor
          Oct 2014
        • Class 1 HGV licence

        06 — Contact

        Let's make moving and handling safer.

        Open to remote roles and freelance work in moving and handling training, internal quality assurance, healthcare consulting, and e-learning or explainer animation.