In tweeting with Sarah Clayton from Postural Care after this year’s positive choices conference I was delighted to get the opportunity to spend some time with the company. Sarah also encouraged me to write a blog on postural care so here I go.
Over the past few years I’ve had a number of informal awareness sessions on postural care, as well as a lecture at university on it and an exhibitors event where specialist equipment was on display. Since my very first training session four years ago before I began my learning disability nursing training I have been absolutely fascinated by the subject and what can be achieved (and what has been achieved) to help people with a body shape distortion.
Back in April, alongside Sarah and a number of my peers I was lucky enough to be invited to the unique headquarters of postural care for a days training in leadership. An area I have always told myself I am weak at. The trainer Judith North a leadership consultant condensed several days worth of topics into just a single day. From what I know about postural care and from what I have experienced out there with people in the real world I have observed that it is physiotherapists that are the main health professionals involved in supporting people who has a body shape distortion, this makes sense but it’s always put a downer on my spirit as it’s definitely something I would love to be heavily involved in upon qualifying, perhaps even specialise in. Cut back to training day with Judith where I left realising that that dream could become a reality.
A few days before the training Judith sent out an email linking to a questionnaire designed to identify our strengths. I was pleased to be told my five were: futuristic, strategic, restorative, communication, and discipline.. Five strengths, five skills which if when mixed together and applied correctly could empower me as a learning disabilities nurse to be a leader in the postural care agenda.
Leadership and other skills surrounding that, confidence, assertiveness, even public speaking are areas I’ve always doubted myself at but I left the training feeling extremely positive and empowered that as a soon to be qualified learning disabilities nurse that I have the right skills, knowledge, and positivity to help people and spread the word of this life changing and life saving intervention.
Postural Care 