We’re delighted to confirm that registration for Support Worker places is now open for the Support Worker Conference 2026, taking place on Thursday 8th October at the AJ Bell Stadium.
If you missed our original announcement, you can read the full background to the conference here — including why we created it, our organising partners, and the case for investing in support worker development.
This post covers what’s new now that booking has opened: the confirmed speaker line-up, our exhibitors, and how to secure your places.
Why This Conference Exists
If you have read the BABICM Perfect Storm report, you will be aware of the ongoing pressures around support worker recruitment and retention.
Whilst we all say we value support workers, there remains a glass ceiling around opportunities. Support workers rarely get access to the conference and networking opportunities that we often take for granted.
We are not referring to mandatory or client-specific training here. We mean paid personal development opportunities.
This conference is our way of changing that, even if it is just a first step.
Our aim is to help support workers feel recognised, valued, and equipped. We also want to encourage the wider MDT to better support the people delivering frontline rehabilitation.
What to Expect: An MDT-Wide Speaker Line-Up
The core theme of the day is helping support workers understand how each discipline within the MDT impacts their role.
It will also explore how each discipline connects to care delivery and reporting.
Just as importantly, we want every delegate to leave feeling valued, supported, and equipped with practical ideas they can use with their clients straight away.
We have brought together speakers representing the full breadth of the MDT:
- Sam Ashworth – Headway
- Daniel Bamber – Agency Management
- Susan Pattison – Physiotherapy
- Dr Penny Trayner – Child Psychology
- Gavin Newby – Neuro Psychology (Adults)
- Catherine Davies – Speech and Language
- Tony Ward – Dietician
- Louise Wolsey – Case Management
- Ryan Price – Occupational Therapy
- Matt Brown – Solicitor
- Ruth Wright – Financial Deputy
How This Benefits the Clients You Support
If you are a provider deciding whether to send your team, here is what we are aiming for.
Delegates will leave:
- Feeling more confident in their role
- Better equipped to support their clients day to day
- More aware of how to work effectively with the wider MDT
For providers and case managers, we hope this translates into:
- Improved staff retention
- Better care recording, including pre-litigation documentation
- Higher overall standards across the sector
Meet Our Exhibitors
Alongside our main sponsors, we have carefully selected exhibitors offering services that support workers can put to direct use with their clients.
These are organisations that do not always get visibility at traditional events within our sector:
- Craig Barker, CB Fitness
- BPM Rehab
- Heads Up Therapies
- Reel Recovery
- Aspire Education
- Head Forward
- Wilder Things
- Headway Salford, Trafford and North Manchester
- Bolton Neuro Voices
- The Brain Injury Group
Free Thanks to Sector-Wide Sponsorship
This event is only possible because of the generosity of our sponsors.
No one is profiting from the event. Any surplus funds will be donated to Headway Salford, Trafford and North Manchester.
Headline sponsor: Hudgell Solicitors
Tote bags: MillerCare
Catering: Neuro Rehab Nutrition
Our heartfelt thanks also go to every organisation that has sponsored delegate places so far, making it possible for support workers to attend at no cost:
Summerseat Physio, Painter House Psychology Services, NWCPP Neuropsychology Ltd, Cornerstones SLT, Simply Moving, JMW Solicitors, Rehab For Independence, Link Case Management, CHM Case Management, Newby Psychological, Red Pepper Nutrition, Reconnect Psychology, Ability Case Management, Active Case Management, N-Able Services, Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, The Brain Injury Group, Slater Gordon, Total Case Management, Compassionate Care, CFG Law, Browns Case Management, Gannon Case Management, Evolve Case Management, Communication Rehab, Manchester Occupational Therapy Services, Advance OT, Phoenix Rehabilitation, A Chance for Life, Community Case Management Ltd, and Beacon Case Management.
Special thanks also go to Daniel Bamber, Ryan Price, and Susan Pattison for bringing the idea to life, Kat Whitemoss for marketing, and Matt Brown for helping organise the event.
Booking Details
- 180 free places are available
- We ask all providers to pay support workers for their time to attend. If we want them to feel valued, their time needs to be treated as such.
- Complete the booking form for each individual support worker you wish to register.
Book your places here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJN8ybKuWK7Qzwss5GIZW7LizUPayiLmk5bcm5pT6dD7F6Rg/viewform?usp=publish-editor
Places are limited, so we encourage providers and case managers to register their support workers as early as possible.
Thank you for supporting this event — we genuinely cannot wait to bring it to life.