Breaking New Ground: Free Professional Development for Support Workers

We are thrilled to announce a landmark event for the brain injury support sector: the Support Worker Conference 2026. This is the first conference designed exclusively for support workers in acquired brain injury support across the Northwest.

We are proud to announce Hudgell Solicitors as the Main Event sponsor for the Support Worker Conference 2026. Their support highlights a shared commitment to recognising the vital work of support workers across the Northwest.

The event takes place on Thursday 8th October 2026 at the prestigious AJ Bell Stadium in Salford, Manchester. It addresses a long-standing need in our sector: accessible professional development for the support workers who form the backbone of brain injury rehabilitation.

The best part? Attendance is completely free for support worker delegates. This has been made possible through sponsorship from Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) members who recognise the invaluable contribution support workers make every day.

Why This Conference Matters for Brain Injury Support Workers

Addressing the Support Worker Crisis

The brain injury support sector is facing significant challenges. The 2022 report “The Perfect Storm” by the British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers (BABICM) highlighted the urgent need for increased investment in training and support. This investment is essential for building a skilled and stable workforce.

As Susan Pattison of SP Therapy Services explains:

“As members of Multi-Disciplinary Teams, we understand the unique contribution provided by Support Workers in delivering therapy programmes and recognise there is a significant shortage of experienced staff, and recruitment and retention is a national problem.”

Daniel Bamber of Prestige Nursing & Care adds:

“We identified that whilst we live in a rich sector of opportunities to attend networking events and conferences, these opportunities don’t often extend to support workers. The aim of this unique conference is to speak directly to Support Workers and make them feel valued by creating an event of their own where we as MDT members can show our appreciation.”

Event Details: Support Worker Conference 2026

Date: Thursday 8th October 2026
Venue: AJ Bell Stadium, Eccles, Salford, M30 7EY
Cost for Support Workers: FREE (sponsored places)

Who Should Attend?

• Support workers in acquired brain injury support

The AJ Bell Stadium provides excellent accessibility and outstanding facilities for delegates from across Greater Manchester and the Northwest.

A Collaborative Approach to Professional Development

This unprecedented event is the result of collaboration between leading organisations in the brain injury care sector:

• SP Therapy Services – specialist neurorehabilitation physiotherapy provider

• Prestige Nursing & Care – quality nursing and care services

• Heads Up Therapies – innovative OT brain injury rehabilitation

• Headway Salford & North Manchester – vital local support charity

Ryan Price of Heads Up Therapies highlights the innovative nature of this initiative:

“We believe this has not been done before. We have been working in collaboration with Headway Salford & North Manchester to make this happen and we are now at the stage where we can release details and request support with sponsorship packages.”

Sponsorship Opportunities: Invest in the Future of Brain Injury Support

This is a not-for-profit conference. All proceeds will be donated to Headway Salford & North Manchester to support our vital community work.

We are seeking sponsors who believe in developing brain injury support workers and who want to show their appreciation for support workers.