Our education events are key to supporting your ongoing professional development. They aim to supplement your existing training with MND-specific content to enhance professionals’ understanding of the disease and how to provide the best possible care.
We offer a diverse range of expert-led online and in-person opportunities that cover a wide variety of topics. Find a description of each type of event below, along with its objectives and what past attendees have said about it.
Your feedback helps us create events that explore relevant information, respond to your needs, and address new developments in MND care. If you have any questions, feedback, or would like to suggest a topic or share a project you have worked on, email education@mndassociation.org.
To see the events we offer this year and book your place, visit the Calendar of Events.
To access exclusive events such as Information and Knowledge Exchanges, join our MND Professionals’ Community of Practice.
Conversations with...
"Conversations with..." are brief, 30-minute events that explore topical issues in MND care, driven by the needs and interests expressed by the professional community. They are always online and feature an informal conversation between a host and a subject specialist, responding to questions submitted by the MND community either before or during the event.
The aims are to provide professionals with opportunities to:
- share their interest in areas of MND care
- have their questions answered by subject experts
- highlight specific needs within the MND community.
Questions for each event can be sent to education@mndassociation.org.
Booking is not required - simply drop in using the Zoom link provided in the event description.
All "Conversation with..." will be recorded and uploaded to our webinars page for future viewing.
"Useful conversation with up-to-date info around the grants available and with good examples of use."
"I liked that it was fairly informal with the option of being able to ask questions. Short sessions are helpful as easy to attend."
Webinars
Our webinars are designed to bring you thought-provoking content on a range of practice areas. They are presented by subject experts and give you the opportunity to ask questions or discuss what you have heard with other professionals. They are designed to fit within a working day, lasting between 60 and 90 minutes. They are free to attend and are recorded for future watching.
“Really useful to discuss up-to-date research in relation to exercise and MND, as this is often a discussion point with people following diagnosis” – Attendee of our webinar: Exercise in MND
“I really liked the use of survey questions and group discussions” - Attendee of our webinar: Exercise in MND
“Excellent presentation, with good examples and case studies” – Attendee of the webinar: Understanding risk, Best Interest decisions and Mental Capacity
Workshops
Our one-day workshops are delivered to a relatively small group of people in person, providing an intensive experience focused on practical skills and techniques used in MND care. These may cover, for example, non-invasive ventilation, enteral feeding, oral suction or cognitive changes screening. They aim to:
- pass on knowledge and instruction around a specific skill set
- provide significant real-time opportunities for participants to practice the skills being taught
- provide, whenever possible, formal accreditation for the acquired skills.
“Informative and interactive day – suitable for a varied skillset amongst staff and great to trial equipment.” – Attendee of the workshop: Nutritional management of people with MND
“Excellent study day that has helped me understand the challenges of people with MND” - Attendee of the workshop: Advance care planning: principles, tools and techniques
“So useful, practical and realistic” - Attendee from the workshop: Posture management and effective use of orthotics
“The study-day enabled discussion between the presenters and the attendees, as well as opportunities to network and learn from other MND services. Would recommend to anyone caring for people with MND” – Attendee from the workshop: Respiratory problems in MND: a multidisciplinary team approach
Competency builder sessions
Competency builder sessions are designed for professionals who want to develop proficiency, knowledge and skills in a specific area of practice at a more advanced level. They may be delivered face-to-face or online, depending on the subject matter. Wherever possible, they are accredited by the CPD Accreditation Service and a relevant professional organisation.
The features of a competency builder are that they:
- have a running time up to a full day, dependent upon the subject matter
- are taught by an expert that has achieved mastery of the competency
- may have a clearly defined practical element to them
- provide an opportunity for participants to interact with and learn from each other
- include the provision of a reference list of further reading and resources to support ongoing learning.
“Very informative and covered a broad range of topics that may be useful in the management of patients with MND. I felt the day was kept interesting with interactive tasks, and I enjoyed the range of different speakers, who were all very knowledgeable about their areas.”– Attendee of competency builder session: Effective management of communication difficulties in MND
“Really great session - would highly recommend. I definitely feel more confident in managing communication difficulties after this session.” – Attendee of competency builder session: Effective management of communication difficulties in MND
“I really enjoyed sharing experiences and getting feedback from other professionals” – Attendee of competency builder session: Effective management of communication difficulties in MND
Annual Stephen Hawking MND Lecture
The aim of the Annual Stephen Hawking MND Lecture is to bring current MND research to members of the multidisciplinary team and demonstrate how this might feed into their practice. They are delivered each year by an expert in the field.
They are live-streamed and delivered in the evening to make attendance as open as possible.
Learn more about the past lectures.
“A really good explanation of the principles and their value in both professional and personal life with some really helpful take home messages and tips.” – Attendee of the 2024 Annual Stephen Hawking Lecture
Information and Knowledge Exchange
Information and Knowledge Exchange events are exclusively for members of the MND Professionals' Community of Practice, a peer led group of health and social care professionals encouraging and supporting the development of good care for people living with, or affected by, MND.
"These sessions offer so much learning and show how sharing information as experts and learners can grow our care and support to all people with MND and their loved ones."
Community of Practice Annual Networking Event
The Annual Networking Event provides a unique opportunity for members of the MND Professionals' Community of Practice to connect and collaborate with colleagues to expand their knowledge on MND care. Each year, it welcomes hundreds of professionals from across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, and it includes several interactive and thought-provoking activities, such as workshops, meetings with exhibitors and practical demonstrations of equipment.
“Good MND care is based on input from multiple healthcare disciplines. This event was a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues and meet new people working in MND”
