About Me
Hello, my name is Monica Iofciu. I'm a UK-based, qualified, registered occupational therapist (OT) with over 8 years of OT experience and 9 years as a professional carer. I created Handlewell Academy to give family carers the tools, confidence, and support they deserve.
This is me with my beautiful mum, Valeria, the best mum I could have wished for. Caring for her during her cancer treatment and her final days taught me how overwhelming and isolating the caring role can feel. She inspired me to create Handlewell Academy so that other family carers would have the resources needed to make the caring journey easier for them and their loved ones.
My professional registrations and qualifications include:
- Occupational Therapy MSc
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Member of the National Back Exchange
- Moving and Handling Train the Trainer qualified, accredited by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)
I have worked in the NHS, local authorities and the private sector across:
- Medical wards (including A&E)
- Intensive Care (during COVID-19 Pandemic)
- Rapid response and integrated care teams
- Rehab and reablement
- Complex Care, including Moving and Handling Projects like Single Handed Care
In adition to this, I have 9 years of hands-on moving and handling experience as a professional carer in the private care sector.
Alongside my professional knowledge and experience, my most personal and meaningful role was caring for her mum during her illness. That experience gave me a deep understanding of how hard, important, and lonely the job of a family carer can be.
I founded Handlewell Academy in 2022, in her memory, to make the caring journey easier for family carers and their loved ones. Everything I create is built on both professional expertise and lived experience - the same support I wished I had when I was in your position.
Handlewell Academy is my way of giving family carers practical, trustworthy, step-by-step guidance - so you don't have to figure it all out alone. My mission is to help you feel competent, confident, and supported in your family carer role.
Whether you are just starting out or have been caring for your loved one for years, I hope these toolkits give you the peace of mind and practical skills you need. You're not alone in this journey.
Explore the Carer's Toolkits
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