Client Moving & Handling - Train the Trainer

Course Aim

The Client Moving & Handling Instructor is a 3-day course is designed for individuals who are responsible for training, assessing and supporting staff in the safe moving and handling of clients/service users.

The course develops the knowledge, practical skills and instructional techniques required to deliver effective moving and handling training within the workplace, while promoting client dignity, independence, safety and person-centred care.

Suitable For

• Moving & Handling Trainers/Instructors
• Senior Care Workers
• Care Managers and Supervisors
• Moving & Handling Coordinators
• Occupational Health/Health & Safety personnel
• Training and Development staff
• Staff responsible for workplace moving and handling assessments
• Experienced care staff progressing into an instructor role

Course Content

Legislation, Guidance & Responsibilities

Learners will explore the legal and organisational requirements surrounding client moving and handling, including:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), where relevant
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER), where relevant
• Equality, dignity and person-centred care considerations
• Employer and employee responsibilities
• Reporting accidents, incidents and near misses
• Training, supervision and competency requirements
• Organisational moving and handling policies and procedures

Principles of Safe Client Moving & Handling

Learners will understand:

• The principles of safer moving and handling
• Why client handling differs from conventional manual handling
• Risk factors associated with moving people
• The importance of individual risk assessment
• Avoiding unnecessary manual handling
• Promoting client independence
• Working within individual care plans
• Communication between carers and clients
• The importance of teamwork
• The instructor's role in preventing unsafe practices

Anatomy & Physiology

The course introduces relevant anatomy and physiology, including:

• Structure of the spine
• Musculoskeletal system
• Major joints and muscle groups
• Spinal posture and loading
• How manual handling can affect the body
• Common musculoskeletal injuries
• Back injuries and strains
• The effects of poor handling techniques
• Understanding the limitations of the human body

Risk Assessment

Learners will develop the ability to identify and manage moving and handling risks.

Topics include:

• Principles of risk assessment
• Identifying hazards
• Assessing risk
• Implementing control measures
• Reviewing risk assessments
• Dynamic risk assessment
• Individual moving and handling assessments
• Changes in a client's condition
• Environmental considerations
• Staffing levels
• Equipment selection
• Client weight, mobility and ability
• Behavioural and communication considerations

A useful framework is to consider:

Task – Individual – Load/Client – Environment – Equipment

Person-Centred Moving & Handling

A major component of the course is ensuring that moving and handling is undertaken in a way that respects the individual.

Learners will consider:

• Consent
• Communication
• Privacy
• Dignity
• Choice
• Independence
• Client participation
• Cultural and individual needs
• Mental capacity considerations
• Appropriate communication techniques
• Supporting rather than unnecessarily doing things for the client

Basic Movement & Mobility

Practical techniques may include:

• Supporting a person to stand
• Sitting and standing
• Walking assistance
• Repositioning
• Turning
• Assisting a client to change position
• Bed mobility
• Chair mobility
• Use of appropriate handling techniques
• Working with clients with reduced mobility

Bed Mobility

Practical instruction may cover:

• Repositioning in bed
• Turning a client
• Moving a client up/down a bed
• Assisting with sitting up
• Moving from lying to sitting
• Use of slide sheets
• Use of repositioning equipment
• Minimising friction and shear
• Working safely as a team

Transfers

Learners will practise appropriate transfer techniques, such as:

• Bed to chair
• Chair to bed
• Chair to standing
• Standing to sitting
• Bed to wheelchair
• Wheelchair to chair
• Toilet transfers
• Transfers using appropriate aids

The emphasis should be on assessing the client and selecting the appropriate method, rather than teaching one technique as suitable for every individual.

Hoist Training

Depending on the equipment available, practical training can include:

• Types of hoist
• Mobile hoists
• Standing/active hoists
• Ceiling track hoists
• Appropriate sling selection
• Sling application
• Sling removal
• Pre-use checks
• Safe positioning
• Attaching slings
• Hoisting procedures
• Moving a client safely
• Lowering a client
• Emergency considerations
• Post-use procedures

Learners should understand that equipment must only be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the individual's assessment/care plan.

Slide Sheets & Other Handling Equipment

Practical training may include:

• Slide sheets
• Turning systems
• Transfer boards
• Rotating/turning aids
• Handling belts, where assessed as appropriate
• Profiling beds
• Wheelchairs
• Standing aids
• Other locally used equipment

Learners should understand when equipment is appropriate and when it is not.

Instructor Skills

Teaching Moving & Handling

This is what distinguishes an Instructor course from a standard client moving and handling course.

Learners will explore:

• Principles of adult learning
• Learning styles/preferences and inclusive teaching
• Creating a safe learning environment
• Demonstration techniques
• Explaining practical procedures
• Breaking techniques into manageable stages
• Questioning techniques
• Checking learner understanding
• Giving constructive feedback
• Correcting unsafe practice
• Managing different learner abilities
• Supporting nervous or inexperienced learners
• Managing group practical sessions

Demonstrating Practical Techniques

Instructors will learn how to:

1. Explain the procedure.
2. Identify the relevant risks.
3. Explain the equipment.
4. Demonstrate the technique safely.
5. Break the procedure into stages.
6. Allow learners to practise.
7. Observe performance.
8. Provide feedback.
9. Correct errors.
10. Reassess competency.

Particular emphasis should be placed on the instructor demonstrating exactly the behaviour they expect learners to adopt.

Practical Assessment

Learners should demonstrate competence in selected moving and handling techniques.

Assessment may include:

• Practical demonstrations
• Questioning
• Scenario-based assessment
• Risk assessment exercise
• Equipment identification
• Instructor demonstration
• Teaching a practical technique to other learners

The instructor candidate should be assessed on both:

Technical competence and ability to teach the technique safely.

Equipment Safety

Equipment Checks & Maintenance

Learners will understand:

• Pre-use checks
• Identifying damaged equipment
• Defective equipment procedures
• LOLER requirements where applicable
• Manufacturer's instructions
• Safe working loads
• Appropriate sling selection
• Equipment compatibility
• Reporting faults
• Cleaning and infection-control considerations
• Storage

Infection Prevention & Control

Hygiene Considerations

Topics include:

• Hand hygiene
• Cleaning handling equipment
• Cross-contamination
• Personal protective equipment where appropriate
• Cleaning reusable equipment
• Infection-control procedures
• Managing bodily fluids/contamination
• Organisational infection-control policies

Emergency Situations

Managing Unexpected Situations

The course can cover appropriate responses to:

• Client falling
• Client becoming unresponsive
• Equipment failure
• Sling failure
• Hoist malfunction
• Client distress
• Sudden change in client condition
• Carer injury
• Manual handling incident
• Emergency lowering procedures

Learners should understand when to stop the procedure, seek assistance and activate emergency procedures rather than attempting an unsafe recovery.

Instructor Responsibilities

Maintaining Instructor Competence

Learners should understand their ongoing responsibilities, including:

• Maintaining their own practical competence
• Keeping knowledge current
• Following organisational procedures
• Staying within their scope of competence
• Maintaining training records
• Recording assessments
• Identifying further training needs
• Reporting unsafe practices
• Reviewing changes in equipment
• Keeping up to date with relevant legislation and guidance
• Participating in instructor updates/refresher training

Assessment Strategy

A suitable assessment strategy could include: