Choice Support Case Study

Accredited Moving & Handling of People Instructor Course

In October 2017 our Moving & Handling of People Expert Alan Reed provided our 3 Day Moving & Handling Instructor ('Train the Trainer') Course for Choice Support at their venue in Stockport. The Course was attended by a number of experienced Trainers and some new to moving and handling instruction. The 3 Day Course is designed to teach attendees with varying degrees of Care Industry experience the theory and practical skills they need to conduct their own in house Moving & Handling of People Training, with both competency and confidence.

Day 1. The Course informs attendees of the relevant laws in handling and social care and gives them competency in teaching the workforce in best practice techniques and transfers that cover any situation the Instructors might face (for the complete Learning Outcomes click on this link). The Course is designed to teach techniques and transfers that are both safe for the service user/ patient, and help prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) to the Carer.

A basic understanding of spinal anatomy and common MSDs is taught which underpins the techniques covered. This is so the Instructors can teach techniques and transfers that minimise injuries to their workforce; with the Instructors having the knowledge to not only identify hazardous techniques and practices, but explain with confidence why a technique might damage someone's spine. All our techniques and transfers are chosen for both their efficiency, and having minimal physical impact on the workforce.

On Day 1 after the theory (during the morning still) Alan Reed covered safer manual handling techniques and practices for inanimate loads including lifting, carrying, lowering, pushing and pulling as it was likely the Instructors would be teaching manual handling (of loads) to catering, cleaning and office staff. Safer pushing and pulling would also be needed for handling Mobile Hoists and Wheelchairs later in the Course. Following this practical, types of moving and handling transfers were discussed including Verbal Guidance, Minimal Assistance, Minimal Handling and Equipment use. Factors behind successful sitting to standing were discussed with the group also. This was the last time PowerPoint was used.

After lunch the moving and handling of people techniques and transfers practical started. The practical structure throughout the 3 Days involved Alan demonstrating, with each attendee then practising with Instructor and group constructive feedback. Our Courses are inherently practical which helps keep attendees engaged and motivated. There are numerous scenarios a Carer faces in their day to day job; hoisting, assisting a person out of bed, assisting them into a bed etc. Our Courses take each scenario and look at techniques and transfers that cover all eventualities.

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From a service user that needs minimal assistance to one that requires handing from one carer, two carers and equipment. Attendees are taught all of these techniques and transfers, and when to apply them. They can then be confident that they have a wide range of solutions at their disposal, be it in a Day Centre, a Care Home or the Community. They can then adapt their in house Practical Skills Courses accordingly.

The first technique taught was assisting a service user up from the chair. This was first taught with verbal guidance, getting the service user into the best biomechanical position to get them to stand. As is often asked on Courses "what if they can't do that?" Our Expert Instructor Alan then taught techniques involving one carer, handling belts, two carers, standing aids and finally a standing hoist. With Osteopathic Solutions you can expect to cover every technique numerous times throughout the course, gradually building up to teaching it. Support and constructive feedback is given throughout.

Day 2 of the Course involved bed transfers, being practical from start to finish. The techniques included rolling a person; assisting a person out of a bed; assisting them back into bed etc. Alan also taught the use of roller slide sheets and flat sheets throughout Day 2. The techniques and transfers are numerous, but attendees had a chance to practise each one numerous times throughout the day.

Day 3 of the Course began with the introduction of hoisting patients. By this stage in the Course attendees have covered the bulk of the techniques and transfers needed, so on this day Alan concentrated on hoisting principles and covered the potential hoisting scenarios attendees would be teaching. The scenario that is often misunderstood (or badly taught by some Training Providers) is hoisting from a floor. In the middle photo below the soon to be Instructors are hoisting an attendee from the floor to the bed. This is the most daunting task for those who have never faced it, and it is taught on Day 3 for this reason. However Alan gave the attendees the knowledge and practical skills so that they can teach this transfer with confidence and competence.

Moving a patient from lying down on their back to sitting is demonstrated in the photo above right. This is useful for when repositioning the person on an upturned armchair when waiting for a mobile hoist. Again as with all of our techniques and transfers, safety of both the service user and the Carer are of the utmost importance.

Although the Course Outline specifies certain techniques and transfers, our Expert Team can explore any concerns you have for specific complex handling cases that you have faced. Often on Courses there is ample time to explore these scenarios as a group, discuss possible solutions and to practise them.

At the end of the 3rd day each attendee took our 20 minute formal Practical Assessment invigilated by Alan Reed, with each attendee reaching the required assessment competency standard.

This was another successful Course for Choice Support who started using us in 2015, and who continue to use us going forward.

4 Day Public Moving & Handling of People Instructor Assessor Course

I wanted to let you know how impressed I was with the Course. Having had this type of training before my expectations were not high but this was so detailed and also hands on, with all potential scenarios covered. I feel confident that my future training will be enhanced by the learning I gained from this Course. With this in mind I am keen for my team to all attend your training in the near future and to have your company provide all our training including our CPD days going forward.

Sally Dunne, Learning & Development Manager

Choice Support