Moving and handling safely starts before anybody attempts a transfer, repositioning task or assisted movement.

A suitable moving and handling risk assessment helps care providers identify potential hazards, understand the individual’s needs and establish the safest practical way for staff to provide support.

In Health & Social Care, this is particularly important because moving and handling involves both employee safety and the needs, rights and dignity of the person receiving care.

Why are moving and handling risk assessments important?

Employers should first consider whether hazardous manual handling can be avoided. Where it cannot, risks need to be assessed and measures introduced to reduce them as far as reasonably practicable.

For care organisations, this means assessing both routine workplace activities and the specific needs of people who require assistance.

A risk assessment isn’t simply paperwork. It should influence how care is actually delivered.

Generic and individual assessments

HSE identifies two forms of assessment that are usually needed within Health & Social Care.

A generic assessment considers the overall moving and handling risks within the service. This can include the tasks staff perform, staffing arrangements, equipment, the physical environment and situations such as emergency evacuations or residents falling.

An individual assessment focuses specifically on the person receiving care and their moving and handling requirements.

Both are important.

What should an individual assessment consider?

The assessment should look at the whole situation rather than focusing purely on somebody’s weight or physical size.

Relevant considerations can include:

• The person’s mobility and physical abilities
• Whether they can weight-bear
• How they can participate in the movement
• Their health and individual needs
• The particular task being undertaken
• The surrounding environment
• Appropriate moving and handling equipment
• How many members of staff are required
• Communication and cooperation
• Any foreseeable changes or risks

The results should then inform the person’s moving and handling or care plan.

Make instructions specific

A vague instruction such as “two-person transfer” may not give staff enough information.

Where appropriate, the care plan should clearly describe the technique, equipment and staffing needed for specific tasks.

HSE advises that controls recorded within the individual’s care plan can include the task, technique, equipment type and size, staff numbers and other relevant information.

This gives staff a clearer system to follow and helps promote consistency across shifts.

Risk assessments need to change

People’s needs are not static.

A resident who could previously stand with assistance might become temporarily weaker following illness. Someone returning from hospital may have different mobility needs, while changes to medication, pain, cognition or physical health could also affect how support is provided.

HSE therefore says assessments should be reviewed periodically and whenever circumstances or the person’s needs change.

Training supports the assessment

Even a detailed risk assessment is ineffective if staff do not understand it or lack the skills to follow it.

Care providers should ensure employees receive appropriate moving and handling training, know how to use the specified equipment and understand when a situation needs reassessing.

TJS Solutions provides practical People Moving & Handling Training for Health & Social Care organisations, helping staff connect risk assessment with everyday practice.

Contact TJS Solutions to discuss moving and handling training for your care team.

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