Moving & Handling Policy

Policy Statement

Seven Steps Support Ltd’s aim is to avoid the manual moving of people and loads where there is a risk of injury, so far as is reasonably practicable. This should be commensurate with the best interests, dignity, promotion of independence and rights that people have under the Human Rights Act 1998.

This policy describes how the balance between the health and safety of employees, clients or others is not placed at risk, so far as is reasonably practicable when assisting individuals whose functional ability and/or ability to comply with the procedure is impaired. ## Purpose

The purpose of the policy is to ensure that:

safety and comfort for the individual is maximized and the risk of injury to staff and individuals is minimised.
Legal requirements are met.
The wishes of the individual are considered within the principles of person-centered planning and proactive risk management.

This policy applies to all employees of Seven Steps Support Ltd including volunteers and work experience/placements. Where there is conflict in policy, management must be consulted on a case by case basis.

Management: Jodie Broughton & Kim Broughton

Laws and Legislations:

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is the basis of all health and safety legislation and sets out the legal requirements, which employers have towards employees and others, and employees have to themselves and each other. (HASWA)
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 were introduced to enable the UK to implement the European Directive 901269/EEC, which made a risk assessment approach a requirement.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 place an obligation on employers to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks whilst they are at work.
The Lifting operations and lifting Equipment Regulation (LOLER) 1998.
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. (RIDDOR)
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. (PUWER)
The Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA)
The above is not an exhaustive list

Mandatory Procedures - Manual Handling

In the context of this document manual handling refers to the moving and handling of any load.

Current legislation states “Each employer shall avoid hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable, therefore manual handling is not prohibited and requires a balanced approach to ensure that:

Employee’s are not required to perform tasks that put them and/or individuals at risk, unreasonably. Individuals‟ personal wishes on mobility assistance are respected wherever possible as is their independence and autonomy.

The aim should be to meet the individuals wishes using the principles of Putting People First in assessing their needs for independence without compromising the safety of anyone concerned with their health and well being.

The dignity, autonomy and privacy of the individual should be respected at all times.

Risk Management

Managers and all staff should consider risk control strategies:

Eliminate the risk
Reduce the risk
Isolate the risk
Control the risk (ERIC)
Re-designing the task to avoid moving the individual or the load, reducing the weight risk of any load to be lifted.
The use of mechanical lifting equipment and small handling equipment.

As part of this process individuals we support should be encouraged to assist in their own transfers as far as possible and appropriate moving and handling equipment should be used to reduce the risk of any injury to themselves and staff.

There may be cases where there is no reasonably practicable alternative to manual moving, in such circumstance a detailed risk assessment must be completed identifying all elements of risks.

Where a manual handling risk assessment has identified a 2 x person manual move best practice requires that both people must be trained.

Alternatively, at the line managers discretion one employee assisted by a trained and/or competent (as deemed by a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or similar professional) informal/unpaid carer/family may be permitted, if this is supported by the findings of the risk assessment.

An individuals state of health, both physical and mental, must be taken into account before trying to manually handle them and an appropriate health care professional be alerted if there is a concern

Seven Steps Support Ltd provide Manual handling training as essential core training in accordance with our organisational Training and Development Policy. Ad hoc training may be provided in certain circumstances.

All accidents, handling incidents and near misses must be reported promptly to the appropriate person within that organisation e.g. line manager and/or health and safety manager in accordance with the reporting procedures of the organisation.

The current risk assessment must be stored with the individuals care plan file within the home and must be easily accessible to staff. A copy will also be stored securely in the Main Office 25 Youlgreave drive, S12 4SD.

Risk assessments should be reviewed in accordance with local working practices and policies or if there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid; or where there has been a significant change in circumstances. Any changes should be recorded on the care plan.

Individuals who have Difficulties Expressing their Views or may Lack Mental Capacity

Where the individuals we support have mental capacity in relation to the moving and handling decision but have difficulty expressing their wishes employees should make all reasonable attempts to ascertain their wishes by making use of interpreters, non-verbal communication, technological aids, independent advocates and the views expressed through others.
Where individuals may lack capacity in relation to the moving and handling decision Managers will have completed all relevant paperwork with professionals and families such as mental capacity assessments and best interests.
No-one can give consent to treatment on behalf of another adult, but health & social care professionals can normally provide treatment/intervention which they believe to be in the best interests of the person, provided they have carried out an assessment of capacity & best interests assessment.
Under the terms of the Mental Capacity Act it is possible for individuals to make an advanced directive as to their wishes and this should be honoured whenever practicable. Staff should also check whether individuals have made an Advance Decision to refuse a particular treatment or whether they have made a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) Health & Welfare or have a Court of Protection appointed Deputy. If so, both of the latter become the decision maker.
Even when the individual and their family or advocate have been fully involved in the assessment process a small minority of people may still be reluctant to change existing practices to address the risks identified. In such cases staff should adopt the following procedure:
Seek immediate advice from their line manager.
Outline the benefits/advantages/safety for all individuals involved of the planned technique to the individual and their carers/family
Seek alternative methods and/or equipment, if possible, from the nominated professional.

If all reasonable efforts to provide a service in a way acceptable to all parties have failed, then the director or registered manager may consult with the health and safety consultant and the legal department will decide whether this constitutes a refusal of service by the individual.

The organisation has to balance its legal duties to employees under Health and Safety legislation and the quality of care to individuals.

It is unacceptable for unsafe work practices, which pose a risk of injury to employees, to continue, whilst a satisfactory solution is found. A balance must be found where one party’s benefit does not significantly increase the other party’s risk.

Emergency Handling

Seven Steps Support Ltd understands there may be some foreseeable situations and can therefore be planned for to reduce the risk of injury e.g. If a individual has a history of falls or collapses then this must be incorporated into their manual handling risk assessment and be clearly stated in their care plan.

However, we recognize there may be situations where staff have no time to get equipment or plan the move. Always Consider your safety and the safety of others around you prior to taking any further action.

In the community, if a person falls and is unable to stand independently and is not in danger, non-medically qualified staff should make the person comfortable and seek advice from an appropriate professional. They must stay with the person until necessary assistance/equipment arrives.

If an individual / client falls when they are with a member of staff, the staff member should allow them to fall to the floor as attempts to break the fall would pose too great a risk to the member of staff.

Equipment

Staff must avoid all unnecessary manual moving and use the appropriate equipment where it is assessed as necessary. All equipment must be suitable for use in line with (PUWER Regulations 1998).

All staff must use equipment with which they have been trained. It is the responsibility of each prescriber i.e. risks assessor/ employer/moving and handling trainer to give instruction in the use of such equipment. Informal carers should not instruct care staff in the use of aids or equipment. Staff must seek guidance if they are still unsure about how to use equipment.

Seven Steps Support ltd managers must ensure that sufficient resources are available to allow the prompt provision of appropriate aids, where risk assessments are completed by the appropriate professional have identified the need. If the required equipment is not available for use then this must be reported to the line manager and the assessed task not performed until the equipment is in place.

All staff have a responsibility to use moving and handling equipment correctly and to report any malfunction or potential malfunction immediately. The equipment must be marked with a sticker and dated to alert other people to the potential problem and moved to a safe place. (It cannot be used until checked/serviced and deemed safe by a competent person.
All staff have a responsibility to check that the equipment is clean and in good working order before using it.
Equipment must be suitable and sufficient for the purpose and the person for whom it was provided after an assessment of needs. It should not be used for any other person for who it was assessed.
Specific lifting appliances e.g. hoists must have a current test certificate it must be signed by the competent person and must specify the safe working load and this must not be exceeded. This equipment is also required to have a thorough and documented examination by a competent person every 6 months. (LOLER 1998).

Training

It is Seven Steps Support Ltd policy that all employees must receive moving and handling training in accordance with our polices and procedures before being required to move any person/load.

Seven Steps Support Ltd takes responsibility for training of its managers and staff and ensure it is fit for purpose.

Mandatory update training session will be provided for every staff member who is involved in the moving and handling of people/loads in line with the organisation’s policy. Where an employee or manager identifies a specific need additional training will be provided.

All newly-employed staff involved in moving individuals must have read and demonstrated their understanding of the Moving and Handling Policy, and sign to confirm that they have done so.

Managers must ensure that written records of training are kept, that a system for identifying staff needing updates is in place, and that staff are put forward for appropriate training at the right time within identified frequencies. – Training Matrix in place to monitor training and development.

Employees’ Responsibilities

Employees must take reasonable care for their own safety, and that of others when carrying out moving and handling and attend moving and handling training as required.
Employees must read/review the risk assessment and moving and handling plan every time they attend to the individual and after every subsequent risk assessment review. Individuals or their representatives must also sign to say they have seen the risk assessment and agree to it.
Employees must use moving and handling equipment and techniques in accordance with training and written instructions received from a nominated professional and the manufacturer’s instructions and guidance.
They must observe the principles of manual handling and use the equipment provided in accordance with instructions.
Employees should wear appropriate clothing and footwear i.e. (not open toed sandals) that do not constrain movement/posture when moving and handling and use the personal protective equipment provided by Seven Steps Support Ltd.
Employees must comply with Seven Steps Support Ltd.’s Infection control policy and procedures.
Employees must report to their manager if they are unsure of any moving and handling procedure, or if they consider any task too difficult or likely to pose a risk of injury through the organisation’s reporting procedures. They must also alert managers to the need for a review of the risk assessment, equipment or further training. This must be documented and actioned.
Employees must immediately report all incidents or potential incidents arising from moving and handling in line with organisational incident reporting procedures, and any disabilities or health conditions including pregnancy, which may affect their handling capacities.
Employees must attend training as required to do so by Seven Steps Support Ltd.

Managers’ Responsibilities

Managers and Keyworker must ensure, in accordance with Health and Safety at Work Act, that no one is exposed to foreseeable risk of injury so far as is reasonably practicable. Risk assessments must be carried out in line with this policy.

Managers and Keyworker must attend training on Health and Safety management, including risk assessment and keep themselves updated in accordance with local organisational requirements.

Managers and Keyworkers must ensure that all their employees/staff team are trained in the basic skills of manual handling before being asked to move any person or load, and that they comply with the risk assessments and care plans for individuals.

Managers and Keyworker must satisfy themselves that their employees/staff team are following the principles of manual handling and not operating contrary to the way that they have been trained. They must take action if employees persist in using inappropriate or unsafe methods.

Managers and Keyworker should seek advice from the Moving and Handling advisor/trainer/appropriate professional for any unresolved issues concerning manual handling practice.

Managers and Keyworker have a duty to both individuals and their staff. They have a responsibility to ensure that a balance must be found where one party’s benefit does not significantly increase the risk of the other party.

Monitoring Process

This policy will be monitored through staff supervision, the reporting of accidents and incidents and sickness returns. The policy will be reviewed at least every two years.