People Moving and Handling instruction refresher

Who this training is for

Existing QQI/FETAC level 6 people moving and handling instructors deemed suitable by their line manager, through a training needs assessment, to require refresher training.

Contact the Health and Safety helpdesk for more information or advice

Objective

To refresh the knowledge, skill and competence of people moving and handling instructors to ensure they can effectively design and deliver manual handling and people moving and handling training within the HSE.

Minimum standard contents

The contents of the training programme must ensure that participants can demonstrate the knowledge, skill and competence to effectively design and deliver manual handling and people moving and handling training programmes in the organisation.

The contents of the training programme must ensure that the training programme objective is met and include:

Legislative requirements and health benefit

Explain the main components of relevant health and safety legislation and guidance documents to include the current manual handling of loads regulations, principles of prevention as outlined in the current Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act and relevant guidance from government and professional bodies.
Evaluate the health and organisational benefits of an integrated approach to the management of manual handling to include development of a manual handling policy, staff consultation, risk assessment, implementation of appropriate controls and relevant training.

Anatomy and back care

Define the main components of the spinal column to include discs, ligaments, bones, joints, nerves and muscles.
Explain the main risk factors for back injuries related to manual handling to include how these injuries commonly occur.
Describe current concepts of back care to include good back posture at home and work, awareness of the importance of being fit and flexible, working within their capabilities and taking personal responsibility for good back care

Ergonomic principles and risk assessment

Describe the concepts of ergonomics to include a description of key ergonomic principles for workplace design and unfavourable ergonomic condition as detailed in the schedule to the current manual handling of loads regulation.
Explain the manual handling risk assessment process through the use of manual handling case studies or scenarios.
Describe a range of controls to avoid and reduce the risk of injuries to include a critical analysis of a range of manual handling equipment.

Manual handling principles and techniques

Apply the main principles of manual handling to a range of manual handling tasks with particular emphasis on the need to carry out a personal or dynamic risk assessment to determine if the load can be handled safely.
Carry out a range of appropriate manual handling techniques to include lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, supporting or putting down of a load by one or more persons.
Analyse the participant’s performance of manual handling techniques.

Planning and design of manual handling training programmes

Develop manual handling training programmes to include lesson plans with clear objectives, appropriate material and aids to support learning and strategies to motivate changes in manual handling practice.
Identify the necessary organisational resources needed to plan and support the delivery of effective manual handling training programmes.
It is envisaged that on the successful completion of the training programme each participant will adopt the vendor’s manual handling and people handling training programmes and refresher programmes (which are based on the HSE’s programmes for HSE staff). Therefore each participant must have the appropriate knowledge, skills and competence to deliver these training programmes and meet the needs of the specific service and manual handling and people handling tasks being undertaken in the area in which they are delivering training.

Delivery of manual handling training

Deliver effective manual handling training programmes, using a range of tools and techniques including managing group dynamics.
Demonstrate understanding of adult learning principles and the need for effective communication skills. Give effective instruction in practical manual handling techniques.

People moving and handling

Develop an understanding of the people handling risk assessment process.
Apply the main principles of manual handling and techniques of people handling, and analyse a participant’s performance of people handling techniques.
Develop lesson plans, deliver and evaluate a people handling training programme and use effective presentation skills.

Duration

2 Days

How to book

This course can be booked by your line manager through the Health and Safety helpdesk

Specific examination (if relevant)

Weighting: 60% of the total mark

Based on Units 3, & 4.

Participants will be assessed on their ability to carry out a range of People Handling Skills and to effectively present information to a group of learners. Candidates will be assessed through observation and carrying out a broad range of skills.

Skill assessments

Moving person up the bed using sliding sheets and unroll method
Sitting to the edge of the bed
Turning person in bed
Sitting to standing
Assisted Walking
Repositioning patient in bed – from supine lying to sitting

Hoists will be used to assess the knowledge and skills of learners:

To and from the chair
To and from bed
From floor

Candidates will demonstrate and instruct three practical People Handling Techniques to a group of learners.

Carry out a range of safe People Handling Techniques and apply these to a range of People Handling Tasks (30 marks)
Analyse a learner’s performance of People Handling Techniques and providing constructive feedback (10 marks)
Give effective instruction in practical People Handling Techniques (10 marks)
Deliver effective presentation (10 marks)

Preparation and implementation

Candidates will assess the People Handling situation efficiently and effectively using the People Handling Risk Assessment Process.

Communication

Candidates should communicate verbally and non-verbally with their learners, using appropriate interpersonal skills. Candidates should also demonstrate an ability to report on the task and respond to questions.

All skills demonstrations will be recorded

Presentation of a topic will be completed by each learner - 10%

Written assignment

Assignment will consist of learners conducting two People Handling Risk Assessments in their workplace and presenting a written report of the risks identified.

The candidate will identify what ranges of controls are required to reduce the risk of injury to staff.

The candidate must describe the necessary moving and handling equipment that will be used by staff.

Learners need to:

Explain the People Handling Risk Assessment Process through the use of workplace case studies (4 marks)
Identify and analyse these People Handling scenarios (6 marks)
Critically analyse controls to avoid and reduce injuries in these People Handling scenarios and discuss conclusion in report format (6 marks)
Involve workplace personnel, planning of assignment work and report ( e.g. contributions of others to assignments, presentation of findings to management, what you learned by doing assessment) (4 marks)

Guidelines to consider

Description of the People Handling Scenario ( Consider photographs)
Refer to protocols and procedures that may impact on the assessment e.g. balanced decision making, infection control, challenging behaviour, critical medical emergencies, complex clinical issues, human rights, fluctuating mobility of the person.
Evaluation of the task/activity
Improvements/ Recommendations you could make to task/activity for future use.
Details of resources/materials used.
Reflection of own role in the activity, what conclusions you reached.

Guidance

Notes on reflection

At the end, please reflect on what you have learned from your experiences. Use the following headings:

Description: Describe the event. What happened?
Feelings: What were your thoughts and feelings about the situation?
Evaluation: What was good and bad about the situation?
Conclusion: What more could have been done?
Action Plan: If the situation arose again, what should be done?
People Moving and Handling Theory Short Questions

Short questions theory

20 Short answer question, 16 correct answers to pass assessment.

Questions are compiled from the Units of the course.

Certification

Certificate will be provided to confirm that participants have successfully demonstrated theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and competence to effectively design and deliver manual/people handling training programmes within the Framework Client organisation.

Specific provisions

Relevant to all learners on the course, the instructor will tailor skills to each learner's needs and will ensure each learner is capable of demonstrating both skill and theory within their working environment with the range of equipment relevant to them.

(Equipment must be made available to instructor for the purpose of demonstration and participation).

Reference to legislation and guidelines

The training programme must be compliant with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and associated General Application Regulations 2007 including the Manual Handling of Loads Regulations 2007 and subsequent amending legislation.

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