Moving & Handling for Occupational Therapy
Specialist moving and handling training for Occupational Therapists working in rehabilitation settings. We offer both an introductory course and a refresher course covering risk assessment, balanced decision making, and advanced practical handling techniques.
Course Details
OT Introduction Course
Level: Entry level
Duration: 2 days
Class size: 3–8 delegates
Target Audience: Occupational Therapists (OTs)
OT Refresher Course
Level: Advanced — refresher
Duration: 1 day
Class size: 3–8 delegates
Target Audience: Occupational Therapists with existing moving and handling knowledge and skills
Note: This course adopts a workshop approach — delegates are encouraged to contribute their own scenarios and techniques.
Aims & Objectives
OT Introduction Course
- Understand the legal concept of 'Balanced Decision Making' in manual handling risk assessments
- Be able to identify hazards
- Carry out manual handling risk assessments of people and loads
- Apply appropriate remedial measures in the classroom and the workplace
- Have sufficient knowledge and skills to prescribe appropriate moving and handling equipment and advise managers, frontline staff, carers and clients
OT Refresher Course
- Have updated working knowledge of relevant law and organisational and professional policies on moving and handling
- Be able to apply the concept of 'Balanced Decision Making' in manual handling risk assessments in complex situations
- Have mastered the use of advanced techniques on a range of manual handling devices and mechanical aids
- Have sufficient skills to adjudicate in staff/client/carer conflicts
Course Content
OT Introduction Course
Day 1
- Aims and objectives of the course
- The cost of work-related back pain in therapists
- Legislation / balanced decision making
- Organisation policies and COT guidelines
- Revision of spinal anatomy and back care
- Risk assessment and ergonomics
- Problem solving workshop
- Golden rules to safe handling
- Handling of objects — unsafe and safe techniques
- Unsafe client handling techniques
- Prescribed equipment
- Safe Handling Techniques I — moving people in bed, use of slide sheets
Day 2
- Revision of Day 1
- Safe Handling Techniques II — advanced sliding, hoisting, advanced hoisting, management of the fallen person
- Safe Handling Techniques III — management of the falling person, clients with dementia, clients with multiple disabilities, assisting people in a chair and to stand
- Safe Handling Techniques IV — assisting people to walk, seated transfers, using small manual handling aids
- Problem solving workshop
- Course appraisal and close
OT Refresher Course
- Introduction and aims & objectives
- OT quiz
- Recent case law
- College of Occupational Therapists (COT) guidelines
- Basic rehabilitation handling
- Principles of safe handling of inanimate loads
- Principles of safe handling of people
- Extended equipment steeplechase
- Condemned handling techniques
- Practical scenarios
- Interactive problem solving sessions
- Conclusion and course appraisal
Learning Outcomes
OT Introduction Course
By the end of the course, participants should:
- Have a thorough understanding of the legal concept of Balanced Decision Making in manual handling risk assessments
- Be able to identify hazards and carry out manual handling risk assessments of people and loads
- Have mastered the use of a range of manual handling techniques, devices and mechanical aids
- Have sufficient knowledge and skills to prescribe appropriate moving and handling equipment and advise managers, frontline staff, carers and clients
OT Refresher Course
By the end of the course, participants should:
- Have updated working knowledge of relevant law and organisational and professional policies on moving and handling
- Be able to apply Balanced Decision Making in complex manual handling risk assessment situations
- Have mastered the use of advanced techniques on a range of manual handling devices and mechanical aids
- Have sufficient skills to adjudicate in staff/client/carer conflicts
Ready to Book or Find Out More?
Contact Universal Safety Consultants to discuss your training requirements or to book this course for your organisation.