Moving & Handling People

Supporting a person’s movement involves their comfort, dignity and preferences as well as the safety of workers. This awareness course explains how assessments, care plans, consent, communication, the environment, equipment and coordinated assistance support safe decisions. Eight Modules use care-setting examples to help learners recognise when an arrangement needs review and when to pause and seek help. England is the core context. Use the learning alongside employer procedures and the current handling plan; practical techniques, equipment training and workplace competence are assessed separately.

👥 Who This Is For

Care workers who support people’s movement in adult social care.

💻 What You Need

No formal qualification prerequisite is set. You need a device, internet access, sufficient English for the learning and access to relevant employer plans, policies and escalation contacts. Obtain separate task-specific practical training and authorisation before undertaking handling activities.

⏱ Learning at Your Pace

Allow approximately 2 hours 11 minutes overall, including teaching videos, guided study, reflection and the final assessment. Study at your own pace; individual completion times vary.

🧭 Scope and Workplace Practice

England is the main care-provider context. Follow the applicable local procedures, individual plans and professional advice. Course completion supports knowledge and judgement; practical competence and workplace authorisation remain separate.

♿ Moving and Handling Highlights

Eight modules place the person and assessed handling plan at the centre of the task. They consider consent and communication, the environment, equipment checks, competence, team coordination and what to do when the planned situation changes.

✓ Recognise handling risks in the person’s actual situation.
✓ Connect the care plan with consent, communication and task planning.
✓ Explore equipment and team responsibilities within competence.
✓ Review changes, unsafe situations and incident reporting.

📘 Module 1 — Moving and Handling Risks

Moving and handling can injure the person and the worker when the task, environment or equipment is unsuitable. Risks include pain, falls, skin damage, distress and musculoskeletal injury.

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

✓ Identify risks to the person and worker.

Workplace application: A colleague proposes an improvised transfer that is absent from the person’s handling plan. Worked response: Pause the task and obtain an assessed, authorised arrangement rather than attempting the improvised transfer.

📘 Module 2 — Person-Centred Assessment

An individual assessment considers the person’s abilities, comfort, communication, preferences and relevant risks alongside the task and environment. Generic workplace assessments do not replace a person-specific plan.

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

✓ Explain individual assessment and review.

Workplace application: A person who normally stands with planned support becomes dizzy before the transfer. Worked response: Pause, support safety within training and seek appropriate advice and review before proceeding.

📘 Module 3 — Care Plans, Consent and Communication

Explain the planned support and seek the person’s agreement before acting. Use their preferred communication method and allow time for questions.

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

✓ Use agreed plans and seek consent or appropriate advice.

Workplace application: A person refuses the planned transfer and says they are frightened. Worked response: Listen, explain and seek advice about the refusal and plan without forcing the transfer.

📘 Module 4 — The Environment and Task Planning

Before moving a person, check whether the space and task match the assessed plan. Consider obstacles, floor conditions, privacy, the route and access for specified equipment.

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

✓ Identify environmental and task factors.

Workplace application: Furniture blocks the route needed for the planned transfer equipment. Worked response: Resolve the environmental problem through the authorised plan before commencing the transfer.

📘 Module 5 — Equipment, Checks and Competence

Use only equipment selected for the person and task, with the correct accessories and compatible sling where relevant. Follow manufacturer instructions and trained pre-use checks.

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

✓ Recognise equipment checks and training limits.

Workplace application: The required hoist has visible damage and its examination status is unclear. Worked response: Do not use it; report the problem and obtain safe, assessed equipment.

📘 Module 6 — Working with Colleagues

The plan determines how many trained workers are required and how they coordinate. Agree the sequence and communication before starting, explain it to the person and make sure everyone understands their responsibilities.

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

✓ Explain agreed coordinated assistance.

Workplace application: The plan specifies two trained workers, but only one is available. Worked response: Wait for the required trained assistance and escalate the staffing issue rather than proceeding alone.

📘 Module 7 — Changes, Unsafe Situations and Incidents

A sudden change during support requires attention to immediate safety. Pain, distress, loss of ability or equipment failure may mean the planned task must be paused.

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

✓ Stop and escalate unsafe changes.

Workplace application: A person reports sudden severe pain during a planned handling task. Worked response: Pause safely within training, seek urgent appropriate help and report the change for review.

📘 Module 8 — Applying the Handling Plan

Read the current plan before acting and check that the actual person, environment, equipment and staffing match it. Sling colours, attachment loops and settings are model-specific; never treat a colour or loop position as a universal instruction.

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

✓ Choose a plan-based response without inventing techniques.

Workplace application: Two copies of a handling plan specify different equipment arrangements. Worked response: Clarify which current assessed plan applies before undertaking the task.

📝 Final Assessment

Complete the single-answer multiple-choice assessment after the teaching and learning activities. There are 15 questions with four answer options each; select one correct answer per question. The pass mark is 80% (12 out of 15).