Category: Articles

The moving and handling of people is a regular day-to-day task in a care home, which if not done safely, can cause serious injury to carers and the client being transferred.

Although moving and handling procedures have improved immensely in recent years, poor technique is still a common sight in care homes that are yet to adopt a much needed moving and handling training policy.

This provides a number of issues, including increased staff sickness, compensation claims, client injuries, and in some cases death, which can have a terrible impact on a care homes’ all important reputation.

A recent report from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) described how one care home group was prosecuted and fined £100,000 after an elderly resident fell from a hoist and died as a result of the sling being used incorrectly.

A similar incident was outlined in the Yorkshire Evening Post 2013 where a 100 year old great-grandmother died only a day after falling out of a sling that was used by carers who had not been properly trained to use the equipment.

Safe moving and handling techniques do not only prevent such tragedies, it also benefits the client in many ways, as they will experience increased comfort, dignity and in some cases, empowerment during the transfer.

Here at Prism, we understand the importance of ensuring care staff are well trained in moving and handling practices, which is why we offer a range of on-site and off-site training courses, including free product awareness sessions.

With such an extensive range of training sessions available, there really is no excuse for poor moving and handling techniques, which could seriously affect your staff, clients and ultimately your business.

Contact us today to find out more about the range of training courses that we offer. We can even deliver bespoke training specific to your needs.