Moving and Handling of People
Moving and handling of people, therefore, refers to a person’s ability to move around their environment and the support required to do so as independently as possible. Sometimes, illness or injury can temporarily or permanently compromise this ability. When someone needs assistance, a moving and handling occupational therapist can provide help. They provide support to implement a strategy enabling the client to move safely. Their role includes advising carers on the safest ways to support movement, recommending specialist equipment such as hoists, stand aids, and beds, and developing formal bespoke training, risk assessment, and support plans.
Our Approach to Moving and Handling
We aim to provide timely assessment and advice for our clients in any area they require, whether at home, school, work, or respite. Our occupational therapists typically spend a minimum of one hour assessing the environment and at least one hour with the client and carer to identify needs. This ensures our recommendations are achievable and holistic. We provide a person-centered approach while working with the support team, multidisciplinary professionals (case managers, therapists), and family members to manage risks as far as practicably possible.
Our techniques comply with current legislation and best clinical practices. For complex cases, we may use positive risk management strategies to address challenging scenarios and environments. We create moving and handling risk assessments and support plans to document all recommendations, and we review these documents whenever changes occur in the environment, ability, or circumstances.
Why Use Us?
Our occupational therapists bring extensive experience with complex moving and handling cases across various settings. They cater to clients with diverse needs, providing services in homes and schools. This ensures that our advice aligns with the actual environment and available resources. With deep knowledge of equipment options, our therapists assist in trials or purchases to help clients make informed decisions. We offer transparent services from the start, with flexible and bespoke add-on options tailored to specific requirements.