Optimised Handling Practitioner

Number of Vacancies:

1

Proposed Interview Date:

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Time Type:

Full time

Worker Type:

Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Hours of Work:

37

Hiring Manager:

Kathryn Fox

Contact Number:

01482 615197

Join an organisation that puts people first. Where everyone has opportunities to grow, and everyone can make a difference to the lives of people in Hull.

Job Description Summary:

Fixed term until 1st July 2027 due to funding
Following successfully securing funding for a 12 month trial, this post is a newly created role for Adult Social Care in Hull. This role is suitable for someone with a professional registration in a related field such as a Physio, Nurse or Paramedic, but is additional open to those with an equivalent level of experience in delivering moving and handling of people assessments and training.
The role is to support the assessment and review of complex moving and handling risk assessments and plans for Adults in Hull.
The post holder will work as part of a small team delivering moving and handling advice and guidance, assessment and review of moving and handling. The post holder will complete Care Act Needs Assessments and Reviews where Moving and Handling is a key need, order equipment and request adaptations in relation to moving and handling.
You may be asked to provide advice and guidance to care providers, and support the delivery of training to other individuals and groups. The Practitioner role will provide day to day clinical support to the associate. We are looking for a keen and proactive individual, who will be actively engaged in the development phase of a new project.
You will need to have experience in the moving and handling of people and using a range of equipment. It would also be beneficial that you feel comfortable in completing risk assessments and making recommendations independently within your skill level.
Professional development and training will be provided including access to the Key Trainer level 4 moving and handling qualification.
ROLE AND PURPOSE
The Adult Social Care vision in Hull is of ‘a life not a service’. Adult Social Care is person centred and focuses on individuals’ strengths to support them to take control of improving their own health, resilience and wellbeing. We want to maximise people’s independence so individuals can achieve their goals and aspirations and live life to the fullest. We work creatively with individuals, local communities and our partners, empowering them to deliver the best possible outcomes for people and to create a positive Adult Social Care culture.
The purpose of this post is to complete moving and handling assessments, and reviews, for adults with care and support needs to optimise their care. The post holder will work within an optimised handling team in the delivery of meaningful, person centred and solution focused interventions which identify the person as the expert in their life. To optimise the moving and handling of individuals to maximise their independence and dignity. This includes provision of a range of standard and bespoke specialist equipment, including around beds and seating.
The post holder will manage their own complex clinical case load, and prioritise effectively. To practice with increasing decision-making autonomy in situations of increasing complexity, risk, uncertainty and challenge. This will include being able to proficiently use a range of IT systems relevant to the role. To actively work as part of the whole service system, supporting colleagues in the day-to- day running of the service area including undertaking duty, triage of new referrals, RAG rating, and other duties in line with business needs. The post holder will undertake an accredited ‘Key Trainer/Train the trainer’ Moving and Handling course, to enable them to provide specialist advice and support to care providers, formal and informal carers, and deliver classroom-based training as required.
In addition to the core role, the post holder will work independently at the level of trusted assessor level 3 and 4 (minor adaptations/ equipment/ non-complex major adaptations), or with support of an appropriate clinician for complex cases. Work with confidence to undertake or contribute to, the Statutory Assessment and review of individuals with care and support needs, Mental Capacity Assessments and Best Interest Decisions. To access community resources and social prescribing for information and advice about community groups and voluntary organisations, and to assist people to do so. The post-holder will support the understanding and application of a trauma informed practice, rights based practice and promote equality.
The post-holder will provide leadership through sharing of technical expert information, advice, support and training to the wider staff group, making sure there is suitable availability of Moving and Handling support across teams. They will support progression of other staff and students and be expected clinically supervise.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. To promote and safeguard the welfare of vulnerable adults and children.

2. Statutory Obligations - To have knowledge of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Human Rights Act 1998 able to apply them to practice to enable people’s independence. To apply Making Safeguarding Personal.

3. The post holder will be an ambassador for safe, efficient and innovative ways of working, adhering to legislation and promoting evidence-based practice and musculoskeletal health. To challenge poor moving and handling practices and unsafe risk management decisions. To lead and provide supervision to other staff in developing their skills and confidence in this area.

4. The post holder will enable people to maintain their independence, wellbeing and access to community organisations. To support the individual to develop relationships with friends and family members.

To undertake specialist and complex assessments for provision of equipment and adaptations.

The post holder will complete or review Care Act Needs Assessments.

5. To provide interventions that prevent further decline in independence and / or inappropriate delay in hospital discharge, or inappropriate admission into hospital. To ensure equipment is provided in a timely and responsive way. To complete risk assessments to ensure suitability, safety and effectiveness of equipment and the completion of complex clinical assessments for the request and provision of bespoke and highly specialist equipment. They will engage and instruct the person and carers in the safe use of equipment and adaptations.

The post holder will work closely with relevant parties to provide specialist advice, information, instruction and training in all aspects relating to the persons moving and handling needs, particularly where the needs are complex.

6. Manage and prioritise individual case load activity on a regular and agreed basis. The post holder will provide leadership, caseload oversight and clinical supervision for the Optimised Handling Associate Practitioner / Occupational Therapy Assistant. To seek advice and support from Optimised Handling Lead Practitioner / line manager wherever needed. To operate at all times in a person-centred way, coproducing solutions as far as possible face-to-face with the person who will use the services. Use relevant IT systems for recording and ordering of equipment.

7. To encourage support for carers, the use of self-assessment and through confident, dynamic provision of information and advice to help people connect with their communities and increase people’s choice and options.

8. To work with other professionals such as Care Providers, care staff, Social Worker Assessors and OTs. Building relationships with other professionals, service users and their families.

9. Leading in the triage and prioritisation of referrals where an assessment is identified as needed. Supporting the Optimised Handling Associate Practitioner with more complex decision making relating to triage and duty.

10. Provide advice, support and direction on primary legislation e.g., Mental Health Capacity Act, Human Rights Act, Care Act, Health and Safety at Work Act and Housing Regeneration Act. To apply Making Safeguarding Personal.

To ensure practice in Moving and Handling of people is compliant with the law.

NC5045.Optimised Handling Practitioner.docx

Compensation Grades:

GRADES 8.

Pay Ranges:

£36,363.00 - £39,152.00

Benefits of Working of Hull City Council:
- A competitive salary
- An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period
- Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods
- Supportive and forward-thinking culture
- Great career development opportunities

Please ensure that you complete and submit your application by midnight prior to the closing date. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria against the person specification as listed in the job description.

We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.

We reserve the right to amend the dates associated with this advert, which may include closing the advert early where required.

The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

Online searches, including social media, may be carried out as part of the recruitment process.