Manual Handling Advisor – Guildford

This is a rewarding and challenging role in our partnership; you will have the opportunity to shape your career within an organisation that recognises talent and empowers you to learn and develop. The role focuses on manual handling training and support for clinical and non‑clinical staff across the Trust and community hospitals.

Main duties of the job:

• Support the education and professional development of clinical and non‑clinical staff across RSHFT and community hospitals in relation to manual handling.
• Coordinate and assist in the delivery of manual handling training programmes: Moving and handling Level 1, Moving and handling Level 2, Moving and handling Level 3.
• Provide specialist advice to clinicians within the sphere of competence regarding manual handling.
• Coordinate and deliver effective, engaging manual handling training and contribute to the development of new training materials and courses.
• Work with the MH Lead to ensure a standardised and cohesive approach to manual handling across the trust and seek opportunities to update the team regarding handling equipment.
• Attend the South Back Care exchange meetings and disseminate pertinent information impacting manual handling within the trust (including community sites).
• Support staff with non‑complex manual handling cases and understand the process for accessing the MH Lead for complex cases.
• Deliver bespoke manual handling training within specialist fields such as paediatric and specialist dentistry.
• Ensure lifting equipment is serviced in line with LOLER regulations and that other equipment is fit for purpose and safe.

Detailed responsibilities:

• Meet with the MH Lead and Health and Safety team to ensure clear communication routes.
• Network with other manual handling teams and stakeholders within the region to share knowledge.
• Provide advice, instruction, or training to groups, tailoring to individual needs.
• Maintain accurate training records and disseminate them to the statutory and mandatory training administration team.
• Instigate and participate in training audits, writing concise reports with support from the Manual Handling Lead.
• Keep up to date with health and safety legislation, directives, policies and procedures; ensure compliance with statutory and mandatory training requirements.
• Delegate and manage workload/actions to enable service delivery.
• Provide advice within the scope and sphere of the profession and speciality.
• Liaise, refer, and coordinate activities with other professionals or agencies.
• Investigate Datix incidents under direction of the Manual Handling Lead, providing re‑education and TILEE guidance.
• Evaluate the standard of manual handling training to ensure consistency and continuous improvement.
• Attend meetings to contribute to patient safety and health and safety discussions.
• Contribute to the development of clinical manual handling training programmes, setting up venues for both classroom and on‑site training.
• Analyse feedback from training programmes and implement amendments under guidance of the Manual Handling Lead.
• Review policies where manual handling is implicated and recommend changes in line with national best practice.
• Contribute to the development of guidelines, SOPs, protocols and competencies for practice.
• Ensure sufficient training provision for Manual Handling training.
• Provide high‑quality evidence‑based training across RSHFT and externally where appropriate.
• Ensure advice given to non‑clinicians and clinicians is evidence‑based.
• Plan workload under direction of the Manual Handling Lead; act autonomously within the sphere of competence.
• Provide robust line management responsibilities to junior staff.
• Supervise junior staff; consider financial efficiency and resourcing when procuring supplies.
• Maintain stock control and ordering of supplies within delegated authority.
• Be physically fit to frequently move objects, including pushing and pulling objects between 6 and 10 kilos, using mechanical aids for patients over 15 kilos, and manoeuvring patients for treatment or personal care purposes.

Person specification:

• Qualifications and desirable criteria: Teaching qualification AET level 3 or above or experience working in a teaching capacity.
• Knowledge and experience – essential criteria: Experienced in working in a care environment providing physical assistance to a variety of clients. Sound clinical knowledge underpinned by evidence of theoretical understanding in patient moving and handling equipment, manual handling and individual needs. Sound understanding of risk assessment and delegation principles. Evidence of continued professional development.
• Desirable criteria: Experience of teaching to a multidisciplinary workforce.