📋 Course Content
- Irish Legislation and Responsibilities (SHWW Act & Manual Handling Regs)
- Anatomy of the Spine, Common Injuries, and Risk Factors
- Ergonomics and Principles of Safe Movement
- Risk Assessment for People Handling Tasks
- Communication and Consent During Transfers
- Use of Manual and Mechanical Aids:
- Slide sheets
- Transfer boards
- Hoists (mobile/ceiling)
- Standing aids
- Wheelchairs and profiling beds
- Practical Techniques:
- Sitting, standing, and repositioning patients
- Bed-to-chair transfers
- Assisting with mobility aids
- Infection Control Considerations During Handling
- Promoting Patient Dignity and Autonomy
🧠 Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand
the anatomy of the spine and how injuries occur
- Recognise
the legal responsibilities of employers and employees
- Identify
and assess risks involved in patient handling tasks
- Apply
principles of biomechanics and ergonomics in practice
- Use a
range of handling aids and assistive devices correctly
- Perform
practical patient handling techniques safely and confidently
- Promote
patient dignity, comfort, and independence during transfers
📅 Duration
- 1 Day
(approximately 4-6 hours)
- Includes
both theory and practical components
- In-person
delivery only (mandatory practical skills component)
🎓 Certification
- Participants
will receive a Safeguard Training Certificate of Competence – Patient
Moving and Handling
- Certificate
is valid for 2 years
- Fully
compliant with HSA, HIQA, HSE, and manual handling legislation
📍 Location Options
- On-site
training for nursing homes, residential services, hospitals, and care
agencies
- Public
sessions available in Dublin (training with standard patient handling
equipment)
- Equipment
provided or training tailored to your own on-site devices (e.g. hoists,
slide sheets)
👥 Target Audience
This course is suitable for:
- Healthcare
assistants, nurses, and support workers
- Social
care staff in residential or day services
- Home
care providers and personal assistants
- Staff
in hospices, hospitals, and rehabilitation centres
- Anyone
with a role involving the physical handling of people
⚠️ Note: This is not the same as
general manual handling. Anyone assisting with people handling tasks must
complete this specific training. A valid Manual Handling certificate is a prerequisite for those attending this course.