Move and Position Individuals in Accordance with their Plan of Care

1.1 When moving and positioning individuals it is important to have a basic understanding of anatomy and physiology to help reduce the risk of harm to yourself and others. Muscles in the body act like levers and allow bones at a joint to move like hinges, when a muscle pulls, this moves the bone making the body move. These muscles can only move bones at a joint as far as the joint will allow and trying to extend joints beyond their range can cause serious damage. Nerve fibres, which send impulses to the muscles enabling them to contract and relax can be easily damaged as a result of poor moving and handling techniques due to their delicate structure. 1.2
In these situations, a risk assessment would still be performed and risk control measures would still be put in place and it is your responsibility to follow the risk control measures put in place by your employer. Failure to do so could result in injury to yourself or others. Prior to undertaking a moving or positioning activity, you may notice a risk that has only recently developed. If you identify a new risk, risk control measures would need to be identified to enable the risk to be removed or minimised. This could be as a result of change in the person’s ability to cooperate with the activity, and as a result equipment may be required such as a hoist. However before undertaking a moving or positioning activity with someone whose health condition has changed, advice should always be sought from a senior carer or manager. All actions taken and risk control measures put in place must be documented. 3.5 All workplace’s have policies and procedures in regards to moving and handling. These can sometimes conflict with an individual’s wishes. To try and prevent these conflicts from developing between the individual and the workplace policies relating to moving and positioning, it is best to involve the individuals in their own risk assessments and mobility support plans where ever this is possible. This enables the individual to be at the heart of the