Manual Handling Advisor

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust; Luton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Trust is seeking a Manual Handling Advisor to enhance staff and patient safety through training and support. This role involves delivering engaging training sessions, promoting best practices, and fostering a culture of safety. The ideal candidate should have a recognized teaching qualification, experience in manual handling, and strong communication skills. You'll work collaboratively to improve safety practices across the Trust's services.

Benefits

Access to training and development programs

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Proficient numeracy and literacy skills equivalent to GCSE in English and Mathematics.
• Willingness to attend further training to stay updated with manual handling requirements.
• Experience of manual handling techniques, including coaching other staff.

Responsibilities

• Deliver engaging manual handling training sessions.
• Support staff in applying safe techniques in clinical and non-clinical settings.
• Assist staff in completing manual handling risk assessments.

Skills

Communication skills

Training skills

Problem-solving abilities

Education

Recognised teaching qualification

ROSPA level 3 qualification

Job description

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Manual Handling Team as a Manual Handling Advisor on secondment. We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with a passion for staff and patient safety and a commitment to promoting best practice. This role is ideal for someone with previous training experience who is motivated to share knowledge and advocate for safe working practices across the Trust.

In this role, you will deliver engaging manual handling training sessions, support staff in applying safe techniques in both clinical and non-clinical settings, and help promote a culture of safety and continuous improvement. We are seeking someone with strong communication and training skills, the ability to work collaboratively across teams, and a proactive approach to health and safety.

If you are ready to make a difference and help shape safer working environments, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• Provide specialist advice, instruction and competency based training to all levels of staff across the Trust.
• Develop and deliver high quality and relevant moving and handling training.
• Be responsible for the provision and delivery of statutory and mandatory manual handling training.
• Actively participate, demonstrate and problem‑solve moving and handling issues related to both patient and non‑patient handling tasks.
• Assist Managers with accident investigations in relation to moving and handling incidents.
• Assist staff in the completion of manual handling risk assessments.
• Liaise with Clinical Engineering to ensure that moving and handling equipment within the Trust has been maintained in accordance with Trust policy and current legislation.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high‑performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high‑quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.

Our Values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience – we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values‑based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when a sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering the first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you are familiarised with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To act as the Trusts specialist expert on manual handling matters to include provision of evidence‑based advice and training to all staff groups, to include the implementation of relevant Trust Policies. To actively coordinate and participate in moving and handling related audits.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide specialist advice, instruction and competency based training to all levels of staff across the Trust.
• Develop and deliver high quality and relevant moving and handling training programmes and training literature.
• Be responsible for the provision and delivery of statutory and mandatory manual handling training.
• Deliver suitable and sufficient training at Trust induction for all new starters on both sites as required.
• Actively participate, demonstrate and problem‑solve moving and handling issues related to both patient and non‑patient handling tasks.
• Coordinate and evaluate all moving and handling equipment used within the Trust in order to give constructive feedback about product suitability.
• Assist Managers with accident investigations in relation to moving and handling incidents.
• Liaise with the Estates Department to ensure that the moving and handling equipment within the Trust has been maintained in accordance with Trust policy and current legislation.
• Assist staff in the completion of manual handling risk assessments.
• Act as the lead in the formulation of policy and procedures related to moving and handling.
• Collect statistical information for analysis and investigation purposes.
• Actively coordinate and participate in moving and handling related audits.
• Provide reports and recommendations to the Health and Safety Committee on a quarterly basis.
• Maintain and develop one’s own professional knowledge and expertise.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Recognised teaching qualification
• Proficient numeracy / literacy skills equivalent to GCSE in English and Mathematics
• Willingness to attend further training as required to remain up to date with manual handling requirements.
• ROSPA level 3 qualification for safer people handling trainers

Desirable criteria

• Holds or working towards NEBOSH certificate in Health and safety or equivalent
• ROSPA level 4 qualification for safer people handling trainers

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of manual handling techniques, including coaching other staff during transfers
• Experience of working autonomously at an advanced level
• Experience of developing and implementing new systems and procedures

Desirable criteria

• Experience of delivering and developing virtual / remote / electronic education packages
• Experience of working in a clinical environment where a wide range of moving and handling techniques are used

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Working knowledge of clinical skills teaching equipment and aids
• Knowledge and understanding of current NHS policies
• A sound knowledge of the risk assessment process
• Knowledge of legislation and guidelines relevant to Manual handling role

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge and understanding of health professional education

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.