Manual Handling People Paediatric for Nursery Staff

This course serves as an introduction to the problems, techniques and strategies for staff working with mainstream nursery babies and young children.

Spinal anatomy will be linked to problems of posture and back care.

The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and the Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992) will be discussed and their relevance to the assessment of children needing assistance when moving or being moved. Principles of load assessment will be introduced.

A short time will be devoted to practical work, with demonstration of moving children in a variety of care settings, including unexpected situations and encouragement given to staff to participate. Putting young children into standard equipment such as pushchair, chairs and cots will be practised and use of other equipment discussed, including problems associated with working at low levels. If required, positioning babies and young children into car seats can be covered.

Discussion of stacking/accessing larger pieces of equipment such as bicycles and outdoor play equipment will be discussed.

It must be emphasised that no assessment of competence can take place after such a short course, apart from monitoring class technique. It serves as an introductory session and ongoing monitoring and supervision in the workplace by management is an essential requirement under Health and Safety legislation.

Course is endorsed by the College of Occupational Therapists.