Children S Mobility Assistance Guidance for Care Workers

Crossroads CareChildren’s mobility assistance guidance for care workers

F.26c

Children’s mobility assistance guidance for care workers

1.0 SCOPE

1.1 The aim of this guidance is to ensure a safe environment for children / young people aged 17 and under and for staff when you are helping them with their mobility. There is separate guidance (F.25c) for people aged 18 and over.

1.2 The term ‘mobility assistance’ in this document refers to the moving and handling of children and young people. It does not include the moving and handling of inanimate loads and objects, which is covered in the manual handling guidance (F.24c).

2.0RISK ASSESSMENT

2.1 A care planner willcarry out a risk assessment of the mobility assistance tasks you will be doing with each child or young person before you start working with them.

2.2 Because every situation is different, the tasks will be individually assessed in the place where you will be providing the care.

2.3 The care planner will consider:

• the child or young person’s health and whether their condition has risk implications for either you or them
• whether there is a significant risk of the child or young person falling.

2.4 If the care planner identifies mobility assistance tasks that carry a significant risk they will:

• firstly consider whether you need to do that task or whether it can be avoided
• assess the risks for tasks that cannot be avoided
• reduce the risks to the lowest level possible.

3.0 WORKING WITH BABIES AND SMALL CHILDREN

3.1 When you are looking after a baby or small child, the care planner will carry out a risk assessment to find out whether it is safe for you to lift or carry them.This will include determining whether you are allowed to lift them from the floor unaided which is classed as a prohibited task unless it has been assessed and documented in the care plan that you are allowed to do so.

3.2 The risk assessment will be reviewed at regular intervals, and this will include monitoring the weight of the baby or small child.

3.3 If you think you need to lift or carry a baby or small child and it isn’t written in the care plan,get in touch with your line manager to discuss getting the care plan updated.

3.4 You will be trained how to lift and carry babies and small children safely. The illustrations

and photographs in Appendices 1 and 2 are intended to help you with this but are not a substitute for your training.

4.0RE-ASSESSMENT OF RISKS

4.1 Situations can change and in order for risk assessments to be effective, theyneed to be kept up to date.

4.2 If you notice any changes in a child or young person’s circumstances or health, let your line manager / the person on call know straight away so that they can review the risk assessment and care plan.

4.3 Also let your line manager know if a child or young person or their family tells you they would like someone to review the care package because they feel things have changed.

5.0WORKING WITH STAFF FROM OTHER AGENCIES

5.1 You may be asked to work alongside staff from another care provider. Before you do so,the care planner willmake sure that:

• staff from the other agency have been properly trained in mobility assistance
• the risks have been identified and addressed

• there is a clear agreement about how the tasks will be carried out
• there is a risk management plan in place
• all necessary information is written in the care plan.

5.2 When you are working with staff from another agency, let your line manager / the person on call know immediately if you feel that tasks are not being carried out safely.

6.0 WORKING WITH FAMILY CARERS / PERSONAL ASSISTANTS

6.1 When two people are needed to carry out a mobility assistance task safely, you may be asked to work with a family member or personal assistant as the second person.

6.2 A care planner will carry out a risk assessment of the tasks involved and the family member / personal assistant will have to be trained by a qualified trainer before you can work with them.

6.3 When working with a family carer / personal assistant, let your line manager / the person on call know immediately if you feel that tasks are not being carried out safely.

7.0RESPONSIBILITIES OF CARE WORKERS

7.1 You are required to co-operate with your line manager to ensure your own health and safety and that of others, including colleagues andthe children or young people you are supporting.

Details of what this means are listed below.

7.1.1 Risk assessment

• Let your line manager / the person on call know promptly about anything you consider to be a risk when assisting a child or young person with their mobility.
• Make sure you have read and understand each child or young person’s care plan and mobility assistance risk assessment before helping them with their mobility.

7.1.2 Training

• Attend mobility assistance training (which will include how to manage a fall) as directed by

your line manager.

• Assist the child or young person with their mobility in the way you have been trained and as documented in their risk assessment and care plan.
• If from your training, knowledge and experience, you think a particular mobility assistance task is unsafe (for either yourself or the child / young person you are supporting), do not carry out the task and report the matter to your line manager / the person on call as soon as you can.

7.1.3 Child or young person with care needs

• Treat them and their parent / carer with respect and where possible involve them in the way mobility assistance tasks are carried out.
• Let your line manager / the person on call know promptly if a child or young person’s circumstances or condition change and it is affecting the way you care for them.

7.1.4 Equipment

• Use equipment in the way you have been trained and following the manufacturers’ instructions.
• Inform your line manager immediately if you need to use a particular piece of equipment and have not been trained to do so.
• Let your line manager / the person on call know if you think a piece of equipment is faulty.
• Let your line manager / the person on call know if you need a piece of equipment and it is not available.
• Inform your line manager / the person on call immediately if any equipment is outside its service check date and do not use it.

7.1.5 Accidents / incidents

• Report all accidents, incidents and near misses to your line manager / the person on call.
• Complete an incident report form (DT.03).

7.1.6 Suitable dress and footwear

• Wear suitable footwear when carrying out mobility assistance tasks –your shoes need to be sturdy, non-slip, have enclosed toes, a flat heel and an enclosed back or strap to prevent the foot slipping out.
• Make sure you are dressed appropriately, and do not wear jewellery, or carry scissors or similar sharp objects that could harm the person you are caring for.

8.0 LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

8.1You will find general learning and development requirements relevant to this guidance in the learning and development guidance (E.13c).

9.0 ACCEPTANCE

9.1 You are required to sign to indicate that you have received, read and understood the content of this guidance as directed by your line manager and on completion of training, it is your personal responsibility to follow it. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary proceedings.

APPENDIX 1

PICKING UP BABIES AND SMALL CHILDREN

The following general principles apply.

• Make sure you are in a stable body position, back substantially upright.
• Do not twist your trunk.
• Hold the baby / small child against your body and carry them no further than 10 m without resting.
• Keep your hands at a height that allows for a comfortable and safe posture (see illustrations and photographs below and in appendix 2).
• Grasp the baby / small child with both hands.
• Position the baby / small child centrally, in front of your body.
• Make sure there are noforeseeable hazards to either you or the baby / small child in the area you are working in.
• Make sure any personal protective clothing you are wearing does not restrict your performance of the task.
• Do not lift the baby / small child repeatedly over a significant period of time.

This list is not fully exhaustive.

The following figures and photographs are intended to provide a visual form of guidance on good practice when picking up babies and small children.

1.0 PICKING UP A CHILD FROM THE FLOOR:

Squat down to pick up the baby/child, and bring the child close to you before standing up. If you are not able to squat down, then you can do a semi-squat.
Maintain the natural curves in your back at ALL times.

2.0 CHILD IN / OUT OF BATH OR AREA ON GROUND LEVEL:

Squat or kneel down close to the edge of the bath/area to lower the child or to lift the child. For bathing areas, you may want to have a safety mat to provide increased stability. Maintain the natural curves in your back at ALL times.

3.0 CHILD IN / OUT OF CAR:

Stand close and keep your back straight. Bend your knees to put the child in or out of car seat.
Maintain the natural curves in your back at ALL times.

4.0 LIFTING A BABY OUT OF A COT

Safe method

5.0 LIFTING A CHILD FROM A PUSHCHAIR / PRAM

Incorrect methods for lifting from a pushchair/pram

Correct method for lifting from a pushchair/pram

6.0LIFTING A BABY FROM THE FLOOR

Incorrect ways to lift a baby from the floor

APPENDIX 2

Additional information regarding handling a baby / small child

1.0 HOLDING A BABY

Safe method for holding a baby

Unsafe method for lifting or holding a baby

2.0 BATHING A BABY

Safe position for when bathing a baby

Incorrect position for when bathing a baby

3.0 FEEDING IN A HIGHCHAIR

Safe position for when feeding in a highchair

Incorrect positions when feeding in highchair

4.0 CARRYING A CHILD:

Keep the child close to you, and be as upright as possible. Try to avoid leaning to one side, and try to keep the child centered when holding them.

Maintain the natural curves in your back at ALL times.

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Policy/Mobilityassistancechildren/2012/08/APf026cLast updated July 2014

© Carers Trust 2014Review due July 2015