Moving and Handling
It is essential to understand safe moving and handling practice so that you don’t hurt yourself, or the person you care for. The most common injuries for family carers are across the back, which may limit your movement and ability to look after the person you care for .
At Suffolk Family Carers we know that many of you may be moving and handling the person you care for, and that each of you may have a different need when caring for the person you support. We also know that it is essential to understand safe moving and handling practice so that you don’t hurt yourself or the person you support.
To better support you with your moving and handling needs we are pleased to offer a range of FREE services, all delivered by Moving and Handling professionals
Group Workshops
These workshops offer you an opportunity to learn some basic moving and handling tips and techniques in a group setting. Upcoming dates can be found on our events calendar.
Live on-line workshops
If you would like more information or basic tips on moving and handling, are worried that moving the person you care for might hurt your back, or if you have you just started to move or help the person you support these sessions might be helpful to you.
During each live group session (but taking place online) our Moving & Handling professionals will provide more information on moving and handling, along with some basic tips, an introduction to general moving and handling techniques and details of how to care for your back.
Group face to face workshops
These interactive group sessions will allow our Moving & Handling professionals to demonstrate techniques to help you move the person you support to and from a chair, into and out of bed, or into and out of a wheelchair. The Moving & Handling professionals will also explain how to walk with someone safely and how to support someone to get up after a fall. Each session will also provide information about caring for your back, and the physical wellbeing of the person you support.
As well as the demonstrations there will be an opportunity for you to gain practical, hands on experience of using some of the techniques seen, and explore moving and handling questions from the group.
Face to Face sessions in the home of the person you care for
If your caring role is complex, you regularly support the person you care for to move, your back hurts or you would like more confidence moving the person you support, then our face to face home visits by our moving and handling professional may be best option for you .
To request a 1:1 home visit please complete our complete our Moving & Handling referral form. or contact us
Please note that there may sometimes be a wait list for this service.
Please be aware that this is not an emergency service and should not be used to aid discharge, or if you have just had a piece of equipment delivered and need more urgent support to use this, please talk to your GP to arrange an NHS Occupational Therapist to support you.
