Move and position individuals in accordance with their care plan — NCFE Apprenticeship Assessment Qualification Health & Social Care Revision
This subtopic focuses on the safe and effective movement and positioning of individuals in adult care settings, underpinned by relevant legislation, anatom
Topic Synopsis
This subtopic focuses on the safe and effective movement and positioning of individuals in adult care settings, underpinned by relevant legislation, anatomical understanding, risk assessment, and collaborative practice. It equips learners with the skills to implement care plans while minimising injury to both the individual and the care worker, and to recognise when additional support is required.
Key Concepts & Core Principles
- Person-centred care: Tailoring support to an individual's preferences, needs, and values, ensuring they are at the centre of all decisions about their care.
- Safeguarding: Protecting adults at risk from abuse, neglect, or harm, following legal frameworks like the Care Act 2014 and local policies.
- Duty of care: A legal obligation to act in the best interest of individuals, ensuring their safety and well-being while balancing their rights.
- Effective communication: Using verbal and non-verbal techniques to build trust, understand needs, and support individuals with communication difficulties (e.g., using Makaton or picture cards).
- Promoting independence: Encouraging individuals to do as much as they can for themselves, using enablement approaches to maintain skills and confidence.
Exam Tips & Revision Strategies
- When answering written or oral questions, always link your response to the specific care plan and the individual’s preferences, showing person-centred care.
- For practical assessments, narrate your actions as you perform them, explaining your risk assessment, choice of equipment, and communication with the individual to demonstrate underpinning knowledge.
- Use the correct terminology for equipment and anatomical parts (e.g., ‘hoist sling’, ‘transfer board’, ‘bony prominences’) to show professional understanding.
Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing the legislation: many learners mistakenly believe that only the Manual Handling Operations Regulations apply, ignoring the broader Health and Safety at Work Act and sector-specific standards.
- Underestimating the importance of the individual’s consent and involvement, leading to a task-focused approach rather than a person-centred one.
- Incorrectly applying biomechanics principles, such as bending at the waist instead of using leg muscles, which increases the risk of injury.
- Overlooking the need to re-assess risks immediately before each move, assuming that because it was safe in the morning it remains so later in the day.
Examiner Marking Points
- Award credit for demonstrating accurate identification of key legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act, Manual Handling Operations Regulations, and the Care Act, and explaining their relevance to moving and positioning tasks.
- Evidence of thorough risk assessment prior to any manoeuvre, including checking the environment, equipment, and the individual’s current condition against the care plan, and documenting findings.
- Practical demonstration of correct manual handling techniques, such as using a hoist or slide sheet, while maintaining the individual’s dignity and comfort, and following the care plan’s specific instructions.
- Recognising and articulating when to seek advice or assistance from a colleague, physiotherapist, or manager, for instance when the individual’s condition changes or when equipment is faulty.