Health and social care: Scottish manual handling passport scheme - version 3
Scheme providing a national framework to reduce manual handling risks across health and social care in Scotland, by setting out required organisational systems, including modular training and competency standards. The guidance supports safe practice, wellbeing and consistent, person centred care.
Foreword
This document has been produced to help employers, managers, manual handling practitioners and employees reduce the risk of injury from manual handling, which is still a significant cause of work-related ill health and sickness absence. In addition, the scheme will enhance the experience of individuals, by following a person-centred approach that promotes independence, and considers the core values embedded in the Scottish Governments Health and Social Care Standards.
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended) have been in place for over 40 years, yet organisations continue to face challenges in reducing the risk of injury from manual handling. Providing specific information, instruction and training on manual handling injury risks and prevention plays an important part in reducing this risk and potential working days lost.
The Scottish Manual Handling Passport Scheme is the culmination of Health and Social Care within Scotland working together towards a shared vision - to clarify the minimum requirements for manual handling education arrangements across these sectors and by doing so, to promote national consistency.
The Care Inspectorate are delighted to support this refresh of the Scottish Manual handling Passport Scheme and the continued efforts of improving the standard and consistency of manual handling education for all staff working in care across Scotland. It is essential that staff can carry out their work safely and in a way that supports their health and wellbeing whilst people experiencing care are supported in a safe and dignified way.
The Health and Safety Executive provided support in producing this guidance, which is aimed at improvements within the Health and Social Care industry. This guidance may go further than the minimum you need to do to comply with the law with regard to health and safety.
The Scottish Manual Handling Passport Scheme is directed at all manual handling activities in Health and Social Care settings. It is this type of joint working that the Scottish Government and Local Government in Scotland are keen to encourage and promote; and aim to ensure that health and social care provision across Scotland is joined-up and seamless.
By participating in the scheme:
- employers will be sending a clear message of commitment - that by educating their employees to a nationally consistent level, the risk of injury from poor practice should reduce
- in turn, this should contribute to improved quality of care and service provision, and
- secure efficiencies, as staff can transfer their skills between participating organisations without the need for unnecessary repeat training
Implementing the management systems and guidance contained in this document represents a reasonably practicable way of meeting legal requirements.
Neil Gray
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Paul Kelly
COSLA Spokesperson for Health & Social Care
Shona Robison
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Edith Macintosh
Executive Director of Assurance and Improvement, Care Inspectorate
Contact
Email: SMHPS.Register@gmail.com