Health and social care: Scottish manual handling passport scheme - version 3

Appendix B - Competency Criteria for Manual Handling Roles

It is recognised that those involved in manual handling (MH) may undertake a combination of key MH roles. All employees involved in a MH role should:

• As a minimum, have successfully completed foundation MH training and additional continuing education appropriate to their role. Examples of evidence of competence are provided in the following table
• Be appropriately supported with access to additional advice and support when necessary
• Maintain continuing personal development appropriate to their roles in accordance with individual assessed needs and organisational requirements
• Meet their own relevant code of practice

Distinct competencies are required to undertake these roles at different levels within organisations:

• Local Level - employees who have a dedicated role, (within their own department / area) relating to MH as a component of their main job, identified through either their job description or other organisational documentation
• Organisational Level - employees who are engaged specifically in a MH role
• Strategic Level - employees who are engaged specifically to take a lead in MH within the organisation

In reference to the competencies in the following pages, employees working at an organisational level in a particular role should additionally meet the criteria and demonstrate the evidence for the local level.

1) Undertaking MH risk assessments

A) Local Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Confident in identifying MH hazards, undertaking local risk assessment, problem solving, and developing appropriate controls / systems of work for local handling activities
• Able to complete the necessary documentation
• Advises on control measures to be implemented, for example, use of equipment and ergonomic adjustments to minimise risks
• Understand when and how to seek further guidance

Examples of evidence:

• Record of risk assessment training undertaken after foundation training
• Example(s) of completion of suitable and sufficient MH risk assessment with appropriate balanced decision making

B) Organisational / Strategic Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Confident in undertaking MH risk assessment and problem solving across a variety of situations
• Has a broad knowledge base of potential control measures that may be implemented
• Can develop safer systems of work for a range of handling activities across the organisation
• Able to risk assess and problem solve complex situations
• Able to complete necessary documentation and facilitate sharing of learning

Examples of evidence:

• As local level, in a range of scenarios and complex situations

2) Monitoring and supervision of practice

A) Local Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Applies appropriate knowledge and skills in own MH practice and use of equipment relevant to the area of work
• Able to monitor suitability of handling practice within local area
• Maintain and improve standards in handling practices within local area

Examples of evidence:

• Assessed as competent in relevant MH activities in the workplace
• Example of on-going action plan for monitoring, reviewing and improving practice
• Evidence of improvement in systems of work

B) Organisational / Strategic Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Able to assist local managers to monitor standards in manual handling
• Able to develop evidence-based systems and pathways to assist work areas with risk assessment and evaluate application of resulting safer systems of work.
• Able to monitor organisational performance in meeting legislative requirements through quality assurance and compliance audits

Examples of evidence:

• Example of applying evidence-based practice to the development of a safer system of work
• Example of audit processes to monitor and evaluate application of safer systems and compliance

3) Providing information and advice

A) Local Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Applies appropriate knowledge and skills in own MH practice and use of equipment relevant to the area of work
• Able to provide advice to those involved in basic local handling situations

Examples of evidence:

• Assessed as competent in relevant MH activities in the workplace
• Description of reasoned advice given in basic local handling situations

B) Organisational Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Able to provide advice to employees in a wide range and complexity of handling situations
• Within people handling areas of work, be able to provide advice and support in complex scenarios

Examples of evidence:

• Description of evidence-based advice given in complex handling situations
• Description of evidence-based advice given in complex people handling situations including evidence of a multi-disciplinary approach

C) Strategic Level

• Able to apply an ergonomics approach at senior management level in the design, development and evaluation of MH strategies
• Able to develop a suitable and sufficient MH education strategy for the organisation based on assessed needs
• Able to develop MH business cases

Examples of evidence:

• Detail of the strategic arrangements for MH in the organisation
• Example of completed business case including cost-benefit analysis

4) Providing advice on selection and application of equipment

A) Local Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Has a working knowledge of the relevant range of equipment, the selection criteria, risks of use and safety features
• Within people handling areas, has a working understanding of the relevant factors associated with the assessment of people for MH equipment
• Able to demonstrate a problem-solving approach in basic handling situations

Examples of evidence:

• Assessed competence in the assessment, selection and use of the relevant range of equipment in the workplace
• Record of attendance at relevant equipment training
• Evidence of problem solving, and advice given on the selection and use of equipment in a basic local handling situation

B) Organisational Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Able to research, identify and evaluate a range of handling equipment in line with organisational requirements
• Able to demonstrate a problem-solving approach in a range of handling situations

Examples of evidence:

• Report of equipment evaluations
• Evidence of problem solving, and advice given on the use of equipment in a variety of complex handling situations

5) Coaching

A) Local Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Applies appropriate knowledge and skills in own MH practice and use of equipment relevant to the area of work
• Able to deliver coaching in practical activities within local area

Examples of evidence:

• Assessed competence in relevant MH activities in the workplace.
• Assessed ability to observe practice and give appropriate feedback in range of scenarios appropriate to area.

B) Organisational Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Practical knowledge and experience of teaching the range of MH activities required
• Able to support employees who are providing coaching at a local level

Examples of evidence:

• Assessed as competent and able to demonstrate good practice in relevant manual handling activities
• Assessed ability to observe coaching practice in a range of scenarios and give appropriate feedback

6) Training delivery

A) Local Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Has relevant knowledge or experience of the work/service area
• Applies appropriate knowledge and skills in own MH practice and use of equipment relevant to the area of work
• Understands the topics covered in the foundation training curriculum
• Can demonstrate good practice.
• Able to deliver a foundation level training session.
• Able to assess competency of trainee performance and offer relevant feedback to improve practice

Examples of evidence:

• Record of successful completion of appropriate training and continuing education
• Assessed knowledge of topics covered in foundation training curriculum
• Assessed as competent and able to demonstrate good practice in relevant manual handling activities
• Assessed competence in presentation skills
• Assessed ability to observe practice in a range of scenarios and give appropriate feedback

B) Organisational Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Able to develop an MH education programme for the organisation based on assessed needs
• Able to devise and develop suitable training sessions and materials to suit a range of employee groups at various levels within the organisation
• Able to deliver a range of training programmes
• Able to competency assess trainers and provide feedback on performance
• Understands the principles of evaluation and review of training delivery

Examples of evidence:

• Evidence of appropriate lesson plans for a range of training programmes
• Evidence of evaluation process and example of evidence-based improvement
• Assessed ability to evaluate teaching practice in a range of scenarios and give appropriate feedback

7) Competency assessment of MH practice

A) Local Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Practical knowledge and experience of the MH activities being competency assessed
• Applies appropriate knowledge and skills in own MH practice and use of equipment relevant to the area of work
• Able to assess competency of MH practice and offer relevant feedback on performance

Examples of evidence:

• Assessed as competent in relevant MH activities in the workplace.
• Attended MH competency assessment training
• Record of successful, assessed competency assessment in practice
• Evidence of example of completed record of the assessments

B) Organisational Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Provide training, supervision and feedback to those responsible for undertaking competency assessment
• Meet minimum competency criteria for training delivery at organisational Level
• Evidence of development of employee competency assessment skills

Examples of evidence:

• Meets evidence for training delivery at organisational Level (point 6)

8) Advice on MH risks for individuals with an underlying health issue which impacts on MH activities

A) Local Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Able to identify when advice should be sought on an individual’s ability to carry out specific tasks

Examples of evidence:

• Evidence of referral to appropriate supervisor / manager for review

B) Organisational Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Knowledge of an individual’s job role
• Demonstrate a problem-solving approach to modifying working activities to suit individual requirements
• Able to identify when advice should be sought on an individual’s ability to carry out specific tasks

Examples of evidence:

• Example of evidence-based assessment of an individual’s capabilities and resultant modifications

9) Monitoring and evaluation of MH incidents

A) Local Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Aware of all MH related incidents and near-misses in local area
• Able to carry out suitable investigation of incidents and develop appropriate actions to reduce likelihood of recurrence

Examples of evidence:

• Example of suitable investigation and appropriate actions following incident

B) Organisational Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Able to give appropriate advice and feedback to managers and facilitate sharing of learning
• Understands the impact of incidents and how they can be escalated to develop safer systems of work throughout the organisation

Examples of evidence:

• Example of support given to incident investigation.
• Evidence-based development of safer systems of work

C) Strategic Level – Minimum Competency Criteria

• Able to interpret performance data, identify trends and use information to effect improvements

Examples of evidence:

• Example of data used appropriately eg within business case or service review