EXCLUSIVE: A day in the life of a senior NHS moving and handling practitioner

James Smith, Senior Moving & Handling Practitioner at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, discusses what a typical day in his role looks like, some of the assistive technologies the trust sources, and tips for becoming a manual handling practitioner.

Note: This interview was conducted in early 2021. James no longer works at the NHS trust.

Describe your previous experience

“I have been advising in moving and handling for over 23 years and have worked across many areas of Kent. I have held a number of posts within the NHS, including senior positions in two acute trusts as well as specialist healthcare organisations.

“Additionally, I have a clinical background in physiotherapy and have worked with a number of different patient groups from adults with learning disabilities to blind and visually impaired children with multiple physical and learning disabilities. More recently, I have become a co-founder and director of RQS (Recognising Quality Solutions), an independent moving and handling consultancy providing award-winning solutions and product assurance for individuals working within the moving and handling and care industry.”

Describe your current role

“I have been in my current role as the Senior Moving & Handling Practitioner at Medway NHS Foundation Trust for seven years. In my current role, my time is split between assisting the trust at a strategic level, including advising on how to implement the moving and handling policy, and advising on strategies to meet specific trust and departmental needs. At an operational level, I train and advise staff on how to move and handle patients.”

What does a typical day in your role look like?

“My role varies a lot, which I really enjoy. If it’s a training day, I don’t really get to see much outside the training room unless I get bleeped to an incident that I need to attend. Training days can be draining physically but are often enjoyable. I like talking to people and finding out about their experiences. Some days I can go from meeting to meeting, but that’s another great way of seeing how the hospital is working.”

Who do you work with?

“I work with so many different professionals all coming from different backgrounds all with a common interest. I work very closely at a clinical level with my colleagues in the specialist nursing team, such as the falls nurse team, infection control, tissue viability and end of life teams, as well as the therapy teams with OTs and physios. I often work at a strategic level with the health and safety and fire safety teams as well as our legal team and occupational health.”

What is your involvement with assistive technologies?

“At the trust, we’re always looking at new innovations and equipment, whether that comes from the therapy team or from moving and handling; there’s a lot of crossovers. It’s good to have an open mind to discover innovations within other professions, particularly at events like the OT Show.

“With moving and handling equipment or mobility aids, you’ve really got to keep on top of innovations, even if it takes a few years to come into your trust.

“When trying to get new equipment into Medway NHS Foundation Trust, it’s all about getting buy-in from my clinical colleagues, such as senior nurses and therapy teams, who are involved in the decision-making process. Then it’s about explaining the benefits of spending money on a particular piece of equipment to our procurement team and justifying any overspends. If I can save even one pressure ulcer, for example, then I think that the equipment has paid for itself.

“Looking at air devices, developments in this area have been massive, even in the last couple of years. We’ve been quite ingenious, certainly with the COVID situation, in how we’re using air devices and lifting equipment to mobilise and move patients, particularly acutely unwell ones, safely and comfortably.”

What do you like most about your role?

“I enjoy training staff, especially new starters to the trust and those members of staff that work in specific areas within the hospital such as ITC, the mortuary or even non-clinical areas such as medical records. I really enjoy the variety of my role. Acute hospitals tend to keep you on your toes, and even after all those years of experience of different scenarios and situations, every so often something comes along that really puts you on the spot. I really enjoy those days, well afterwards that is.

“Another aspect I enjoy is working with so many different professionals from different backgrounds across the world.”

Are there any challenges that you face?

“Although most people would think that the biggest challenge that faces the moving and handling service is tackling bad practice in the workplace, and we do still see it from time to time, my biggest challenge is time, and the limitations that places on my service.

“Whether that is implementing new equipment and training staff on its use, finding time to write a paper for board, or a business case with a report, this all takes an amazing amount of time. I can get lost in the day-to-day operational elements of my role and then find I take my foot off the accelerator when it comes to pushing my service forward and making improvements.”

Tips & tricks for getting into the role

“I feel one of the best things about being in the moving and handling industry is that we all come from different backgrounds, and, along with that, we all bring something different to the role. Most moving and handling practitioners come from clinical backgrounds, such as nursing, therapies, and even imaging backgrounds. This brings a diversity of experience and qualifications.

“I would say my biggest tip for getting started in the role, or even for an experienced moving and handling practitioner starting in an acute setting, would be to get to know your colleagues in the other specialist roles.

“Quite often I will get called to a patient who requires a slightly deferent moving and handling approach only to find the TVN or falls team have involvement with the same patient. What we advise has to sit well with the other specialities and not compromise what your colleagues are trying to achieve; you don’t want to work in isolation. Embed your service into other roles.

“Another tip I would say, and this comes from experience, is that some staff members will not necessarily take on board your advice or suggestions if they feel you don’t have sympathy or understanding of their needs and challenges. Spending time with as many departments as you can to learn and understand their challenges is really important. Nobody will take your suggestions on board if they think you’re not sympathetic. You’re the specialist in your area, and they are in theirs, and it’s quite often a compromise.

“The only way you can work together is by learning and being open-minded.”