Lifting is an inevitable part of a typical day in the childcare setting. Lifting children, picking up toys and carrying toy boxes are just a few tasks that require a childcarers back to be in good shape.

Childcare professionals are at a much higher risk than the average person when it comes to suffering from back injuries due to the types of loads involved. The most common cause of low back problems comes from stretching muscles, tendons and ligaments leading to inflammation, swelling and pain. The key to minimizing back pain is prevention. By bending correctly back strain can be prevented.

The Manual Handling in Child Care Settings course gives people working in a childcare setting, the knowledge to prevent back and other injuries at work. They will explore the principles of moving and handling, with practical instruction on handling children and inanimate loads. Additional subjects will include health and safety legislation and risk assessment. This course helps to meet the EYFS framework requirements.

This course is appropriate and suitable for anyone working in Private, Voluntary or Independent Early Years and Playwork settings, who need a basic understanding of manual handling procedures. It is aimed at helping everyone to understand how to protect themselves from injury, whilst lifting and handling young children, and to raise awareness of the impact that Manual Handling has on the health and well being of child care staff and their service users.

• INTRODUCTION 
  Manual Handling in Child Care Settings
  Situations Identified as Contributing to Back Injury in Child Care
  Working at Low Levels, Transferring a Child to a Car Seat, Walking with a Child
  Special Considerations, Musculoskeletal Disorders
• NATIONAL STATISTICS/ CAUSES OF BACK PAIN  
  Kinds of Accidents Causing Injury, Types of Injury, Sites of Injury
• MANUAL HANDLING AND THE LAW 
  Definition of Manual Handling Operations, Employers Duty, Employees Duty
• THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE SPINE
  The Inter-vertebral Disc, Slipped/Prolapsed Disc, Muscles and Ligaments
• TOP HEAVY BENDING
  Effects on the Body, The Leverage Effect, Good Handling Technique
• LIFTING A LOAD /BASE MOVEMENT DESCRIBED 
  Risk Assessment, Key Guidelines, Planning and Preparation
  Kinetics – The Science of Motion in Relation to Force
  Base Movement Described
• DUAL/TEAM LIFTING
  Advantages, Disadvantages, Considerations
• PULLING AND PUSHING
  The Technique
• PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Course Duration

• 1 Day.

Course Material

• All delegates receive a comprehensive course book at the start of the course.

Assessment/Certification

• All delegates are assessed as to their competency by continued assessment throughout the course.