People Moving & Handling Course

What’s Included

Your course fee includes everything needed for a comprehensive 1-day programme:

• Comprehensive Course Materials — printed handouts covering safe handling principles, TILEO framework, and legislation

• Phoenix STS Training Certificate — valid for 2 years from date of completion

• Theory Session — anatomy, legislation, risk assessment framework, and eight principles of safe handling

• Practical Session — bed-based techniques, transfers, hoist demonstration, and sliding sheet practice

• Individual Assessment — each participant assessed on safe handling technique and competency

• Equipment Practice — hands-on training with profiling beds, hoists, sliding sheets, and wheelchairs

• Post-Course Email Support — direct access to your instructor for guidance after the course

• Renewal Reminder Service — we’ll contact you before your 2-year certificate expires

Equipment Required On-Site

For on-site delivery, your facility must provide: a profiling bed (or hospital bed), a wheelchair, a hoist, and sliding sheets. For public courses at our Longford training centre, all equipment is provided.

What You’ll Learn

The course covers five core areas across theory and extensive practical training.

TILEO Risk Assessment Framework

The TILEO framework for assessing manual handling risks before any people moving task: Task (what does it involve?), Individual (who is doing the handling?), Load (who is being moved?), Environment (where is it taking place?), Other (any other relevant factors?).

Eight Principles of Safe Moving and Lifting

Think before handling. Adopt a stable position. Get a good hold. Start in a good posture. Keep the load close. Avoid twisting the back. Move smoothly. Know your limits.

Bed-Based Techniques

Safe working height of beds, logrolling technique, sitting patients up in bed (3 techniques), moving patients up the bed using sliding sheets, and sitting patients to the edge of the bed.

Transfer Techniques

Sit to stand and stand to sit. Transfer from bed to chair using various methods. Use of banana board and other transfer aids. The falling patient/resident — control techniques to manage safely.

Equipment Use

Practical demonstration and hands-on practice with hoists, sliding sheets, profiling beds, and transfer aids. Understanding when mechanical aids should be used and how to operate them safely.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, you will be able to:

• Recognise unsafe and hazardous moving or lifting situations in healthcare settings
• Carry out a manual handling risk assessment using the TILEO framework
• Understand and apply the eight principles of safe moving and lifting
• Perform safe bed-based patient handling techniques including repositioning and transfers
• Execute safe sit-to-stand, bed-to-chair, and chair-to-bed transfers
• Operate hoists, sliding sheets, and transfer aids correctly and safely
• Protect patient/resident dignity throughout all handling procedures
• Understand relevant Irish manual handling legislation

Course Programme

The 7-hour programme combines classroom theory with extensive hands-on practical training.

Morning Session: Theory and Legislation

• Welcome and course introduction
• Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and General Application Regulations 2007
• Ergonomics principles and the musculoskeletal system
• Anatomy, structure, and function of the spine
• Common causes of manual handling injuries in healthcare
• TILEO risk assessment framework
• Eight principles of safe moving and lifting
• Posture and body mechanics

Afternoon Session: Practical Techniques and Assessment

• Instructor demonstration: bed-based techniques
• Practical: logrolling, sitting up in bed (3 techniques), sliding sheet repositioning
• Practical: sit to stand, stand to sit, bed to chair transfers
• Practical: banana board use and transfer aid techniques
• Practical: the falling patient/resident — control techniques
• Demonstration and practice: hoist operation and safe use
• Individual assessment: each participant demonstrates safe technique
• Course summary and certification information

Legal Requirements

Employers have clear legal obligations regarding manual handling of people in healthcare settings:

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005

The 2005 Act requires employers to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement measures to protect employees. This includes managing the risks associated with patient and resident handling in healthcare settings.

General Application Regulations 2007 — Chapter 4

The General Application Regulations 2007 (Chapter 4: Manual Handling of Loads) require employers to avoid or reduce the need for manual handling, assess unavoidable tasks, and provide appropriate training. Regulation 69(c) specifically requires risk assessment on all manual handling activities.

HIQA Requirements

For nursing homes and residential care facilities, HIQA requires that staff are trained in safe patient and resident handling techniques. This training supports compliance with HIQA standards for the care and welfare of residents in designated centres.

HSA Guidance

The HSA provides specific guidance on manual handling in healthcare, emphasising that generic training is not sufficient — training must be task-specific and reflect the actual handling activities staff perform.

Assessment and Certification

100% participation in practical work is required. Each learner is assessed on their demonstration of safe handling techniques and competency with equipment.

• Phoenix STS Training Certificate — issued upon successful completion, valid for 2 years

• Certificate Validity — 2 years from date of issue

• Refresher Training — required every 2 years to maintain certification and competency

• Renewal Reminder — Phoenix STS will contact you before your certificate expires

Prerequisite for Evacuation Training: A valid People Moving and Handling certificate is required before attending the Evacuation Equipment Training Course or the Healthcare Evacuation Equipment Instructor Course.

Our Instructors

Our instructors are experienced in providing people moving and handling training within healthcare settings. They combine theoretical knowledge with practical application and hold the following qualifications:

• QQI Level 7+ Subject Matter Qualification
• QQI Level 6+ Train-the-Trainer Qualification
• People Moving Instructor Certification
• Infection Control Qualified
• Safeguarding Adults Qualified

Our instructors also hold memberships with professional bodies including IOSH, IIESMS, IIRSM, and L&DI.

Available Nationwide Across Ireland

Phoenix STS delivers the People Moving and Handling Course on-site at your premises anywhere in Ireland, and at scheduled public courses at our training centre in Longford.

We have delivered this course to nursing homes, hospitals, disability services, home care providers, and residential care facilities in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny, Athlone, Sligo, Dundalk, Longford, and all counties across Ireland.

Contact us for an on-site training quotation or call 043 334 9611.

Related Courses and Services

Explore our other healthcare training courses and consultancy services:

• Evacuation Equipment Training Course — practical training on ski sheets and evacuation aids. Requires valid People Moving certificate.
• Healthcare Evacuation Equipment Instructor Course (4-Day) — manufacturer-authorised train-the-trainer programme. 26 CPD hours.
• Manual Handling Course — 3-hour practical course for safe lifting of objects and loads.
• Nursing Home Fire Safety Training — HIQA-compliant, 3-hour, 80% hands-on fire safety programme.
• Evacuation Chair Training Course — 6-hour CPD-certified course for safe stair evacuation.
• Health & Safety Consultancy — risk assessments, safety statements, and ongoing H&S support.