Optimised People Handling Upskilling Module

Strengthen practice. Enhance decision making. Embed person-centred handling approaches. 

The Optimised People Handling Upskilling Module is a one-day, intensive programme designed to enhance the skills of qualified safer people handling trainers, enabling them to confidently apply and deliver optimised, person-centred handling approaches in practice. 

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Duration: 8 Hours

Max Capacity: 8 Learners Per Trainer

Session Format: Classroom Based Learning

Course Overview

The Optimised People Handling Upskilling Module equips qualified safer people handling trainers with the advanced practical skills and applied knowledge required to deliver optimised, person-centred handling approaches safely and effectively.

Optimised people handling ensures individuals receive the right level of support, at the right time, based on their abilities and assessed needs. It moves away from task-based or overly risk-averse models and instead focuses on enabling independence, promoting dignity and choice, and using the least restrictive interventions.

The course is designed to strengthen decision making and support trainers to work safely and effectively within their organisation's policies and procedures. On completion, learners are equipped to embed optimised handling approaches across their services and support wider workforce transformation.
What's Involved

This is a highly practical, classroom-based programme delivered by experienced moving and handling and sector specialists. The day is structured around three key stages, combining applied knowledge with hands-on skills development.

Delivered by expert moving and handling and sector specialists at Empeiria, this course focuses on strengthening practical capability, improving decision making, and supporting organisations to embed optimised care approaches across their services.

This module complements the Level 3 Safer People Handling Trainers qualification and supports progression into delivering optimised, single-handed care training across the workforce.

Please note: This is a non-regulated (unregulated) training programme. It is an upskilling module and should not be presented as a formal qualification. 

What's Involved

Learners must hold a valid Level 3 Safer People Handling Trainers qualification to attend this module. On completion, learners will be equipped to enhance their delivery of safer people handling training, embed optimised care approaches across their organisation and support policy and practice development.

Step 1 – Understanding Optimised Handling

Learners explore the principles and context of optimised people handling, including:
The benefits of optimised handling for individuals and staff
When optimised handling is appropriate and when alternative approaches are needed
How optimised handling aligns with current legislation and best practice guidance

Step 2 – Practical Application

Learners develop advanced practical skills across a range of techniques and equipment, including:
Pre-movement risk assessment (load, individual, task, environment, equipment and other factors)
Use of standing aids — mechanical and non-mechanical (e.g. Oxford Mini Lift, Return, Sara Stedy)
In-bed management systems — securing the top sheet, turning, moving across and up the bed, with and without equipment
Use of mechanical equipment — sling insertion with and without the in-bed system, hoisting transfers between bed and chair or wheelchair
Pre-use checks of mechanical equipment and slings

Step 3 – Embedding Practice

Learners apply their skills in complex scenarios and explore how to support implementation across their organisation:
Decision making in complex and varied handling scenarios
Safe, person-centred handling approaches in practice
Techniques to support organisational implementation and workforce development

Learning Outcomes

Describe the benefits of optimised people handling for both staff and individuals 

Describe situations where optimised people handling may no longer provide adequate support for an individual

Describe how optimised people handling aligns with relevant legislation and best practice guidance 

Conduct a pre-movement assessment check, including pre-use checks of mechanical equipment and slings 

Apply optimised people handling techniques when using mechanical and non-mechanical standing aids 

Demonstrate optimised handling using in-bed management systems, including turning, moving across the bed and moving up the bed 

Demonstrate use of mechanical equipment as part of optimised handling, including sling insertion and hoisting transfers between bed and chair or wheelchair 

What are the benefits of this course

Strengthens Workforce Capability and Compliance

Develops qualified in-house trainers who can deliver consistent moving and handling training, improving staff competence, confidence and compliance with current legislation and best practice.

Reduces Costs and Supports Long-Term Quality Improvement

Reduces reliance on external training providers while strengthening governance, quality assurance and inspection readiness, with a clear progression pathway to deliver the Level 2 Award in Proportionate People Handling internally.

Supports System-Wide Transformation and Service Sustainability

Enables the implementation of optimised care models at scale, supporting wider transformation programmes that promote independence, prevention and person-centred care.

Improves Outcomes and Reduces Demand on Services

Enhances care outcomes through safer, evidence-based decision making while helping to reduce pressure on health and social care services by supporting individuals to maintain independence for longer.

Develops Advanced Workforce Capability

Enhances the skills and confidence of existing trainers and staff, ensuring the consistent application of optimised handling approaches across the organisation.

Improves Safety, Quality and Compliance

Reduces risk through safer handling practices while strengthening governance, regulatory compliance and the overall quality of care delivery.

Who Is This Course For?

This module is designed for experienced safer people handling trainers who are looking to develop their practice and expand their capability in optimised, person-centred handling. It is an advanced programme, specifically aimed at those who already hold a formal trainer qualification.

This course is ideal for:

Qualified Safer People Handling Trainers
Moving and handling leads
Clinical educators
Workforce development leads
Advanced practitioners in health and social care

Why choose Empeiria Training?

Empeiria Training is all about offering training that is unique and bespoke to your organisation and its needs.
It's our mission to deliver a range of bespoke training solutions, underpinned by a diverse breadth of knowledge and experience. We offer a safe environment for face-to-face learning, with our specialism being working with people with learning disabilities.

Ready to get started on your course? Speak to one of our team members to find the right course for you today!

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The trainer made us all feel at ease and encouraged us to use real scenarios and experiences that we feel that the training could be put to use and how it could be used to improve life for the people we support. It is training like this that really enables us to do the best for the people we support.
1st Enabled Ltd
The PBS training will improve my practice by putting all that I have learned to improve the quality of life of the people I support I thoroughly enjoyed the training Keep it up!

The training was very interactive and educational, it will surely improve my practice. The training was perfect in my opinion.
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Excellent PBS and Mental Health First Aid Training 👍 highly recommend the training from Empeiria.
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Thank you very much Empeiria Training - the feedback from all who attended has been excellent across the team (and that is not always the case when I put training together!) so I'm really pleased that we've got this over the line. We're already reviewing some of our key cases where neurodiversity is a factor, looking at them with fresh eyes and assessing what we can do differently - which is exactly what I wanted. Please pass on my thanks to your expert by experience and your colleagues.
Manchester City Council
The training given was highly informative and will be put go great use within my role at 1st Enable. The trainer made us all feel at ease and encouraged us to use real scenarios and experiences that we feel that the training could be put to use and how it could be used to improve life for the people we support. It is training like this that really enables us to do the best for the people we support.
1st Enabled Ltd
Our senior staff have been able to take away core skills to develop our current PBS plans, which includes alerting staff to fast & slow triggers & adding in outside agency's assessment conclusions. We are confident that our PBS plans will improve significantly.
IntegraCare
We just completed our first week of training with Empeiria for 1st Enable and our trainer put us all at ease by making the days both informative and fun. Fab work from the trainer for passing on your experience and showing us all a person-centred approach 🙏
1st Enabled Ltd
The PBS training delivered was very insightful and very useful for all staff members. The class was well presented and entertaining. We were very invested and engaged at all the information presented as everyone gained a clearer understanding on the situations they face regarding challenging behaviour. I highly recommend PBS training.
Bonzai Living (Nottingham)
The Training will help me to improve the quality of the services that i provide to the people i support, during the training lots of examples were given which helped me to apply it to various situations. The trainer is an excellent facilitator which helped me to put things into context.
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I think the safeguarding training that Empeiria provide is brilliant, all other safeguarding training that i have attended has been the standard training, Empeiria's Training is really detailed which helps us to really understand why we do what we do, what has happened in the past and the importance of following the safeguarding process.
1st Enabled Ltd
The moving and handling training was very informative; the trainer went out of her way to ensure she went through any scenario's that we had and how we might be able to safely move people if these situations happen again in the future.
1st Enabled Ltd
Following the training I know that I would be confident to administer first aid efficiently and effectively. The people we support will feel safer knowing that I have the ability to help them if they ever need it. The trainer made the training fun and engaging, I enjoyed it, thank you.
1st Enabled Ltd

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Empeiria Training is all about offering training that is unique and bespoke to your organisation and its needs. Backed by decades of experience, we offer a safe environment for face-to-face learning, with our specialism being working with people with learning disabilities.

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