Moving and Handling Competency Assessor Training

Moving and Handling Competency Assessor Training

Moving and Handling Competency Assessor Training equips experienced care staff to observe, assess competency, and support safe manual handling practices across their teams.

This course ensures you can confidently sign off staff, improve safety, and meet CQC expectations.

The course covers legal responsibilities, risk identification, and feedback techniques, enabling participants to lead compliance, reduce injury risks, and uphold CQC and HSE standards in care environments.

Participants learn to deliver constructive feedback, maintain accurate records, and recognise when further support or retraining is needed.

This training ensures assessors can confidently uphold safety standards aligned with organisational policies across care environments.

Note: We can customise this training for your industry, role, and setting.

We also tailor this training to different settings and other areas that require manual handling, such as healthcare, aged care, support services, manufacturing, and warehousing.

📚Related: Moving and Handling Training | Moving & Handling Train the Trainer Course | Moving and Handling Train the Trainer Pack

Entry Requirements:

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in health or social care.
• Competency in moving and handling techniques.
• In-date moving and handling training certificate.
• Familiarity with the organisation’s policies and procedures.

Course Information:

• Course Duration: 6 hours (full-day)
• Course Level: Level 2
• Certificate: 2-year certificate
• Max Delegates: 12
• Practical: Yes
• Mode: Face-to-Face
• Location: Onsite and Offsite Training

Course Outline: Moving Handling Competency Assessor

1. Legal and Professional Responsibilities

• Learn the important laws about manual handling, like MHOR, HSWA, and the Care Act.
• Understand your role as an assessor to keep people safe and follow rules.
• Know what the Care Quality Commission (CQC) expects from assessors.

2. Safe Manual Handling Basics

• Learn the main points of safe moving and handling in care homes, hospitals, and other places.
• Find out what risks to look for and how to spot unsafe handling.
• Understand good posture, teamwork, and communication.

3. Using Assessment Tools

• Learn how to use forms and checklists to watch and assess others.
• Find out how to give fair and clear assessments.
• Practice writing down what you see in a clear way.

4. Giving Helpful Feedback

• Learn how to give clear and kind feedback.
• Help others think about their work and improve.
• Handle difficult talks in a professional way.

5. Knowing When to Help More

• Learn how to spot when someone needs more training or help.
• Know when to tell your manager or safeguarding team.

6. Keeping Records

• Learn how to write good, clear reports of your assessments.
• Follow your organisation’s rules and what CQC wants.
• Get ready for audits or inspections with good paperwork.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this Moving Handling Competency Assessor Training course, participants will be able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and attitudes:

Knowledge

• Describe key legislation such as the Manual Handling Operations Regulations (MHOR), Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA), and the Care Act, and explain how they relate to assessing manual handling competence.
• Define what is meant by competent, borderline, and non-competent manual handling practice.
• Identify the risks linked to poor manual handling and explain the importance of safeguarding during assessment and observation.

Skills

• Confidently observe and assess moving and handling tasks using an approved competency framework.
• Complete assessment paperwork accurately, providing clear reasons and evidence for each judgement.
• Give immediate verbal feedback in a constructive manner and plan written follow-up if needed.

Attitudes

• Show a supportive, professional, and non-judgemental attitude when observing and assessing colleagues.
• Encourage a culture of learning, reflection, and continuous improvement in the workplace.

Course Benefits

By taking this Moving and handling assessor competency training course, you will gain valuable skills and knowledge to confidently assess manual handling competence in your workplace.

• Learn how to check if staff are moving and handling safely.
• Gain confidence in giving clear and helpful feedback.
• Understand important laws and rules to keep everyone safe.
• Improve your skills in spotting risks and unsafe practices.
• Help your team work better and reduce injuries.
• Keep good records that meet Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards.
• Develop your skills as a leader in your workplace.
• Get a certificate to show your training and support your career.
• Practical, easy-to-follow training with relevant industry examples.

Completing this course will help you support your team, improve safety, and meet professional standards in your role.

Who Should Take This Competency Assessor Course

This course is perfect for anyone responsible for assessing manual handling skills at work.

• Health and safety officers and assessors.
• Team leaders and supervisors across industries like care, construction, manufacturing, and factories.
• Senior staff who oversee safe moving and handling practices.
• Trainers who teach manual handling competency.
• Anyone tasked with making sure staff follow safe handling procedures.

If you need to assess and improve how people move and handle safely in your workplace, this course will help you do that confidently.

Why is moving and handling assessor training important?

This course is crucial for building safer, more accountable workplaces—especially in healthcare, social care, and education settings. Here’s why it matters:

• Reduces Injury Risk – Over 20% of non-fatal UK workplace injuries stem from poor manual handling
• Promotes Best Practice – Assessors help embed safe techniques and spot unsafe habits early
• Bridges Policy and Practice – Trained leaders translate safety rules into clear, everyday actions
• Empowers Internal Champions – Staff trained as assessors influence team culture and reduce reliance on external trainers
• Supports Legal Compliance – Aligns with HSE guidance and employer duty of care obligations
• Improves Staff Confidence – Enables tailored coaching and ongoing support for frontline teams

This training is especially valuable for team leaders, senior carers, and health & safety coordinators who shape daily practice and uphold standards.

Manual Handling Assessor FAQs

Who can be a manual handling assessor?

A Manual Handling Assessor can be any competent staff member, usually a team leader, senior carer, health and safety officer, or workplace trainer, who has completed accredited training in manual handling risk assessment.

They need to understand HSE guidance, be confident in spotting hazards, and be able to coach others in safe handling techniques. This role plays a key part in promoting a safety-first culture and reducing the risk of workplace injuries.

How do I get an assessor qualification?

To become a Moving and Handling Assessor in healthcare, first complete a Moving and Handling Theory and Practical course to build core knowledge.

Then progress to Assessor Training, which equips you to evaluate staff techniques, identify risks, and promote safe practice.

You’ll build relevant skills and experience—and be prepared to lead manual handling compliance across your organisation with confidence and credibility.

What’s the Difference Between a Moving and Handling Assessor and a Train the Trainer?

The Moving and Handling Assessor course focuses on evaluating staff techniques, identifying risks, and supporting compliance across care teams.

In contrast, the Train the Trainer course prepares you to deliver full manual handling training sessions, including lesson planning and learner assessment.

Assessors lead internal safety standards, while trainers teach and certify others, each role serving distinct but complementary functions in workplace safety.

How often should moving and handling assessor certificate be renewed?

At Caring for Care, our Moving and Handling Assessor qualification is valid for two years. We recommend completing a refresher training before expiry to stay up to date with best practice, legislation, and risk assessment standards.

Regular renewal helps maintain compliance with HSE and CQC guidelines while ensuring assessors continue to lead safe, effective manual handling across their organisation.

What are the prerequisite to take this course?

To enrol in the Moving and Handling Assessor course at Caring for Care, you must first complete Moving and Handling Theory and Practical training, and have relevant experience in your industry.

This ensures you have a solid foundation in safe techniques, legislation, and equipment use.

The assessor course is designed for experienced care staff, typically senior carers or team leaders, who are ready to support compliance and evaluate others confidently.

Is this course offered Face to Face or Virtual?

We offer our Moving and Handling Assessor course primarily as face-to-face training, due to its practical and observational components.

However, we may also provide a blended option, where the theory is delivered virtually with one of our trainers, and the practical assessment takes place onsite with your team.

This flexible format offers both convenience and hands-on relevance, tailored to your care setting.

Do employers have a legal duty to assess manual handling?

Yes – under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, employers have a legal duty to avoid hazardous manual handling wherever possible, and to assess and reduce the risks when it cannot be avoided.

This includes identifying tasks that could cause injury, putting control measures in place, and providing proper training. Failing to follow these regulations can lead to enforcement action, fines, and greater liability for workplace injuries.

Can This Course Be Adapted for Different Industries?

Yes, we can fully customise this Moving & Handling Assessor course for different industries.

While the core principles of manual handling—risk assessment, safe techniques, and compliance—remain the same, we tailor the content to suit the specific environments and challenges of each sector.

• In care settings, we offer the Moving and Handling Assessor Course, focusing on patient transfers, dignity, and CQC standards.
• In warehousing and construction, we deliver Manual Handling Assessor Training, emphasising load handling, equipment use, and HSE compliance.

We adapt scenarios, terms, and assessment criteria to ensure the training is relevant and impactful across sectors.

How Does This Relate to Manual Handling Operations?

The Moving and Handling Assessor course directly supports compliance with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR).

These regulations require employers to:

• Avoid hazardous manual handling where it is reasonably practicable to do so.
• Assess risks when manual handling cannot be avoided.
• Reduce those risks by implementing control measures and providing training.

Manual Handling Assessors play a crucial role in fulfilling these duties whether in care or warehouse settings.

They identify unsafe practices, carry out thorough risk assessments, and ensure staff apply safe techniques appropriate to their tasks and work environment.

By training assessors, organisations strengthen their ability to meet legal obligations and reduce the risk of injury across their workforce.

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