Moving and Handling Assistant

About Us

West Sussex County Council is all about making a positive difference to the people we work with and their communities. As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.

Our Independent Living Service embrace a strengths-based approach, working within a community-led support model. Our supportive, and knowledgeable team build on the assets and strengths of the people we work with, their families, and local communities. Together, we'll focus on prevention, enablement, reablement and safety, to promote wellbeing and independence. We'll ensure that residents, families and communities have the right support in place, and at the right time.

Take a look at our Careers in Social Care Occupational Therapy campaign page for further information on the work of the team - Careers in social care occupational therapy - West Sussex County Council

About The Job

Salary: £28,624 to £31,067 per annum
Working Pattern: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Worthing main office base with regular working in other WSCC sites across the county
Interview Date: 20th June 2025 (in person)

As a Moving and Handling Assistant you'll play a crucial role in delivering expert training, risk assessment, and guidance to ensure safe manual handling practices. You'll be supporting a wide range of services across the county, including care homes, special and mainstream schools, and other WSCC establishments. There is also the ability to hybrid work with working from home some days.

Your work will directly contribute to West Sussex County Council's commitment to health and safety compliance and the wellbeing of both our employees and service users.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Delivering high-quality training in the moving and handling of individuals with care needs.
• Providing expert advice and support on best practices in manual handling.
• Supporting schools and care services with tailored risk assessments and interventions.
• Monitoring and evaluating service delivery to ensure safety and efficiency.
• Contributing to audits and service development, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards.
• Promoting safeguarding, equality, and respect in all aspects of your work.

What We're Looking For:

• A proactive, organised individual with knowledge of moving and handling practices in health and social care settings.
• Experience delivering training or coaching, ideally in a clinical or care environment.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to support a diverse range of staff and settings.
• A commitment to health and safety and a passion for improving care standards.
• A car driver

This will be a physical role, and you'll need to be able to provide practical demonstrations and use of equipment, techniques and processes in training sessions and with customers. You'll need to be able to travel independently to customer's homes and establishments, including transporting equipment where necessary.

Experience and Skills

Please ensure you read the job description and cover the full list of required skills, qualifications and experience within your application as they are the short listing criteria your application will be considered against:

Key Skills:
1. Ability to present information clearly, concisely, accurately and in ways that promote understanding, either verbally or in written/electronic form, including the ability to persuade and encourage others of the need to take a specific course of action, gaining the trust of customers.
2. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage in partnership with customers and their families, using a variety of communication methods and information technologies.
3. Ability to prioritise and organise work and meet agreed performance expectations, reflect on own practice and learn from experience. To take responsibility for own performance and to be proactive in relation to own work and professional development.
4. Ability to work in a multi-agency environment, responding sensitively and flexibly to diverse groups and customers whilst maintaining confidentiality in order to deliver a service to others.

Qualifications and/or experience:
* NVQ level 3, or equivalent qualification, or demonstrable equivalent comparable experience.
* NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Care (or equivalent) Desirable
* Access course or equivalent e.g. K101. Desirable
* Prior experience of working with people with disabilities, demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the effects of a disabling condition on a person and the impact on people's wellbeing.
* Relevant experience in a clinical setting or social care setting including taking an active role in moving and handling (i.e. as clinical lead, key trainer etc.)
* Prior experience of carrying out moving and handling risk assessments.
* Experience of report writing.

Further Information

For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee you can find them on our Rewards and Benefits page.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, 5 years referencing and a health check.

West Sussex County Council is an equal opportunities employer committed to promoting an environment that is inclusive and free from all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination and values the diversity of its people. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and take every possible step to ensure that no individual will be disadvantaged.

For information regarding your eligibility to apply for this role under our Disability or Veteran's Guaranteed Interview Scheme (if you meet all the essential criteria), this can be found on our application help page.