Introducing an ethos of single-handed care
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Dr Anita Mottram , principal occupational therapist , and Sarah Thornton , ergonomist , describe how Kirklees Council ’ s singlehanded care project has been a ‘ phenomenal success ’
When Kirklees Council ’ s Moving and Handling Team commenced the first phase of its single-handed care project , in adult social care , it was anticipated that it would produce positive outcomes in the form of personalised solutions and embracing different forms of assistive technology that were less intrusive and timelier .
What was not anticipated was the phenomenal success of the project , resulting in a cost saving of £ 2.1 million for the organisation and returning
130,000 domiciliary care hours back into the system , over a two-and-a-half-year period , to be used to support other clients .
The single-handed care approach Single-handed care is defined as a moving and handling or care task provided by a single handler .
Historically , there was a belief that the provision of two handlers , or a ‘ double-up ’ was safer than one . Blanket policies prescribed double-up care packages when using certain devices ( Phillips et al 2014 ) and the
44 OTnews July 2021