Manual Handling Advisor

Job overview

Are you passionate about improving workplace safety, reducing injuries, and making a real difference to staff wellbeing?

The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Manual Handling Advisor to join our Health and Safety team. This is an exciting opportunity for a manual handling, ergonomics, physiotherapy, or occupational health professional to influence practice across one of the UK's largest ambulance services.

Manual handling is one of the most significant causes of workplace injury within healthcare. In this specialist role, you will help shape and improve the Trust's approach to manual handling and ergonomic risk management, supporting safer ways of working for our people while helping to ensure the safe movement and handling of patients.

Working closely with operational teams, managers and key stakeholders, you will play a vital role in reducing musculoskeletal injuries, improving staff wellbeing, supporting compliance with legislation, and driving continuous improvement across the organisation.If you are looking for a rewarding role where you can make a tangible difference to the safety, health and wellbeing of colleagues across the North West, we'd love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

As the Trust's specialist Manual Handling Advisor, you will provide expert advice, guidance and support on all aspects of manual handling, patient handling and ergonomic risk management.

You will lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the Trust's manual handling arrangements, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, national guidance and best practice.

The role will involve:

• Providing specialist advice to managers and staff on manual handling and ergonomic risk management.
• Supporting the development and review of manual handling policies, procedures and safe systems of work.
• Undertaking manual handling and ergonomic risk assessments across clinical, operational and non-clinical environments.
• Investigating manual handling incidents, near misses and musculoskeletal injuries, identifying root causes and recommending effective control measures.
• Analysing incident trends and performance data to identify emerging risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Supporting the evaluation, procurement and introduction of equipment and technologies designed to reduce manual handling risks.
• Working collaboratively with Education and Training colleagues to support the development of effective manual handling training programmes.
• Promoting a positive safety culture through coaching, engagement and continuous improvement initiatives.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This role offers significant autonomy whilst working collaboratively within the Health and Safety team and under the direction of the Senior Health and Safety Advisor.

The successful candidate will be required to travel independently across the North West and adopt a flexible approach to working arrangements to meet operational needs.

The Manual Handling Advisor acts as the Trust's specialist lead for manual handling and ergonomic risk management. The post holder will work with managers, operational teams and key stakeholders to develop and maintain robust systems that support safer patient handling and reduce the risk of manual handling injuries.

You will provide expert advice on compliance with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, support investigations into manual handling incidents and injuries, undertake specialist assessments, and contribute to strategic initiatives aimed at improving staff wellbeing and reducing musculoskeletal disorders.

The role requires excellent analytical, communication and influencing skills, together with the ability to build effective working relationships across a diverse operational environment. You will be expected to identify areas for improvement, develop practical solutions, support behavioural change and provide assurance that manual handling risks are being effectively managed.

This is a unique opportunity to influence practice across a large and complex healthcare organisation, helping to protect our people and ensure they can continue delivering exceptional care to the communities we serve.

Visa sponsorship is not possible for this role for either candidates or existing employees. This role does not meet the eligibility criteria for Skilled Worker/ Health and Care Worker visas as set out at gov.uk. Graduate visa holders should have no expectation of long-term employment through sponsorship. Additionally, your visa conditions and validity period must allow you to work in the role question and for a suitable period to allow training and execution without requiring sponsorship.

Please ensure you have read the full Job Description and Person Specification before applying.