Single-handed and double-handed care policies and practices
Case reference FOI2025/01663
Received 19 August 2025
Published 10 September 2025
Request
We would be very grateful if you would be able to respond to this message and provide us with any formal communication and/or documentation that can help us better understand the following:
1. Do you have any official policy guidelines that describe what qualifies someone to receive double- or single-handed care?
2. If so, what is the rationale that underlies these guidelines and what determines the level of care someone can receive?
3. In practice, are there any issues or barriers that have been encountered when implementing either double- or single-handed care?
4. Has there been a shift in the qualifying criteria for someone who can receive double-handed care? (i.e. how long has your current policy been in place, how is it different to anything that existed previously?)
5. If there is a preference towards single-handed care, what is the rationale behind this and how has this been managed?
Response
We would be very grateful if you would be able to respond to this message and provide us with any formal communication and/or documentation that can help us better understand the following:
1. Do you have any official policy guidelines that describe what qualifies someone to receive double- or single-handed care?
Answer: The Service Area have advised we do not have specific policy guidelines that explicitly define qualifications for double- or single-handed care.
Decisions regarding whether a person requires support from one or more staff members are made based on individual risk assessments and health and safety recommendations related to manual handling and moving. These decisions align with best practice guidance from professional bodies such as the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) and safety organisations like the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). There are occasions by which referrals are made from external partners, such as care providers, whereby they consider an assessment for single-handed care may be beneficial.
For context: RCOT is the professional body for occupational therapists in the UK, providing guidance and standards to support safe and effective occupational therapy practice. RoSPA is a UK-based charity focused on accident prevention, providing guidance and training to improve safety across various sectors, including health and social care.
2. If so, what is the rationale that underlies these guidelines and what determines the level of care someone can receive?
Answer: The Service Area have advised the rationale behind our practice is to ensure safe and appropriate support tailored to the individual's needs that focuses on maximising independence, where possible. Practitioners assess each person's risk and capabilities, determining whether assistance can be safely provided by a single caregiver or if additional support and equipment are necessary. This approach prioritizes safety and optimizes manual handling based on professional assessments and health and safety guidelines. Where a care provider is involved and delivering support, Practitioners would work closely with the provider to ensure that they were involved throughout this process.
3. In practice, are there any issues or barriers that have been encountered when implementing either double- or single-handed care?
Answer: The Service Area have advised challenges can arise, particularly with individuals who have more complex needs requiring specialised handling beyond standard assessments. To mitigate this, we have a manual handling specialist who supports staff with advice and guidance.
4. Has there been a shift in the qualifying criteria for someone who can receive double-handed care? (i.e. how long has your current policy been in place, how is it different to anything that existed previously?)
Answer: The Service Area have advised, since we do not operate formal, written policies exclusively for double- or single-handed care, there has not been a formal shift in qualifying criteria.
5. If there is a preference towards single-handed care, what is the rationale behind this and how has this been managed?
Answer: The Service Area have advised there is no preference towards either single- or double-handed care. The focus remains on providing the right level of support to meet the individual's needs safely and effectively.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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