Communication, consent and dignity during moves

A well-planned move can still feel unsafe or undignified if the person is not prepared, listened to or kept informed. Staff should explain what will happen, check the person is ready, encourage them to do what they can safely manage, and watch for verbal or non-verbal signs that the move should pause.

Consent matters both before and during a transfer. Someone may agree at the start but become frightened, dizzy, in pain or distressed partway through. Staff must not continue automatically because a plan exists on paper. People living with dementia, delirium, learning disability, sensory impairment, or past trauma may need extra explanation, slower pacing, reassurance or a different approach.

Good communication during moving and handling

• Explain simply: what you will do, what the person needs to do, and when the move will start.
• Check comfort and readiness: pain, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, fear or needing the toilet can affect safety.
• Use one agreed lead voice: multiple instructions from different staff can confuse the person.
• Protect dignity: cover appropriately, close doors or curtains and avoid unnecessary exposure during a transfer.
• Respect changing consent: pause if the person says stop, withdraws cooperation or looks distressed.
• Escalate repeated difficulty: if a person regularly resists or becomes distressed, review the plan rather than increasing force.

Safe moving and handling is done with the person, not to the person. If consent or cooperation changes, the move must change too.