Forum : Pregnancy

hi, i work as a home carer and i work 4 ten hour days, when i was pregnant i had a risk assessment, basically, you cannot do any moving and handling, none at all, they have to ask you what you struggle with, all i really did, was make beds, give breakfast/tea, stripwashes, help get dressed but i did it in my own time, if you cant do it, say. and you could always ask to work days? when you return to work, you have untli your child is 6 years old a choice to go back on a work life balance, you can say i can do these days/times and they have to try and fit it in, speak to your manager and tell her how you feel and your baby and you come first or you will be going to citizens advice for information, good luck take it easy and congrats xx

By no moving and handling you mean like using the hoist and that also? No one has asked me anything or told me what i should and shouldn't be doing. I feel sorry for my other colleagues as we are all really stressed but most of them are very understanding and won't let me do things they dont think i should be doing.Just others dont really care and have me running about like an idiot. We have a lot of cleaning to do on night shift and on one unit its more than the other, we have to pull furniture out and that but i've not been doing that because the chairs are really heavy. I don't want to have to go onto day shift as it's more stressful and theirs not that many understanding people on day's... The way they see it is we are all the same... If i do go back to work i'll be dropping a shift. Will try and speak to my manager but i dont think it's going to make any difference, maybe a trip to citizens advice anyway might be a good idea. Thanks for your reply :) xxx

yes no moving and handling what so ever, no standing on furniture, no pulling furniture out, you have to be careful with certain clients if they have certain illnesses not to go near them like cancer or having radiation, if your cleaning, make sure the room is well ventilated if your using bleach or strong smelling products, you can do cleaning and making beds, dressing if you feel you can do so and they dont need you to to lift them or support them, you can bath them if they can get in and out, strip-wash, give out meds if they are safe, if there are violent clients you have a right to refuse to care for them if you feel you and baby are at risk, your manager should sit through with you and look at all your clients and assess if its safe for you to care for them, ike if they have an illness whih could harm you or if they need alot of support, she should see if certain things make you feel sick, if your suffering with any pregnancy pains and what can bring them on etc, it is a very demanding job so do make sure you speak to her and only do what you feel you can do, dont push yourself, maybe you can do the cleaning and the lighter work and paperwork and assist the other carers by passing them stuff etc xx

Hi Kirsty, Amy is spot on with her advice, they should definitely do a risk assessment and if necessary repeat it later on as well. I'm assuming that you work for a small private company and not for the council, and have no trade union to get in touch with. If you have any problems then I would contact either Health and Safety Executive who will be able to tell you your rights and advise you on what to do next if your needs aren't being met, or ACAS. It doesn't sound like they really know what they are supposed to do in these circumstances but if they don't then they should be finding out and doing it! Good luck :-)))xx

http://www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg373.pdf

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/parents/moneyandworkentitlements/workandfamilies/dg_10026556

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/work/healthandsafety/

Thanks for all the advise, I'm going to see my midwife today so going to ask her about it. Also going to speak to my manager after I finish my shift tomorrow. I feel like I'm getting no support what so ever, they should know what to do though because there's been a few

Thanks for all the advise, I'm going to see my midwife today so going to ask her about it. Also going to speak to my manager after I finish my shift tomorrow. I feel like I'm getting no support what so ever, they should know what to do though because there's been a few Pregnant people at my work and one who jus went on mat leave in march, so going to have another we word with her also, see if she felt the same. Thanks for the links to, will have a look at them when I get home. Thanks again :)!xxx

hi there. i work in a high dependency nursing home which cares for clients of all ages and all conditions. i work 3-4 12hr shifts a week, and yes i no the feeling of how hard it can be. like you we are ALWAYS short staffed which puts extra strain on us, also what makes it even more difficult a few weeks after i announced my pregnancy at work 3 more girls announced theres ,so sometimes there are 2prego carers working on the same floor at the same time.
i must admit i probably have done alot more than i should have done throughout my pregnancy (im now nearly 32wks) but i know my limits, i still provide personal care, serve meals, drinks. push wheelchairs, do the bed round etc.
Also when it comes to hoisting clients, this is much safer to do so than lifting them, i have used the hoist throughtout my pregnancy as we have many larger clients, but if i feel i couldnt move the hoist or needed help i would ask for it(especially now im getting towards the end) as there should always be 2 of u hoisting anyway.
you should most definately have a risk assessment in place and people should repect this and if u feel u cant do something definately dont do it, i have the trouble at work of either the opinion oh your only pregnant not disabled or the opinion dont do anything because your pregnant. its hard to find a happy medium, but my collegues r my best friends and are very supportive towards me so i have been lucky, (also small bump helped it didnt get in the way too much).
Remember its not worth hurting yourself or baby over a 2second cheat. hope everything goes well for u and take it easy xxx

Hi Kirsty, I work in a residential home for children with challenging behaviour so although we dont do any manual handling etc i do know about the risk assessments (Im the manager)
My risk assessment is updateded every 2 weeks (although this might be our policy not national) unless there any any changes where it will be updated more frequently. All staff must read the risk assessment and be able to understand it.
Im not allowed to lift anythign heavier than a bag of suger, so in you line of work hoisting and moving is a definate no no.
Also i can only undertake light duties and it also highlights no twisting, bending etc.
Obviously my risk assessment is quite detailed especially as the type of teens i work with that assault staff and smash up the home, so it also highlights what to do in that case.
But the risk assessment also highlights that staff must be careful around me tavoid knocks and bumpms into me.
Writing this i am wondering if its just our best practice policy, but your company has a duty to ensure u and baby are safe.
Also if i am struggling with sickness i can come in late, and my hours are flexi (but again this might be due to the manager role, but if a staff member was pregnant we would negotiate a shift that they can manage, ie ams if better in the mornings etc.

I hoe this helps, but u can always contact citizaens advice if you are unsure, and remember ur company have a duty of care towards u and baby.

Good luck and hope all goes well x