I am a manager, managing a 24 hr service for people with learning disabilities and autism.
...and the first thing I have to do when a member of staff tells me they are pregnant, is to do a risk assessment for them.
This involves looking at all the tasks they generally do, and all the people they generally work with and finding what all the possible hazards are.

Then, together we look at what we can do to reduce the risk (likelihood) of those hazards causing harm to either the mother or the baby.
This can involve avoiding certain tasks (like lifting/pushing heavy wheelchairs) or doing things differently (e.g. using equipment) but can also mean not supporting people who have behaviours of concern (such as hitting or throwing things)

There is no legal duty to eliminate risk altogether, but there is a very definite responsibility to reduce it to its lowest practicable level.

Since I have been pregnant, I have also done a risk assessment for me - looking at the same things, but the measures I have put in place are different as risk assessments need to be individual e.g. I am mainly office based, although I do do some shifts. In my staff member's risk assessment I have considered fatigue more likely for her than it is for me, as she is on her feet for most of the day on every shift, whereas I am mostly able to sit down (except when I am on shift!)
and there is a person who she doesn't support now she is pregnant, but I do - he is a very big strong chap and she is a tiny dot, and although he would never deliberately hurt someone he can pull people quite a bit. For a tiny person that is much more of an issue than it is for me!

However, no manager can do anything to protect you if you don't tell them you are pregnant! So, if you haven't already done so, go and tell them ... and ask what their policy is around risk assessment for pregnant workers

Hey Urchin! Thanks for that! Will definitely let her know and then we can do the risk assessment So grateful for your advice I love your avatar by the way made me giggle.

no problem Jadie - glad to be able to help

I like the avatar too - it has always made me giggle

Hi I'm a care worker and still working away. I work out in the community, drive about to their own houses and everything involving proper manual handling is safe during pregnancy but the other carers are very good with me in double calls and will do most of the work lol just make sure u dont lift anything heavy or any clients and u will be just fine. If ur iffy about doing something, then ask someone to help u. Even cut ur hours down in a few weeks/months if it gets too much for u x

When i was pregnant with my DS i worked as a carer. As has been said they should do a risk assesmenr and keep you away from any high risk patients. I dont know if it would be an option for you but i had started doing training to be a care leader so i also did some office work/drugs rounds on my shifts.
It is a phyically demanding job so you should be able to break or stop for a drink whenever you feel the need to, i found the way round that was to sit and chat with the residents.

Also if you can work it out you could save some holiday up. I was planning to stop work at 36 weeks but i was actually able to stop around 33 weeks with all the holiday i had left over.

Thanks guys for all your advice! So glad I asked you ladies now. So i went to chat with my manager, no risk assessment done, she said there shouldn't be a problem as long as I'm doing my manual handling right, she said take as many breaks as needed to grab a drink, remember to eat (obviously!) and if it does get too much she will move me to low care All is well

yay!! are u happy with that outcome??

Good grief! Your manager has just put herself in a very vulnerable position - if something happens to you, and she hasn't put a risk assessment in place, any lawyer would wipe the floor with her!

While it is fresh in your mind, write yourself some minutes of the meeting ... if something goes wrong you might need them

ive now had my risk assessment done, they've taken me off all heavy lifting calls and anywhere whare a client can be aggressive so i guess thats a start xx