1.10.1 Handover

The assumption is made that each residential unit will have in place an efficient communication system, to include staff, children and young people. This may appear to be an obvious assumption, but there is now ample evidence that an effective residential care unit requires a really effective communication system and that this does not always exist - this is why the handover is essential for the team.

Maintaining effective communication is no easy task, as it will require:

• anticipating situations before they happen
• quickly passing important information on to all members of the team
• differentiating between essential and optional information
• keeping children and young people informed
• frequently checking that channels of communication are working
• maintaining the communication system as a priority
• there must be a shift handover period of between fifteen and thirty minutes.
• during the handover period, the on coming staff will sign themselves in, having first updated themselves through reading the handover book, the residents daily sheets and any relevant discussion with the off going staff.

Please also refer to the handover checklist for areas to be covered.

• during the handover period, the off going staff will ensure that the finances of the unit are in order and that any discrepancies are noted for the on coming staff to receive. Before departing, the off going staff will ensure they sign themselves out.
• the handover period is a key feature in the effective and efficient functioning of a unit. It is the major information exchange time and it is important that active listening and objective talking is exercised.

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