Shift Leader Policy

Contents

1. Procedure
2. The Process
3. Documents
4. Conclusion

1. Procedure

The shift leader is responsible for:

• Ensuring the handover starts on time;
• Planning the shift;
• Ensuring that all available information is known to manage a safe shift;
• Ensuring that all staff have read and are aware of each child young person’s Placement Plans, Risk Assessments and programmes;
• Ensuring that all agency workers have an up to date Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate and that a copy is on file;
• Ensuring that there are enough staff for the next shift;
• Checking that all tasks are completed;
• Administering medication;
• Ensuring that medication is packed into the child or young person’s belongings at the end of their stay with a label informing others of medication in the bag;
• Allocating the 1:1 supervision of a child/young person to a specified staff member and this to be recorded;
• Allocating tasks/duties to members of staff;
• Identifying a fire persons 1 and 2;
• Final night time security and medication checks by p.m. shift leader;
• Ensuring that keys are all present and accounted for;
• Any incident/accident forms are filled in correctly before staff leave the building and made accessible for management attention/signing off;
• Notifying parents/carers, manager/social worker of any incidents and faxing/emailing information if serious incident and that Ofsted are notified of any qualifying incidents;
• Ensuring that missing people are reported to police and significant others, efforts made to secure the young person's return and to ensure social workers are reminded to conduct return interviews;
• Ensuring that a verbal handover is given to the home's manager and /or deputy who arrives first in the morning;
• Ensuring that children or young person’s bedrooms have been personalised, and that activities/toys are out ready for child or young person;
• Ensuring shift tasks, daily jobs are completed;
• To take handover of:
  • Petty Cash;
  • Pocket Money.
• Checking the diary for visits and appointments;
• Risk Assessments for outings are completed;
• Ensuring that any tasks not completed are handed over and a reason why is given;
• Handing over to the shift leader on the following shift;
• Holding a de-briefing session before staff leave the unit if deemed necessary.

2. The Process

The shift leader is the member of staff who takes responsibility for the smooth running of the shift and the child or young person placed with staff members on duty, this includes Health & Safety. The shift leader needs to feel confident about being in this role and understand the important communication and delegation processes needed to ensure the effectiveness of their role and the safety of the shift.

2.1 What does the Shift Leader do?

• Receive and participate in the handover given by the previous shift leader and ask relevant questions about the child or young person in the unit during their shift;
• Check and ensure that all staff joining the shift have read the relevant records and Risk Assessments of the child or young person in the unit on their shift;
• Discuss/debrief and evaluate the information received and make decisions about the forthcoming shift with the shift team;
• Allocate children/young people/:staff and record which worker is allocated to which child on the handover sheet, shift tasks and daily jobs;
• Keep staff informed and aware of any changes to the child or young person’s Placement  Plans, shift changes,developments andvisitors;
• Sign off all Risk Assessments undertaken as part of the shifts activities (in the absence of a manager), oversee all accident/incident reports, ensuring that they are available for the manager’s signature;
• Ensure daily records  are completed;
• Inform cook of any changes to children or young people, diets or numbers;
• Make decisions using their own judgement without calling the manager;
• Take responsibility for the unit keys, the Health & Safety of all the children or young people and shift members, visitors and the building and act as Fire Officer 1 until the end of the shift;
• Take responsibility for informing parents/carers, manager, social worker of any minor/serious incidents. This includes any child protection issues, whistle blowing, minor/major incidents, calling the police/emergency services, social worker, or Careline;
• Missing people and return interviews;
• Take responsibility for the communication flow across the shift with all shift members;
• If needed, change the delegated person working with a child or young person and record clearly on handover sheet;
• Ask relevant questions about previous experience, practice, confidence levels, the child or young person in the home and about the tasks to be allocated;
• Ensure that all staff, including agency/As and When workers are aware of child or young person who are on 1:1 supervision and what that entails.

3. Documents

Ensure that all paper records are completed and filed or entered on Liquid Logic.

Ensure all accident/incident forms are completed by staff before leaving the building.

4. Conclusion

This handover policy will be reviewed, updated and/or amended annually as part of team development during team meetings.