Rosters and Shift Handovers


Contents

  1. Policy
  2. Key Points
  3. Procedure for Rosters and Shift Handovers


1. Policy

The level of staffing at all times of the day and night should be adequate to meet the Home’s Statement of Purpose and should be sufficient to meet the needs of the children accommodated.


2. Key Points


2.1 The Home’s staffing policy should be set out in the Home’s Statement of Purpose.
2.2 The Home’s Rosters and records of staff actually working in the Home should demonstrate that staffing level do not fall below the minimum level required.
2.3

The staffing policy set out in the Home’s Statement of Purpose should state:

  • The number of care staff required to be on duty during the day (which may include different required numbers for different circumstances);
  • The number of care staff required to be on duty by night, and whether they are required to be waking or sleeping in;
  • The number of ancillary staff required to be on duty in addition to care staff at defined times of day or night;
  • The agreed start and finishing times for night staffing;
  • The arrangements for managing the staff on duty group by day and night;
  • The minimum number of staff to be present in the building during the day;
  • The arrangements for calling senior staff support if required.
2.4 Every effort should be made to achieve continuity of staffing such that children’s attachments are not overly disrupted.
2.5 No more than half the staff on duty at any one time, by day or night, at the home should be from an external agency or be a casually employed member of staff.
2.6 Staff duty rosters should allow for a period of overlap between shifts to allow staff going off duty to brief the staff coming on duty about any significant events that have occurred on that shift and any actions required to be taken by the staff coming on duty.
2.7 Before the staff on the previous shift go off duty, the staff coming on duty should read the daily log and diary, and should fully acquaint themselves with events since they were last on duty and any action they need to take whilst on duty.


3. Procedure for Rosters and Shift Handovers

  1. The Registered Manager should ensure that the Home’s Staffing Roster meets the minimum staffing levels stated in the Home’s Statement of purpose;
  2. The Registered Manager should ensure that the Home’s Staffing Roster ensures that there is an overlap between the staff going off duty and coming on duty and that appropriate shift handovers take place;
  3. The Registered Manager should ensure that more than half of the staff on duty at any one time are permanent members of staff and that non-permanent staff are not on duty alone at night;
  4. The Registered Manager should ensure that the staffing levels during any shift meets the minimum required level;
  5. The Registered Person should increase the number of staff looking after children above the minimum required by the Statement of Purpose, where children’s needs, the number of children, or other circumstances require this in order to safeguard and promote the welfare of each individual child resident in the Home.