Sleeping In and Night Security

Whilst supporting children and young people in residential care, staff are required to undertake Sleeping In duties as part of their role/contract. This requires staff to work until an agreed time e.g. 12pm and then sleep in at the residential home in the bedroom that is provided for staff. The bedroom is separate and where possible away from the children and young people’s bedrooms in order to allow staff time to relax and sleep in preparation for the next morning when they return on shift at 7am.

Staff that undertake sleeping in duties are responsible for giving handovers to night staff that work between 10pm and 7.30am about the previous shift detailing the interactions/behaviours of the children and young people, and giving information about the whereabouts of the children and young people that evening. Sleeping in staff work until the time agreed e.g.12pm and provide support to night staff in settling the children and young people in their bedrooms, and/or contacting the children and young people and encouraging them to return to the home.

Night Workers ensure that children and young people are safeguarded through the night, and that the home is secure. In the event that an emergency situation occurs the sleeping in staff can be called to support with the situation in the home. Should sleeping in staff be disturbed it is at the discretion of the registered home’s manager how this is managed with staff concerned to ensure they receive either financial allowance for being disturbed or if they can be released early from shift for the time they were disturbed through the night, depending on the needs of the home and/or young people.