Sleeping In and Night Security

The Ride is open every day and operates on a 24-hour rota with a minimum of 2 staff on duty after 3pm. At times there will be more members of staff working at the home in the evening according to the needs of the young people.

Staff work a shift system whereby a minimum of two staff sleep in each night. The shift starts at 2.30pm and from 2.30 – 3pm staff on duty receive a verbal and written handover from staff on the previous shift. The late or evening shift ends at 1am, with staff retiring to staff sleeping – in rooms (but are accessible if required during the night). Shifts then begin again at 7:30 am when staff give the on-coming shift a handover until 8am before going off duty. This rota pattern is currently being used in line with the European Union Working Time Directives.

Residential workers will usually only work 11 hour sleep in shifts, early or evening support shifts with the occasional day shift. Rota’s are available to staff one month in advance. Assistant Managers’ hours are made up of a combination of shifts and daytime hours reflecting the dual role as manager and residential practitioner. Each shift has a nominated shift leader, indicated on the rota, with full responsibility for the home during the evening shift. Arrangements are also made at all times i.e. evenings, weekends and holiday periods for the manager or an assistant manager to be available for contact in an emergency.

Two staff members sleep in each night, one on each side of the house. The Ride does not employ waking night staff on a regular basis, however extra staff can be called in to cover a waking night duty if a young persons behaviour is thought to be dangerous to themselves or others. Waking night staff are able to call staff on a sleeping in duty for support if necessary.

Once All young people are settled in their respective bedrooms it is the responsibility of the two staff sleeping in to ensure the unit is secure overnight. Staff need to ensure that all fire doors are closed, doors and windows are locked, including the kitchen and two internal doors to the lounge and computer room. This ensures that young people are unable to leave the home overnight without staff being aware or to allow friends in unsupervised. Once young people are in their rooms one member of staff must remain on each side of the house to monitor young people. The shift leader also takes the unit mobile upstairs in case any young people who are unauthorised absence try to contact staff. Once in the sleeping in rooms staff need to keep the unit keys easily accessible in case of young people returning during the night or in the event of fire.

Staff are able to communicate with each other at al times through the internal telephone system and are also able to contact emergency services, EDT and on call manager for support if necessary.

Resident young people are aware that they can call staff during the night if necessary.