Section 01
Purpose
This policy sets out We Are Care’s approach to night-shift working for the carers we supply. As a workforce supplier, We Are Care is responsible for ensuring carers placed into night shifts are fit to work, properly rested, trained, and supported. The setting-specific protocols (handovers, security, emergency response infrastructure, in-setting resident care) sit with the client provider.
Section 02
Scope
This policy applies to all care workers employed by We Are Care who are placed into night shifts at client provider settings — including residential care homes, supported living, children’s residential, and domiciliary care.
Section 03
Legal framework
- Working Time Regulations 1998 — limits on night-worker hours, rest breaks, and health assessments
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 — employer duty of care
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 — risk assessment for night work
- Care Standards Act 2000 — standards for care work in regulated settings
Section 04
Definitions
- Night shift — a shift that includes at least three hours of work between 11pm and 6am
- Night worker — an employee who regularly works during the night shift period
Section 05
We Are Care’s responsibilities
Working Time Regulations compliance
- Night workers are not asked to work more than an average of 8 hours in any 24-hour period (averaged over a 17-week reference period as set out in the Regulations)
- A 20-minute uninterrupted break is provided during shifts longer than 6 hours
- A rest period of at least 11 consecutive hours between shifts is observed
- Free health assessments are offered to night workers as set out in the Regulations
Carer fitness and well-being
- Before placing a carer into regular night-shift work, We Are Care will offer a health assessment
- Carers who report health concerns related to night work should notify their line manager; we will assess whether changes to scheduling are needed
- Where a carer is found to be unfit for night work, alternative day-shift work will be offered where available
- Carers experiencing fatigue, stress, or sleep-related health issues should report these promptly so we can adjust scheduling
Training
Carers placed into night shifts must have completed:
- Induction training, including health and safety, safeguarding, and lone working
- Any additional setting-type training appropriate to the placement (e.g. dementia care, complex needs)
- Annual mandatory refresher training
Support during night shifts
- Carers have access to the We Are Care on-call line at all times during a shift
- We are reachable for safeguarding escalations, urgent welfare concerns, or shift-issue resolution
- On-call contact details are issued during induction and refreshed on each new placement
Section 06
The client provider’s responsibilities
The client provider is the CQC-registered entity (or equivalent) and is responsible for:
- The night-shift staffing model in the setting, including ratios and supervision
- In-setting handover procedures and documentation
- Resident or service-user care plans, including frequency and nature of overnight checks
- Security infrastructure: door access, CCTV, alarms, emergency procedures
- Medication administration framework (see Medication Management Policy)
- Fire safety and emergency evacuation protocols
- Incident reporting and CQC notifications where required
Section 07
Lone working at night
Where the placement is single-carer (e.g. domiciliary care or sole-carer overnight at a service user’s home), the Lone Working Policy applies. Carers must follow the lone-working protocols including check-in procedures, access to emergency contacts, and the right to leave any situation that feels unsafe.
Section 08
Incident reporting
Any incident occurring during a night shift must be reported promptly:
- To the client provider’s on-shift senior or registered manager — for the client’s incident process
- To We Are Care — via the on-call line for urgent matters or via the line manager for non-urgent
Where the incident involves a safeguarding concern, the Safeguarding Policy applies and the DSL is notified.
Section 09
Carer welfare
Night-shift work is acknowledged to carry specific welfare considerations:
- Disrupted sleep and circadian effects
- Isolation, particularly on lone-worker placements
- Reduced access to colleagues and management support during shift hours
We Are Care commits to:
- Listening when carers raise welfare concerns about night work
- Offering schedule adjustments where reasonable
- Signposting carers to mental health and wellbeing resources, including Hub of Hope, Samaritans, and the Royal College of Nursing for nurses
Section 10
Monitoring and review
This policy is reviewed monthly by the Baton Care Advisory Council on the first Thursday of each month, and revised in flight where there are changes to UK Working Time legislation, CQC guidance, or our operating model.
Section 11
Related policies
- Lone Working Policy — applies for single-carer night placements
- Safeguarding Policy — applies where incidents include safeguarding concerns
- Medication Management Policy — applies for night placements involving medication administration
- Conduct and Capabilities Policy — applies where night-shift performance falls short