Waking Night Support Worker (Camborne, Newquay, St Austell and Truro)

“A well-spent day brings happy sleep” Leonardo da Vinci

As a Waking Night Support Worker, your main aim to make sure people feel safe, comfortable and able to sleep. As you head for home after your shift, people should be waking up feeling well-rested, ready for whatever activities they have planned for the day.

Waking Night Support Workers joining Green Light undergo a comprehensive organisational training then a home-specific induction training programme led by their home manager. This is followed by a period of ‘shadowing’ or buddying up with confident colleagues so you can build a rapport with the people in the home you are assigned to. Your manager provides regular supervision meetings where you can discuss your role and any additional support or training you might need. After initial training, Waking Night Support Workers go on to provide a backdrop of overnight support for the person or people living in the home. Some people may have particular needs causing occasional sleep disturbance. Others may have a specific need for help or supervision overnight. For example, those with epilepsy may need a trained team member nearby to help, or summon assistance. Any special assistance needed is detailed in care plans developed with Epilepsy specialists. This compliments and supports training provided. Some people may just need help with a particular need (a glass of milk!) or reassurance before settling again. A second team member usually ‘sleeps in’ at the home for any additional help or guidance needed. On top of this, Green Light’s management team provide 24/7 ‘on call’ support. Team members can access this for advice, guidance or practical help needed night or day from experienced colleagues.

As well as helping people sleep well, Waking Night Support Workers support their team by completing various practical duties which helps the team maintain high standards of cleanliness and homeliness – often those that may be impractical or difficult to complete during busier times of day. Some administrative tasks are also completed, for example logging activities and events overnight to help inform and improve the care and support provided by the team.

The valuable background support provided by Waking Night Support Workers ensures that people are at their best and can – as Leonardo says – enjoy another well-spent day!