What Does a Waking Night Support Worker Do?
Waking night support workers perform all the caring duties of the person they care for during the nighttime hours. The support worker is awake through the night even if the individual is asleep. The Waking Night shift can be the best choice if the person requires care and support and gets up several times during nighttime.
When the individual is awake, the night care support worker provides the needed care and support, and the night care plan is developed and adjusted according to the client’s necessities. For example, when the person requires more assistance owing to a progressive medical condition or less assistance when recovering from an injury.
Roles and Duties of Waking Night Support Worker
The key part of the night support worker’s job is to provide care and support during early mornings and nights. A live-in carer or a 24-hour care provider has distinct responsibilities and working hours from a night care support worker. There is a list of tasks that the patient can assign them to perform during this time, so part of the roles and tasks could include:
- Part-time or full-time availability
- Administration of medicine
- Checking vitals
- Assistance in the toilet
- Domestic duties and administrative tasks
- Flexible working according to the necessities of the service, including weekends, daytime and nighttime, as well as bank holidays
- A devotion to changing people's lives
- Practical, behavioural and emotional support to the service users
- Offering assistance to individuals around life skills
Personal Characteristics of Waking Night Support Worker
A warm and empathetic individual who can build trusting relationships with service users is crucial to becoming an adequate support worker. Personal attributes are important as part of the role, as consistent engagement with the person’s needs is required to foster an enthusiastic view of their mental health and overall well-being.
To succeed in this career choice, you need to possess the following qualities additionally:
- Capability to listen and comprehend
- To have an uplifting nature
- Increased responsibility
- Sensitiveness to other people's needs
- Outstanding communication skills
- Ability to problem-solving
Practical Support
Workers at this level must be able to arrange creative support of daily tasks and routines for themselves and others. They must also be capable of working independently. The support worker is expected to maintain and uphold high practical and social care practice standards such as:
- Dressing, bathing, cleaning and other needs of the people we support
- Overall assessment of the service user's practical requirements
- Care service users as needed during any social event or recreation, such as sports, swimming and special interest groups
- Training, organising and development through goal planning
- To preserve high standards of personal hygiene and appearance and to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of the people we support
Intimate Personal Care
When staff members assist people with using the bathroom, taking a bath, or using the shower, time and privacy are of the utmost importance. Some people might require additional assistance while using the toilet, while others could require assistance or supervision. Maintaining respect in every circumstance is essential when it comes to delivering tasks related to:
- Assistance getting dressed and getting undressed.
- Assistance getting in and out of the shower or bath
- Changing diapers
- Feeding and drinking (tube feeding forms are sometimes needed)
- Oral care
- Assistance with toileting
- Brushing hair
Domestic Duties
Dishwashing, meal prep and home organisation are among the home delivery chores. There are also additional chores to be done during the individual is asleep, which include:
- Make sure the surroundings are hygienic and clean
- Establishing a peaceful, healing environment for the people being supported
- Helping people in making the most of their late nights and evenings when they choose to
- Do laundry
- Nightly lock up and safety check
- Ensure that the environment is odour free and suitably heated
- Sheet change and checking through the night
Help with Taking Medications
The support worker’s job is to ensure the patient takes their medication. They must ensure that the appropriate medication is given at the appropriate time and dose. While administering medication, the support worker should maintain the patient’s respect and dignity.
While nighttime hours the carer should give the service user the proper medication at the correct time and in the correct way. When it comes to the administration of medicines, it should involve:
- Which medicine should be taken
- Giving medication to be ingested, applied, or inhaled when the recipient lacks the ability to comprehend or recognise the medication's purpose
- Being responsible for selecting the medicine
Completing Relevant Documentation Promptly and Accurately
During working hours, the support worker might help the service user administer medical, legal or financial documentation. The assistance provided comes in many forms, and the carer must be able to deliver.
Also, the foundation of high-quality treatment outcomes is documentation, or more specifically, “strong” client documentation. Without documentation, you lack solid evidence of the treatments or services provided.
Looking for a Career as Waking Night Support Worker?
At Leaf Complex Care, we are looking for an empathetic and warm individual who can work with us. We value our support workers and put their work and dedication first. You are the heroes in our story! If you share our company’s ethos of Family, Impact and Teaming, you might be the one we are searching for.
We are seeking applicants from all backgrounds. No prior caregiving experience is necessary; all that is needed is a desire to give person-centred support and care in a bright, welcoming environment.
As a proactive individual, you must be able to provide person-centred care to individuals with complex care needs. The people we support need care for mental health, learning disabilities, autism, dementia etc.
The great news is that we pay enhanced DBS to all staff. If you get to decide to join our Family, there are more benefits that we have posted in our Job Opportunities category once you click the button to become a support worker in our company.
We encourage you to read the job description if you’re interested in learning more about the position. For additional information about career openings, please contact us at the location that is closest to you. Get in touch with us right away to begin your life-changing journey with Leaf Complex Care.
Quick Summary
- Waking Night Support Workers remain awake all night to assist you whenever you require it, especially in challenging situations
- To be a competent support worker, one must be kind, compassionate, and able to establish relationships of trust with the people we support
- Part of their duties is to provide practical support, intimate personal care, domestic duties, help with taking medications and complete relevant documentation promptly and accurately
- We at Leaf Complex Care are seeking a kind, sympathetic and person-centred individual to join our team. The people we support require treatment for conditions like dementia, learning difficulties, autism, and mental illness
- Please read the job description if you are interested in learning more about the role. Please select your nearest location to contact us for more information on job vacancies. Contact us now and let your life-changing journey with Leaf Complex Care start today
