What Does a Waking Night Support Worker Do?
Waking night support workers play a vital role in providing essential care and assistance for individuals with care needs throughout the night. With a strong focus on safety, security, and overall well-being, these dedicated professionals remain awake and attentive during the night shift, ensuring constant support even while the person they care for is asleep. When the individual is awake, the waking night support worker is available to assist as frequently as necessary. Typically, the hours for this role extend from 10:00 PM to 8:30 AM, ensuring uninterrupted care.
Various groups of individuals can benefit from waking night support. This type of support is beneficial for older individuals, providing them with the necessary care and assistance during the night hours. Individuals with dementia can benefit from waking night support as it ensures constant supervision and personalised care during potentially disorienting and challenging times.
Also, individuals recovering from complex health needs can find comfort in knowing that trained professionals are available throughout the night to monitor their progress and attend to any immediate needs. Additionally, individuals with complex care requirements, such as individuals with learning disabilities or mental health challenges, can benefit from waking night support, ensuring a safe and supportive environment during nighttime hours.
Support workers are equipped with knowledge and skills to provide person-centred support whilst helping to ensure people can live an independent and meaningful life.
Roles and Duties of Waking Night Support Worker
The primary responsibility of waking night support workers is prioritising the safety, well-being, and comfort of the individuals they care for during nighttime hours. Alongside these core duties, waking night support workers undertake various roles to provide comprehensive assistance. These responsibilities include practical, emotional, and behavioural support, as well as support related to life skills. They are available for full-time or part-time hours and can administer medication and monitor vital signs.
Additionally, they assist with personal hygiene and offer companionship during the night. Administrative tasks, such as personalised treatment plan coordination and housing management tasks like laundry or dishwashing, are also part of their scope.
Waking night support workers must align their duties with a personalised treatment plan, ensuring the individual’s needs are effectively addressed. By focusing on the safety and well-being of those under their care, waking night support workers fulfil their primary duty during nighttime hours.
Personal Characteristics of Waking Night Support Worker
The role of support workers is deeply influenced by their personal characteristics, which play a crucial role in shaping the quality of care they provide. One of the foundational qualities that sets them apart is their kindness, compassion, and care. These characters form the foundation of their approach, as they genuinely care for the well-being of the individuals they support.
Support workers are known for their non-judgmental and understanding character, which empowers people in their care. By fostering an environment free from judgment, they create a space where individuals feel accepted and empowered to grow and make positive changes in their lives.
Also, their positive attitude and empathetic nature have a profound impact on the overall support they offer. This sense of empathy allows them to connect with individuals on a deeper level, providing the necessary emotional support and understanding.
Another key characteristic that defines support workers is their unwavering respect for others, which helps in building trust and preserving the dignity of the individuals they assist. Trust is essential in any caring relationship, and support workers prioritise establishing and nurturing this trust to ensure that the people they care for feel safe and comfortable.
Furthermore, their high levels of patience and emotional resilience are vital in navigating challenging and complex situations effectively. They remain persistent even in difficult circumstances, providing stability and reassurance to those they serve.
Communication is vital in their role, and support workers excel in practical communication skills and active listening. By being attentive and responsive, they can form meaningful connections with individuals, better understand their needs and tailor their care accordingly.
Reliability and responsibility are also key attributes of support workers. Individuals under their care depend on them, and their consistent delivery of care and support is essential in maintaining a stable and nurturing environment.
Practical Support
Practical support plays a big part in the independence of individuals. Additionally, practical support helps individuals navigate challenges and adapt to different environments.
Waking night support workers are responsible for monitoring any concerns related to disturbed sleep patterns, ensuring that individuals are comfortable and able to rest peacefully throughout the night. Also, they take charge of vital care services, including bathing, dressing, and cleaning, and ensuring that personal hygiene is maintained at a high standard.
In addition to these fundamental tasks, waking night support workers actively engage individuals in community activities and social events, promoting a sense of belonging and inclusion. They also provide life skills training to encourage independence, empowering individuals to develop the necessary abilities to lead fulfilling lives.
By maintaining high personal care and support standards, waking night support workers create a nurturing environment where individuals can thrive and receive the required assistance.
Intimate Personal Care
Providing intimate personal care includes essential duties to ensure the individual’s hygiene, comfort, and overall well-being. They offer assistance with bathing and showering, ensuring that individuals can maintain their cleanliness and personal hygiene. Additionally, they support dressing and undressing, helping individuals with their clothing needs.
Supporting dental hygiene is another important aspect of their duties. They also ensure individuals can use the bathroom with dignity and receive the necessary assistance during toileting needs. Furthermore, they provide menstrual care for individuals who require it. Lastly, waking night support workers offer assistance with feeding and drinking, ensuring that individuals can meet their nutritional needs and stay hydrated.
At Unique Community Services, we understand the importance of intimate personal care and its impact on an individual’s well-being and dignity. Our dedicated clinicians are trained to contribute to intimate personal care with compassion, professionalism, and respect.
Domestic Duties
Waking night support workers also provide support for domestic and housekeeping duties. The support must be completed following the health and safety requirements and the care and support plan.
One of their key responsibilities is ensuring the security and safety of the surroundings. The support workers conduct regular checks, such as inspecting emergency systems like fire alarms, to maintain a secure environment for the individuals they support. They also monitor the building’s external doors, windows, and access points, ensuring the environment remains secure and safe throughout the night.
Maintenance of hygiene and cleanliness is another important aspect of their duties. Waking night support workers take care of domestic tasks, including cleaning, washing, ironing, sewing, and other chores as specified in the night agenda. Additionally, the support workers provide continuous care throughout the night, checking on the individuals at regular intervals as outlined in the care and support plan.
Help with Taking Medications
Waking night support workers are crucial in administering medication to individuals following their treatment plan. Their primary focus is to ensure the overall well-being of the individuals under their care and to maintain the stability of their health condition. They thoroughly manage the medication process, ensuring that the appropriate medications are given at the right times and in the correct dosages.
As part of their responsibilities, waking night support workers precisely document medication administration, maintaining accurate records of each instance. This helps to track the individual’s medication history and ensures proper documentation for future reference.
Completing Relevant Documentation Promptly and Accurately
Completing relevant documentation promptly and accurately is imperative. Skills like time management, teamwork and risk management are crucial.
Waking night support workers are responsible for creating and implementing goal plans, which involve setting objectives and providing training and development opportunities for individuals under their care. Additionally, they follow specific plans designed to promote sleep and overall well-being, ensuring that individuals receive the necessary support during nighttime hours.
Part of their duties involves reporting health or behavioural concerns regarding the individuals they support. They maintain strict confidentiality standards, ensuring that sensitive information remains private and secure. The support workers also actively engage in staff training and attend relevant courses to enhance their skills and knowledge. They share best practices with their colleagues and provide guidance when needed, fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment. Overall, waking night support workers demonstrate accountability in their roles, keeping professional standards and ensuring the highest level of care and support for the individuals they serve.
At Unique Community Service, we understand the importance of completing relevant documentation promptly and accurately in healthcare settings. Our support workers are committed to maintaining records and documentation to ensure the highest standards of care and accountability.
Looking for a Career as Waking Night Support Worker?
Unique Community Services prioritises a compassionate and person-centred approach to care.
Our primary goal is to provide tailored care for the people we support, encouraging individuals to be as independent as possible and involved in their community.
We celebrate differences but treat all people with respect and dignity. Our committed and dedicated clinicians assist the people we serve in the comfort of their own homes, and we provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our clinicians are aligned with our values of Compassion, Impact and Community. If you are a dedicated clinician looking to join a transformative team, join us at Unique Community Services.
Our offices are based in Manchester and Leeds. Contact us today for more information about our company values, services and how we can make a difference together.
