Guidance on Staffing

The Manager/Deputy is responsible for ensuring that there is adequate staffing to provide the service in a safe, professional manner. The precise numbers and composition of an adequate and appropriate level of staffing will vary according to the service. Factors that need to be taken into account include:

• Gender mix;
• Ability to implement individual care plans;
• Specific care needs or behavioural issues with individuals;
• Groups dynamics;
• Risk;
• Safe care practice for staff;
• Level of experience within the team;
• Staff annual leave and school holidays (children's services).

In some services, minimum levels of staffing are defined in the Statement of Purpose which is informed by “The Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015” and the 'Residential Family Centres Regulations 2002' and 'Residential Family Centres National Minimum Standards' Standard 15 – Sufficient staffing of the centre and 'Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children 2013'.

The Manager and Deputy of a service should not, unless in exceptional circumstances, take annual leave at the same time. Should a situation arise where both manager and deputy wish to take annual leave at the same time this requires the prior authorisation of their Head of Service.

It is the responsibility of the Manager/Deputy to ensure that no more than 2 staff at any one time are on annual leave; if additional staff request leave at the same time this must be agreed in advance by the Head of Service. Periods of annual leave up to 2 weeks can be agreed by the Manager, request for longer holidays must be agreed in advance by the Head of Service.

Break employs sessional or bank staff to assist where there are insufficient permanent staff available to fulfil the needs of particular shifts – due to leave, sickness or vacancies. These staff are subject to Break's full Recruitment Procedures and receive regular support and supervision.

Where there is a shortfall in staffing for particular shifts or days, the Manager/Deputy should, in the first instance, approach other members of the staff team for cover before approaching bank staff. Break also has a small team of mobile workers who are deployed to homes who are experiencing staffing problems or young people who need extra supervision due to distressed or aroused behaviour. Allocation of work to this team is through the Operations team.

In exceptional circumstances the Manager/Deputy may authorise the use of agency staff with the agreement of the relevant Head of Service. The agency must provide the necessary employment information to fulfil the requirements of schedule 2. Whenever possible the agency member of staff should also be the subject of a Warner interview if they have not had such an interview within Break previously.

All Break staff are subject to a 6 month probationary period. It is not appropriate for a service to be staffed solely by probationary staff and the proportion of inexperienced staff on any shift should be monitored and kept within regulatory requirements (“The Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015”Part 4. Also see Standard 15: Residential Family Centres National Minimum Standards: Sufficient staffing of the centre and Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children 2013: Regulation 21: Staffing of holiday schemes for disabled children.

Each shift should have at least one person on duty at the home who has a suitable first aid qualification

Where services operate when management or senior members of staff are not on site, an on-call system is in place. This ensures that staff have access to support and advice regarding a significant issue or incident. The on-call duties are shared between the Manager, Deputy and senior staff. It is expected that staff on duty are able to respond to routine situations and make appropriate decisions in line with individual care plans and Break's other policies. See Out of Hours Guidance - to follow.