Night Care for Older People

This one day course is suitable for support staff working in residential settings. The course outlines the range of possible night care needs and the essential skills and working methods that enable an effective response.

Participants will benefit from an understanding of how to prioritise the competing tasks of night care work, how to utilise support plans and manage risk during the night and how to maximise good communication between night and day staff to provide the best possible coordinated service.

The course will be delivered in the context of the organisation’s related policies and the course certificate will indicate NVQ and CIS links.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course learners should be able to understand:

• The overall objective of a night service and how to approach this
• The key values regarding Older People of the organisation
• The expectations on night staff by the organisation
• What is meant by ‘Boundaries’ and what are appropriate boundaries within a night service
• The potential consequences of poor boundaries for all
• What would be considered to be abuse
• How to get the most from the night handover
• Ensuring good communication to effect an overall coordinated service
• How to plan a shift-a systematic approach
• How to prioritise competing needs and tasks during the night
• The use of Care Plans and Risk Assessments in night time care
• The night time care needs of older service users; typical issues requiring effective responses
• How to respond to service users’ distress during the night e.g.
        -confusion
        -wandering
        -loneliness
        -illusions/delusions
        etc.
• Their Health and Safety legal responsibilities.
• The risks when lone working at night
• Minimising and managing risks
• Responding to emergencies
• The importance of effective record keeping in night care
• Use of Supervision for the night care worker
• How night duty impacts on staff
• Looking after yourself – the physical and mental health needs of the night care worker

Training methods:

• Tutor presentations
• OHP/PowerPoint
• Group Work
• Word shower
• Exercises
• Handouts
• Chalk & talk

CP44/4.9