Sleep-in Fact Sheet

How do sleep-ins work?

Sleep-ins are predetermined shifts that run from night until early morning at one of our Supported Living properties. Sleep-in hours may vary at different projects, but a common example would be 22:00 – 07:00. In most cases, staff will be able to sleep during this time but must be prepared to wake up and support clients.

How long will I be able to sleep?

Sleep-ins are designed and allocated so that, insofar as reasonably possible, a staff member should be able to get a full, healthy night’s sleep. Every project, client, and shift does vary, so there will be factors in some sleep-in shifts that are not present in others – which can and will impact how much sleep a member of staff can get.

Will I need to get up during the night?

Although a staff member should be able to sleep during a sleep-in, this is not the primary reason for being there. Staff are permanently on-duty while at the Supported Living and must always be ready and able to respond to support needs of clients, which may be during the sleep-in hours. Clients may need support during the night, and dangerous situations may arise if staff members are not available. It is imperative that staff members are able to wake up and meet the support needs of clients.

How am I paid for a sleep-in shift?

The pay rate for sleep-ins is slightly more complicated than your usual hourly rate. Each individual sleep-in is paid at a rate of £35.00. To ensure that no single hour is below £10.42, your entire weekly salary is topped up. Doing more sleep-ins would result in a larger top-up.

What if I have a health condition or medication that affects my sleep?

It may be the case that reasonable alterations can be made. You should inform management about this as soon as possible.

What if a client will not go to bed or has not arrived home?

In all cases of a client not arriving home prior to the start of your sleep-in time, you should be awake and available for their return. If this is particularly late, unusual, or you are not aware of any reason for it – on-call should be contacted immediately. When a client is refusing to go to bed, there may be an important underlying reason for it which may be an integral part of their care and support needs. Staff should work closely and openly with clients to identify issues and stay awake until a client has gone to bed.