HCS124-Live-in and Overnight Care Policy

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

Live-in and Overnight Care Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define the standards, procedures, and best practices for providing live-in and overnight care within {{org_field_name}}. Live-in and overnight care services ensure that people we support receive continuous and responsive care in their own homes, promoting independence, dignity, and personal choice while safeguarding their well-being. This policy aligns with the Health and Social Care Standards (Scotland), the National Care Standards for Care at Home, the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001, and guidance from the Care Inspectorate Scotland to ensure high-quality, person-centred care delivery.

This policy ensures compliance with:

The Health and Social Care Standards (Scotland)
The National Care Standards: Care at Home
The Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001
The Working Time Regulations 1998 (regarding rest breaks and working hours)
The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Codes of Practice

2. Scope

This policy applies to all live-in and overnight carers, support staff, managers, and coordinators involved in planning, delivering, and overseeing 24-hour care services. It applies to:

Live-in care arrangements where a carer resides in a person’s home to provide ongoing support.
Waking night care where a carer is actively providing care and supervision throughout the night.
Sleeping night care where a carer is on-call but expected to rest unless needed.

The policy ensures that both carers and the people we support have clear expectations, rights, and responsibilities regarding live-in and overnight care services.

3. Responsibilities

Management Responsibilities

Management must ensure that:

Risk assessments and care planning are conducted for every live-in and overnight care arrangement.
Carers receive appropriate training on overnight care, safeguarding, medication management, and emergency procedures.
Staff working hours comply with the Working Time Regulations to prevent exhaustion and ensure staff well-being.
Adequate cover and emergency procedures are in place for relief staffing and unexpected situations.
Regular reviews and feedback mechanisms are implemented to assess the effectiveness of care.

Staff Responsibilities

Carers providing live-in or overnight care must:

Adhere to the agreed care plan and risk assessments to ensure safe and appropriate care.
Maintain professional boundaries while respecting the personal space and privacy of the person receiving care.
Report any incidents, changes in health conditions, or safety concerns immediately to management.
Follow infection prevention and control procedures, particularly in overnight settings.
Ensure compliance with moving and handling, medication administration, and night-time supervision as required.

People We Support and Their Families

The people we support and their families must:

Participate in care planning and risk assessments to determine the level of overnight support required.
Communicate their needs, preferences, and any concerns to the care team.
Respect the working conditions and rest arrangements of live-in carers to ensure sustainable care delivery.

4. Live-in Care Procedures

Live-in care is designed to provide round-the-clock support in a person’s home, offering assistance with personal care, mobility, medication, companionship, meal preparation, and household tasks.

Live-in Care Assessment and Planning

Before implementing live-in care, the following must be completed:

A detailed care plan that specifies the person’s needs, routines, and preferences.
A home risk assessment to ensure a safe environment for both the person receiving care and the live-in carer.
Discussion of private time and breaks for the carer, ensuring rest and appropriate work-life balance.
A rota system or shift-based care planning if continuous care is required, ensuring no single carer works excessive hours.

Working Hours and Breaks for Live-in Carers

Live-in carers should receive at least 2 hours of break time per day, which should be agreed upon with the person receiving care.
Carers must be provided with adequate sleep time where possible.
Weekend breaks or substitute carers must be arranged to allow for rest days.

Personal Space and Accommodation for Live-in Carers

Live-in carers should have a designated sleeping area and access to bathroom facilities.
They must be provided with privacy and respect while off-duty.

5. Overnight Care Procedures

Waking Night Care

For individuals requiring constant supervision and support overnight, waking night care ensures a carer remains awake and alert throughout the night to assist with:

Personal care (e.g., toileting, repositioning, continence support).
Safety monitoring (e.g., fall prevention, wandering risks).
Medication administration if required during the night.

Sleeping Night Care (On-Call Support)

Sleeping night care involves a carer being present in the home but not expected to remain awake unless required. The carer must:

Have a designated sleeping area.
Be available to respond to emergency needs when required.
Be woken only when necessary and in accordance with the care plan.

6. Safeguarding and Risk Management

Risk Assessments for Overnight Care

Before providing overnight care, a detailed risk assessment must be carried out to:

Identify any night-time hazards (e.g., trip hazards, fire risks).
Assess the likelihood of needing assistance during the night.
Ensure security measures are in place to protect both the person receiving care and the carer.

Emergency Procedures

All live-in and overnight carers must be trained in emergency procedures, including:

Fire safety and evacuation plans.
Handling medical emergencies (e.g., falls, seizures, sudden illness).
Using emergency contact protocols for escalation.

7. Medication Management for Overnight Care

Carers must adhere to strict medication administration protocols for individuals requiring nighttime medication. Procedures include:

Recording medication administration accurately in medication logs.
Ensuring correct storage of medication in a secure location.
Being aware of medication side effects that may require overnight monitoring.

8. Infection Prevention and Control for Overnight Care

All live-in and overnight carers must follow strict infection control measures, including:

Hand hygiene protocols before and after providing care.
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary.
Regular cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces.

9. Supervision, Training, and Support for Carers

Carers providing live-in and overnight care must undergo specialist training in:

Safeguarding adults at risk.
Night-time supervision and sleep disturbance management.
Medication administration and emergency response.
Moving and handling at night to prevent injury.

Supervision includes:

Regular check-ins and performance reviews by managers.
24/7 on-call support for carers needing assistance.
Access to mental health and well-being support to prevent carer burnout.

10. Complaints and Feedback Mechanisms

People receiving live-in and overnight care, their families, and carers must have access to a clear complaints procedure. All complaints should be:

Recorded and investigated promptly.
Handled confidentially and professionally.
Reviewed to improve service quality.

11. Related Policies

This policy should be read alongside:

Risk Assessment and Management Policy
Health and Safety Policy
Medication Administration Policy
Safeguarding Adults Policy
Staff Training and Development Policy

12. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if:

There are changes in legislation or best practices.
An incident occurs that necessitates a policy update.
Feedback from carers, service users, or regulatory bodies indicates improvements are needed

Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
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