Staff for respite, short breaks and day services
Respite gives people and their families a break, with a stay of a few nights in a care home or a specialist short-break service. Day services give people somewhere to go, things to do and company during the day. Both depend on staff who can get to know someone quickly.
We recruit care assistants, support workers and seniors for respite and day services, including cover for the busy school holiday weeks.
How respite and day services are regulated
A respite stay in a care home is covered by that home’s own registration. Day services are treated differently in each nation. In England, the CQC registers personal care only where it is given in the place someone lives, so a day centre does not register for personal care. In Scotland, a day service is usually a support service registered with the Care Inspectorate, and in Northern Ireland RQIA registers day care settings.
- England
- Care Quality Commission for respite in a care home. Day centres do not register for personal care.
- Scotland
- Care Inspectorate, as a care home service for respite, or a support service for day services.
- Wales
- Care Inspectorate Wales, for respite in a care home service.
- Northern Ireland
- RQIA, as a care home for respite, or a day care setting.
Respite and day service cover at a glance
What we usually agree with a respite or day service before the first shift.
- Duties
- Personal care, activities and outings, meals, medicines, transport, and getting to know each person’s routine from their plan.
- Shifts
- Day services: weekday daytime hours. Respite: the full pattern, including nights.
- Checks
- The adults’ or children’s criminal record check for the nation, depending on who uses the service; references; a driving licence for services with a minibus or outings.
- Pay basis
- Hourly for temporary cover. Salaried or hourly for permanent posts.
- Qualifications
- Care qualifications as for other care roles, and registration where the nation requires it, such as NISCC registration for day care staff in Northern Ireland.
Roles respite and day services usually need
Day services mostly need support workers and care assistants. Respite units need the same people a care home does, including night staff.
- Support worker Helps people live independently in supported living, and learning disability and mental health services.
- Care assistant Personal care and everyday support in care homes, nursing homes and respite services.
- Senior support worker Leads a support team on shift, guides colleagues and keeps support plans current.
- Senior care assistant Leads the care team on shift, gives medicines and keeps care plans up to date.
- Kitchen and domestic staff Cooks, kitchen assistants, housekeepers and laundry staff for care homes.
Checks for respite and day service staff
People using respite or day services may only visit now and then, so staff have to pick up their needs quickly. On top of our standard screening we confirm:
- the children’s barred list as well as the adults’ list for services that also support children or young people
- a driving licence, and any minibus entitlement or training your service requires, for staff who will drive
- moving and handling and medicines training where the service provides personal care
- experience with the groups the service supports, such as older people living with dementia or young adults with a learning disability
Respite and day service shift patterns
Day services keep to weekday daytime hours. Respite services run day and night, often with a sleep-in or waking night depending on the people staying.
- Day to
- Early to or
- Late to
- Waking night or to or
- Sleep-in to A worker sleeps at the service and gets up if someone needs help. The service sets the hours and says what happens if the night is disturbed.
Temporary cover and permanent hiring for respite and day services
Temporary cover
Tell us who is booked in for the dates you need cover, as far as you can share it, and any outings or transport. For regular respite stays we try to send workers the person has met before.
Permanent hiring
For permanent posts we look for people with energy and patience, who enjoy the variety of new faces each week, and who can pick up a care plan quickly.
Questions from respite and day service managers
Can you cover our summer holiday weeks?
Yes, if you tell us early. Holiday weeks are busy for everyone, so we plan them with you well in advance and aim to use the same workers across the weeks.
Do your staff drive a minibus?
Some do. Tell us the licence category and any training your service requires, and we only offer workers who hold them.
Can a worker do a day service shift and then a respite night?
Only if the hours allow proper rest. Workers are normally entitled to 11 hours’ rest between working days, and we plan bookings with that in mind.
Staff for your respite or day service
Call with the dates and the people booked in, or send the vacancy in writing.