Shift handover & Change of key responsibilities

Purpose

This procedure describes the actions to be taken at shift handover.

Responsibility

All staff

Process

The outgoing shift should ensure that all information in respect of:

• Outstanding call outs.
• Outstanding referrals from incidents that have taken place during the shift.
• Any outstanding administration work.
• Any issues remaining are passed over to the next shift and recorded in the Careline calendar with a note placed on the customer’s Careline record.

The outgoing shift should also ensure that:

• The desk is cleared of unnecessary documents and items.
• The Careline emergency vehicles must be cleared of any rubbish, food or dirty gloves used during the shift.
• All keys have been returned to the key room (where applicable) and mobile phones to the Control Centre.
• Any outstanding units to be cleaned or sent away for repair are dealt with accordingly. Please see: the Local Operational Procedures
• The incoming shift should be informed verbally of the messages recorded in the calendar at the handover and should ask the outgoing shift for clarification, where required.

The incoming shift must ensure that:

• The emergency phones are ready for use (i.e. that they are available and charged). With a supply of Call Log Sheets ready for use during the shift.
• They must also check that the keys that have been signed out in the key book are back and on the correct hook in the key safe.
• The Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are checked & the key book signed to record that they have been checked and are fully charged.
• The staff member driving during the shift must comply with the Road Safety Act 2006. The vehicle check must be completed with any defects recorded. The equipment check list must also be completed & signed. Ensure that the vehicle defect log book remains in the vehicle.
• When all handover arrangements have been completed and all rostered staff for the incoming shift have arrived, outgoing shift members may leave the premises.

NOTE:  Where staff on the outgoing shift are attending a call out that may continue for some time, the incoming shift may phone them to see if they need them to take over.  If required, the incoming shift should travel to that call out to complete the handover to allow the outgoing staff to return to base.

Change of responsibility for keys

Staff taking over the call out to record responsibility for the keys by signing them out in the key book, before leaving the office to take over from colleagues.

Outgoing shift returning to the office to ensure that the keys signed out previously have been signed back in and that colleagues have taken responsibility for them by signing them out.