Newborn Care Assistant – Night Shifts

Phoenix Care Staff Ltd; Chorley; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 19,000; Full time

Job summary

Phoenix Care Staff Ltd is seeking a compassionate Newborn Care Assistant to work night shifts in a UK care setting. The role focuses on monitoring families with newborns, ensuring safety, and maintaining accurate records.

The successful candidate will have at least six months’ experience in care, strong observation skills, and the ability to follow safeguarding procedures. DBS Update Service is preferred, with reliability and professionalism during night hours expected.

Qualifications

• At least six months’ experience in a UK care setting.
• Ability to work night shifts with professionalism.
• Enhanced DBS check registered on the DBS Update Service preferred.
• Excellent written communication and accurate record-keeping.

Responsibilities

• Monitor family interactions and identify strengths, needs and risks.
• Maintain safety and safeguarding using service policies.
• Intervene and escalate unsafe newborn care practices per procedures.
• Keep detailed, objective shift notes and care records in a timely manner.
• Support families with newborn care guidance including safe sleep.

Skills

Compassionate care

Observation skills

Record-keeping

Safeguarding awareness

Written communication

Follow care plans

Confidentiality

Reliability and punctuality

Job description

Job Vacancy: Newborn Care Assistant – Night Shifts

Hourly Rate: £12.71–£13.50 per hour, dependent on experience

Shift Pattern: Nights

Essential Requirement: At least 6 months’ experience working in a UK care setting

Preferred: Previous newborn or childcare experience and an Enhanced DBS check registered on the Update Service.

About the Role:

We are seeking a compassionate, observant, and responsible Newborn Care Assistant to join our team on night shifts, supporting families as they adjust to caring for their newborn babies.

The role involves monitoring and supporting new families within a care setting, observing their ability to provide safe and appropriate care for their babies, and ensuring the wellbeing and safety of everyone at the service.

The successful candidate will play an important role in promoting safe newborn care, maintaining accurate records, identifying potential concerns, and intervening appropriately when care practices do not meet the required standards.

This position requires a high level of vigilance, professionalism, sound judgement, and the ability to remain calm and responsive throughout night shifts.

Key Responsibilities:

• Monitor family interactions: Observe how parents and family members care for their newborn babies, identifying their strengths, support needs, and any potential risks.
• Maintain safety and safeguarding: Use designated security and monitoring systems in accordance with service policies, safeguarding procedures, and privacy requirements.
• Intervene when necessary: Recognise and respond promptly to unsafe or inappropriate newborn care practices, providing guidance and escalating concerns in line with established procedures.
• Maintain detailed, objective, and timely notes of observations, family interactions, incidents, interventions, and concerns identified during the shift.
• Support families in following appropriate newborn care guidance, including safe handling, feeding, settling, and safe sleep practices.
• Identify and report concerns: Recognise signs of risk, distress, or unmet care needs and report these promptly to the appropriate senior staff member.
• Follow policies and procedures: Adhere to safeguarding, confidentiality, health and safety, infection prevention, and organisational policies.
• Provide clear handovers: Communicate relevant observations, concerns, and updates to colleagues and management to ensure continuity of care.
• Remain vigilant overnight: Maintain a proactive and attentive approach throughout the night, responding appropriately to changing circumstances and emerging risks.

Essential Requirements:

Applicants must have at least six months of experience working in a UK care setting to be considered for this position.Candidates must also demonstrate:

• A caring, patient, and professional approach when working with families and newborn babies.
• Strong observation skills and the ability to recognise potential risks.
• Excellent written communication and accurate record-keeping skills.
• The ability to follow care plans, safeguarding procedures, and organisational policies.
• Confidence in raising concerns and taking appropriate action when unsafe care is observed.
• Reliability, punctuality, and the ability to work independently during night shifts.
• Respect for confidentiality, privacy, dignity, and professional boundaries.
• Desirable Experience and Checks- Previous experience working with newborn babies, infants, children, or families.
• Experience in maternity services, residential family assessment settings, childcare, or relevant care environments.
• Knowledge of newborn care, safe sleep practices, safeguarding, and child protection.
• Experience completing observations, incident reports, or professional care records.
• An Enhanced DBS check registered on the DBS Update Service is preferred.
• Applicants who already hold an eligible Enhanced DBS certificate and are subscribed to the Update Service are particularly encouraged to apply.
• Any required DBS checks will be subject to the role's eligibility and applicable recruitment requirements.