Awake or asleep on the overnights

The other day I was having a wonderful argument (yes, there is such a thing) with a couple of other Child and Youth Care people on the merits of “awake” staff versus “asleep” staff on the overnights in residential programs. The truth is (for this is a place for confessions) I had forgotten that there are actually two sides to this debate. For so long now (it seems sometimes more like soooo long) I have been personally convinced of the validity of my own belief about whether staff should be awake or asleep, that when the discussion first started I was somewhat taken aback. It took me a moment or two to realize that I was coming to this debate with a very strong bias, and another few moments to even open up to the exchange of ideas. (Well, I’m not sure how “open” I really was, but I did listen.)

You know how it is. Someone says something that is in contradiction to a belief you hold, and you automatically assume that they are wrong, out of touch, behind the times, or just plain crazy. We frequently associate this kind of reaction with the young but those of us who have aging twinkles in our eyes are just as guilty.

However, the people with whom I was having this debate were not lunatics. They were serious, experienced, articulate, and committed Child and Youth Care professionals. And they made excellent points in support of their position. (Obviously I thought my points were better, but that’s just what happens when we defend a belief.) So, I thought I might share some of these two perspectives, just to see if we can stimulate a discussion on CYC-Net or in some other forum. I also want to do this because I believe that all our decisions, beliefs and values should be challenged from time to time.

So, here, in summary form, are four of the points from each side of this debate.

In favour of “awake” night staff:

Young people feel safer knowing someone is watching over them “no one can get at them to hurt them.
Staff can monitor, and be witness for, each other “enhancing both young person and staff safety.
Attending to the overnight behaviours is equally important to attending to the daytime behaviours “sleep disturbance is significant.
Staff can do other things as well “use the resources you have effectively.

In favour of “asleep” night staff:

Young people feel safer when there is no-one “prowling around" “sleeping people don’t abuse you.
Having someone awake all night is not “normal” “and the youth are going to return to a “normal” world.
It is less stressful on the body and mind “shift work is hard enough.
Staff are refreshed in the morning to attend well to the youth “we aren’t very alert when we have been awake all night.

Now, I am not hoping that a reader is going to point out the “right answer” “if in fact there is one. Rather I am just wishing that we all think about every thing we do from time to time so that we don’t behave in a certain way just “because we have always done it this way”. After all, this is the way our programs become stale. The unchallenged thought soon becomes just a habit.

I would be interested in other peoples” opinions. And if the two people I was debating with in Dundalk would care to get in touch, we can continue the discussion, and correct the errors in my reporting of their position. I do promise to report on any other “pros and cons” which people might care to send me.

The end of the year, in some parts of the world, holds significance for youth, families and staff. If this is so where you work, we would love to hear about plans in your program: residential, community, school, out-reach or other.

Thom