Duties of Wardens
General (Code of Conduct)
The Winter Shelter is run by and is the responsibility of St Peter’s and St James’ Parochial Church Council. Wardens’ behaviour must be sympathetic to the faith basis of the shelter.
Many of the clients using the shelter will have problems with substance abuse, antisocial behaviour and offending. Wardens are expected to model appropriate behaviour.
Clients may need to be managed firmly and fairly, but they should be treated with respect. The consequences of a particular action (eg being excluded for being abusive to a warden) can be explained to them, and constructive comment on action that they should or should not take is appropriate, but general condemnation (eg ‘its all your fault anyway’) is not.
Wardens must be familiar with the rules, policies and procedures of the shelter, and they must know how to access support (ambulance, police, on-call advice etc)
Wardens must take reasonable care in the completing of client files, and the updating of records.
All client information is confidential and must not be passed to a third party unless there is a pressing reason to do so. For example, any information regarding a client’s health should be given to ambulance staff attending the shelter.
Wardens are expected to arrive in time to catch up with the events of the past few nights before the shelter opens, and to stay until the shelter closes in the morning. If this is not possible, or a warden is unable to work for any reason they must let Andy Butterfill know (01432 269163, 07866 704892) as soon as possible so that cover can be arranged.
During the night one warden must be ready to deal with any events which occur. The other warden may rest or sleep if they are able to do so. Wardens will normally share the waking during the night.
Wardens must co-ordinate their activities with those of the other wardens and volunteers.
Wardens must inform a member of the steering committee (by telephone, text or e-mail etc) of any serious incidents or matters requiring urgent attention.
Physical Attributes
In order to perform their duties, wardens need to be reasonably fit, able to move quickly in an emergency, and able to get up quickly if resting at night.
Safety
The wardens are responsible for the safety of themselves, volunteers, clients and the building.
Wardens must be proactive in looking out for situations which could escalate into a disturbance, and intervening to reduce the tension. They must also be alert to the possibility of theft from other clients, wardens and volunteers, and of Church property
In the face of the rare threat of actual violence wardens should first attempt to remove people at risk away from the situation or person posing the threat.
In the much commoner situation of verbal abuse the warden must react in such a way as to reduce rather than inflame the tension.
Vulnerable Adults
Despite the fact that clients may abuse others, they are also vulnerable to abuse themselves. Wardens must be alert to spot and stop bullying, intimidation or theft from clients.
The shelter has a vulnerable adults policy which in turn depends upon the Church’s vulnerable adults policy.
Suspected or observed abuse of clients must be reported to a member of the steering committee as soon as possible
Record Keeping
Wardens must consult the night book, client files and other records before, or at the beginning of their shift, so that they are aware of key information.
Wardens must write a brief summary of the events of their shift, including brief notes, if necessary, in the ‘Must Know Book’ so that wardens working subsequent shifts can rapidly catch up with what has been happening.
In the evening on entry
One warden is posted at the entrance to admit the clients one by one.
Inspect baggage and ask to empty/ show what is in pockets—looking for alcohol. Also look for cans or bottles have been hidden in pockets, up sleeves etc; clients should not be frisked.
Alcohol is confiscated, labelled with the name of the client and the level of liquid in the bottle, and locked in the cleaner’s cupboard overnight to be returned as the client leaves next morning. If the client refuses to give up the alcohol then entry is refused
The client then goes to the warden’s desk.
One warden mans the desk in the warden’s room to:
- Record in the night book the names of people who have previously been to the shelter and had all their paperwork completed.
- Complete the assessment form and confidentiality waiver with each person attending the shelter for the first time.
- Inform the client of the rules of the shelter.
Other Evening Tasks
These can be done by a warden or delegated to a volunteer.
Each guest is them given a sleeping bag and pillow from a box which is labelled with his name. The box is kept in the coffee room and no other items apart from toothbrush and toothpaste is kept in the box. He is also given a camp bed.
Before the door is opened place the food box in the kitchen and put out on the table in the hall:-
Mugs, milk, tea, coffee, sugar, plastic spoons cup-a- soups. This job may also be also delegated to the volunteer. It is best to put small amounts out in the containers provided, and fill up during the evening. If the containers become dirty then use clean dishes and wash the containers.Again this job can be delegated to the volunteer.
Open the small hatch and turn the urn towards the hall so the men can make their own drinks.
Give out towels and shower gel if the men want a shower/wash. Offer a bag with toothbrush and toothpaste.
Laundry.
Laundry is the responsibility of the waking warden.
Watch each man fully empty each pocket of each garment before accepting any item for washing. Do not let anyone put clothes in the box without showing you they have emptied the pockets—if you find clothes like this in the box hold the box out for the guest to take back the clothes and empty the pockets in front of you as you watch. This is really important to prevent needles in the laundry and needlestick injuries.
Bedding
Please wash and dry used sleeping bags, and pillowcases after guests have left.
All pillowcases to be changed once a week, even if a guest has only been in one night before. I will allocate this job to the evening volunteer.
Night time patrols.(see also Night Safety Policy)
Lights should be out at 11pm at the latest
The drinks should be tidied away into the kitchen, the small hatch closed and locked and the kitchen should be locked at 11pm.
The door to the main hall can be closed. After the lights are out at The waking warden will check on the women upstairsat least every hour, and record this on the sheet in the night book. Going part way up the stairs and listening for sounds of disturbance is sufficient. Checks should be made at irregular intervals so that the women will not know when to expect somebody to check. The main hall is covered by CCTV, so there is no need to go to the hall unless there is a particular reason to do so. However, a periodic entry should be made in the night book that all is well.
Night book
At the end of the night the warden will record any events, disturbances, messages for the men, and any warnings or exclusions given, in the night book and date and sign the record.
Morning
The waking warden will wake the clients at 7am. and put out drinks as in the evening.
The men return their camp beds and bedding to the warden’s room. Women’s beds remain upstairs, but they also return their bedding to the warden’s room. The warden puts the sleeping bag and pillow into each guest’s box. Toothbrush and toothpaste in the plastic bag provided may also be kept in the box. No other items are to be placed in the box.
All guests are to leave the building by 8am.
Cleaning
The wardens and morning volunteer share this.
Wash, dry and put away cutlery and crockery. Return coffee tea sugar soups to the food box and lock the box in the large white cupboard in the wardens’/coffee room.
Sweep the hall and kitchen.
Mop the main, hall, kitchen, toilets and laundry room.
Clean basins and shower tray, and toilet seat. Put toilet cleaner down toilet and in urinals.
Empty all rubbish that is not recyclable into a black sack and place in the bins outside.
If there is time sweep the path outside Church house.
Adopted by steering group 18/01/2016
Updated April 2016