The Most Difficult Shift Patterns to Recruit For
Finding exceptional support workers isn't just about offering a competitive hourly rate. Sometimes, it's the shift pattern itself that determines whether a role attracts dozens of great candidates... or deafening silence.
Here are four of the biggest recruitment challenges we often face.
1. The Split Shift
The day starts early, finishes mid-morning, then starts all over again later. Great for providing support around school or therapy schedules—but not always great for candidates. Split shifts often mean travelling to and from work twice a day, increasing both time and expense. If a split shift is unavoidable, consider paying travel time, reimbursing travel costs or offering an enhanced hourly rate to make the role more attractive.
2. The Weekly Surprise
Some variety keeps life interesting, but rotas that change each week can make it difficult for candidates to commit. Without a consistent schedule, many can't take on a second job or make regular family commitments, reducing the pool of applicants considerably. Where possible, predictable rotas are far easier to recruit for.
3. The Very Part-Time Role
Very short shifts can struggle to attract experienced candidates. As a rule of thumb, we recommend a minimum shift length of three hours. By the time someone has travelled to work, completed the shift and travelled home again, anything shorter can simply become uneconomical. As with a split shift, we would recommend an uplift in the rate for a very short shift.
4. Days... and Nights?
We appreciate that it can be helpful for the support worker to initially work some days as well as nights to get to know the client, but… imagine working a couple of day shifts, followed by a waking night, then back onto days again. Most of us would struggle! Support workers generally choose to work either days or nights because it fits their lifestyle and body clock. Mixing the two can make it much harder to recruit and, over time, may affect well-being and performance.
A Little Planning Goes a Long Way
We completely understand that support needs should always come first, and sometimes complex schedules are unavoidable. However, if there's flexibility when designing a package, considering how attractive the shift pattern will be to candidates can make a significant difference to recruitment success. A small adjustment to the rota can often lead to a much larger pool of experienced applicants—and ultimately, a more stable support team.
Need advice on structuring a package to maximise your recruitment success? Our team is always happy to help.