Night work leaving kids alone

[Rachellilllian]

I have just started a job, it’s a live in position at a school as a nurse. I’m on call at night, so occasionally at night will in the medical centre seeing emergencies overnight. I live in the med centre and I’m a single mum and there is only one other person who lives here with her little boy, it’s a really safe and secure building and I feel comfortable with this. The normal scenario is the poorly kid will be brought to me but very occasionally I may have to pop to a boarding house, maybe a fall downstairs or I had a kid with a sore knee a few weeks ago who couldn’t make it across to me. This makes me anxious to leave my kids, they are 9&11. The lady who lives in the building with me, is a friend and is happy to keep an ear out. I took this job so I could do school runs and have the holidays off and I know in a few years it will be fine. What do people think? I did think I could buy a cheap mobile to leave out for the kids should I need to nip out and they wake.
I stress it’s very rare for me to have to leave the building and I’m literally in the campus across the road but it’s causing me anxiety. I start at 8pm and mine are generally asleep but 8.30-9.. and this has been an amazing job in terms of being a single parent as I’m around every day generally. Thoughts or ideas welcome

Thank you so much everyone for your replies and helpful suggestions.
I feel a lot less anxious, phone is ordered and I’m going to get a little camera for their room so I can check them if I do have to nip out. It’s so rare but be nice to feel safe if I do.

Yes I managed to set the kitchen alarm off cooking 🤦‍♀️. They are really sensitive and fire doors everywhere x

Get a webcam app. Lots of good ones on Amazon.

As long as they have a phone and you leave a written message in a set position if you leave them. It is a case of needs must and it's pretty secure, they may not admit it here but plenty of parents are having to do this by 11/12, and for extended periods, financial reality!. I would recommend having a plan in place for someone, the teacher nearby or other member(s) of staff who you can call to go to check on your kids if for instance you had ti travel with a poorly child to hospital, probably won't happen but an emergency back up plan.

Luckily I don’t ever have to be the one to go to a&e

This sounds like such an amazing job!!

I would tell them if there’s an emergency to knock on the lady’s door and let her know.

As PPs have said a mobile with just your number in is a great idea.

Or even a walky talky/baby monitor.

They are at ages where being left alone for a few minutes isn’t going to cause any issues.
And as there is another adult close by then I would be absolutely fine with it.

Is it a residential school for children with special needs?

I’ve never heard of a teacher living onsite.

Sounds like a perfect job OP . Children will be fine with all the helpful advice you have been given.

Have a sign or symbol, so if you go say you put up a big flower sticker on their bedroom door where they’ll see it when they wake and leave the phone on their bedside table. Then you move it when you are back. So they know you’re gone.
Then go thought some things to do if X happens.

From what you’ve described I think it’s fine. But I agree it may be good to get a mobile for them so they can contact you if needed.

I think it’s fine but I would run through different scenarios with them and what they should do. Obviously let them practice ringing you and your neighbour. Store your number, your neighbours, security and emergency number in the phone.

Sounds ok, walkie talkie or phone for them is a good idea (perhaps walkie talkie, easier for them to use if they wake up in a panic from a nightmare or something)

If there's a fire or something, does the other person that lives in the building have the ability to access your flat to get the children out if they somehow don't wake up to the fire alarm? Obviously go over fire escape procedures with them/do some drills.

this sounds fine to be honest.
It also sounds like your children are probably just as close, if not closer, to a responsible adult they could go to for help, than the other pupils at the school, even when you're not there. Check they know what to do in an emergency (wake the other, get help from neighbour), or if the fire alarm goes off, but otherwise just crack on!