My shifts are only 8 hours long- do a mix of days, backs and nights on a 5 week rota.
They can be very very tiring, but I've found they fit in great with the children (mine are 10 & 8, but started shifts when they were 6 & 4).
I think the best part is (depending on your collegues) being able to swap shifts to accomodate school plays/ parents eve's etc without having to use up holidays. It's also easier doing shifts during school holidays than the usual 8-5 and trying to find childcare every day.
It takes a while to get used to nights I think. You'll literally become obsessed with getting some sleep, although you will learn to get by on very little sleep. Though you'll propbably be used to that already with young children! .
I can manage the housework, shopping, domestic things on days shifts, but it all goes to hell on nights. Same amount of hours in the day but feels like alot less.
You need to make sure aswell as getting enough sleep, you get enough relaxing time. Make sure 1 of your days off is a real day off, where all you do is relax and spend time with your family. Although I suppose that can apply to any parent working full time.
My ds1 starts high school next year , and I think over the next couple of years I'm going to try and go back to 'normal' working hours, just so I can get my evenings and weekends back again.
Good luck with the new job