Back to policing but this time, as a mum

[oinker]

Anyone out there policing and working shifts?
Left work 19 months ago and will be going back in the new year. Am already worrying about what shifts to opt for.
I'm planning on returning And doing two 10 hour shifts or two 12 hr shifts!
Have considered working two night shifts? Am I nuts?
DS is 3 and DD is1!
DH already works shifts.....
Any ideas?

I suppose it depends what your force shift pattern is and how many hours it equates it over a calender week. The minimum you can apply for is 16 hours per calendar week.

My force has the 6 on 4 off pattern so I work a bizzare pattern where I sometimes work the first half of the set so two days and one after and then sometimes the latter half so one after and two nights. This equates to 20 hours a calendar week.

I chose this as DH works away a lot so my work is weighted towards weekends.

It's worth noting that they will expect you to work a range of shifts eg: not all days or afters and you will be required to review it every 6 months. If it is decided that what you are working isn't compatible with what they want then you will be asked to review it.

Also, what childcare do you have? My DD goes to nursery on my day shifts and before and after night shifts so that I can sleep. Some nurseries do offer flexible patterns so they can just attend when you need them to.

If you are on the 6 on 4 off pattern then it is a 10 week repeating pattern that you need to look at.

Also, if your force have regular training days you'll need to include these in your pattern.

It's difficult to say what shifts I will be working as I have no idea what post I will be going back to.
My last post was mainly between hours 0630 - 1900 and M-F with occasional evening or weekend work. My post has been filled as I have been off for over a year.
I have no idea where I will be going or what job I will be doing other than policing.
I was in a specialist post prior to leave!
Am starting to get quite nervous about what it is they will offer me.
Am considering two night shifts.,, am I nuts?

I doubt you'll be allowed to just work two night shifts as you must work a range of shifts. Also, including a training day it would only work out at 15 hours per week so it isn't enough hours.

Give HR a call and find out where they are planning on putting you. I would guess it would be front line as that is generally where they put everyone that returns after a period of time off. You might get lucky though!

Working night shifts aren't so bad. It's just that you need to sleep before and after so, essentially, for the sake of two shifts you wipe yourself out for nearly 4 days.

You night be better working days or evenings instead.

It's hard to decide until you know where you will be and what the possible shifts will be. Bear in mind you can deviate start and finish times if needed.

From what I remember other mums in my force do the same shift continuously. They deviate from earlies, lates and nights.
I was planing on doing two 12 hr shifts.

Oh flip.... This is going to be difficult to negotiate. Problem I have is we are a national force and though I'm placed in a big city they can locate me anywhere within the city... It's the uncertainties that bug me! HR won't entertain until my career break ends in November.
I put this out on MN to try and get a feel
Of what other officers were doing.

DH has now mentioned we try looking into getting a nanny or au pair. Going to have do some thinking...
Thanks for getting back to me.

Meant to say they DON'T deviate from earlies, lates and nights

I would speak to your HR and tell them you need to arrange child care so you need to know what your are doing, especially foi your DH works shifts aswell.

Really for them to agree to what you want you really have to give something to them IYSWIM - work a range of shifts inlcuding at peak policing times .

Nothing wrong with working nights - I did it and I often had to stay up until nursery opened and then get to bed.

You will have to fit into your force / teams shift pattern really .

I amanged the training dats by either my DH taking annaual leave or booking extra day at nursery .

When I went back to work again after having no 2 my children were 2.5 and 7 months .