PRACTICAL GUIDE / 05
A shift handover checklist for small teams.
A good handover is short, specific and attached to the right shift. Use this checklist to pass on what changed without making the next person search through old messages.
Include the five things that matter
State who is next, when they start and where they need to be.
List what is unfinished and what “done” looks like.
Call out a customer, delivery, repair or safety detail that needs attention.
Note swaps, absences or a coverage adjustment.
Keep a short note about keys, stock, equipment or the room.
Link to the one published rota instead of attaching another copy.
Keep scheduling and handover connected
A handover cannot repair an unclear rota. Make the shift time, role and person obvious first, then add the small amount of context the next person needs.
Use one current answer
When a last-minute change happens, update the schedule and the handover together. Shift Helper is designed to keep the owner review and the published answer close to one another.