Thank you very much for your help. I think i will give up on trying to fix my current employment and go back to job hunting. With regards to following an ET claim, I have kept copies of all staff rotas and pay slips. Do you think I would need any more evidence to pursue this claim? They wouldnt be able to deny it because the care plans do highlight the times the clients need care. Also, do you think I also have grounds for a breach of contract claim? I am worried zero hours and probation will invalidate it some how. Thanks to everyone I feel much better

Hello everyone. Im looking for some advice regarding my current job. I am a carer and work with elderly people with disabilities. I started work 2 months ago and I am still on probabtion period. I have a zero hours contract, paid hourly at minimum wage and I am expected to do sleeover shifts at the home I work in, which has 3-4 clients. I accepted the job before knowing the shift pattern and was surprised to find I am expected to do 24hour shifts, 12 of which paid at minimum wage and with the other 12 (9pm to 9am) counting as a sleep-in. I am paid 20 pounds for this "sleep-over". Firstly I want to know opinions on whether they are allowed to count 12 hours as a sleep-in. The most shocking here is I actually have duties during the sleep-in! Medication is written down to be administered at 10 pm and some residents are up at 7 waiting to be dressed. I have only been with this agency for a short while, but feel cheated because I was told by my manager (and its in the contract) that any hours worked within this period would be paid on top of sleepover rate, but when I wrote them on my time sheet I was told the contract is only talking about medical emergencies, fires, floods etc. It doesn't. I brought this up a couple of times more but was advised by a "concerned" colleague that I would have reprisals if I insisted too much.. I am really upset over all this and feel exploited. I declined other job offers and now face another couple of months of job hunting with no income if I leave. I am mostly angry that these people appear to work with impunity and I feel worthless as a worker. In your opinion, what is the best thing to do? I have started applying for other jobs but the atmosphere at work is now so poor I may end up having to leave sooner. Sorry for the rant and thank you for your time and help