My understanding is care work based and refers to staff who are employed to work wherever there is a cover requirement. This means that they may "float" between different locations with basically no notice, perhaps to cover sickness or holidays.
"Floating" staff I suppose.
Summary:-
peripatetic - wayfaring, Aristotelean, Aristotelian
Detailed description:-
3 Dictionary Entries found
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1) s :traveling especially on foot
Example: peripatetic country preachers
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2) n :a follower of Aristotle or an adherent of Aristotelianism
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3) n :a person who walks from place to place
A common use of this description is for teachers who teach a specliast subject - music for example - and travel to different schools for specific lessons on specific days.
I have come across two definitions
1) Walking about or from place to place; traveling on foot.
Peripatetic
2) Of or relating to the philosophy or teaching methods of Aristotle, who conducted discussions while walking about in the Lyceum of ancient Athens.
It is possible that these two definitions can be linked by peripatos; a covered walk at the lyceum at Athens where it is alledged Aristotle lectured.
And we may guess that Aristotle's walkway was around the edge or boundary of the garden: 'peri ' as in 'perimeter' ( which literally means ' around edge measure). Peripatetic seems to mean 'wandering, going anywhere ', nowadays but must originally have meant going around a circuit or pre-arranged course.