Importance of technology in homecare staffing in the UK
In the past, homecare was considered a luxury only a few could enjoy. However, currently, with the advancement and availability of technology, we can see that the era of home healthcare is digitalising in the UK. The demand for homecare services in the UK has increased significantly in the past decade due to the ageing population of the country, which requires more intensive care services to manage complex needs.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also played a vital role in the growing demand for homecare services in the UK. In the five years through 2023–2024, the homecare industry's revenue is projected to increase at a compound annual rate of 1.9% to £5.7 billion, with a projected increase of 1.4% in 2023–24, when the average profit margin is anticipated to reach 3.4%.
When it comes to providing care at home, remote scheduling capabilities can make a significant difference in the experiences of the care workers as they provide homecare services. Thus, the impact of technology on the homecare industry is also significant. For instance, if a patient is not home when a carer arrives or if they do not want visitors, the carer's time has been wasted, and they must be compensated (or at least reimbursed for mileage).
In the current homecare market, where the demand for care workers is increasing and the competition for carers is high, with major health systems even offering signing bonuses, it can be challenging for homecare agencies to operate with fewer care workers. On top of this, add an inefficient process that wastes the time and effort of the care team; then staffing can be even more challenging.
To overcome this, an efficient process of staffing, retention, and scheduling is required, as it ultimately satisfies the carers, patients, and their families. In this article, we will be looking into ways of improving homecare staffing in the UK.
1. Proper and timely shift scheduling:
Homecare agencies can use technologies to schedule shifts, ensure they are properly covered, and coordinate. This process is a daily practise workflow and one of the more time-consuming processes. By digitising this process, homecare agencies can save a lot of time and expenses since the manual is time-consuming and contains inevitable errors. Homecare agencies can simplify their scheduling process by employing an appropriate instrument or piece of software.
Healthcare scheduling software is handy as it helps manage carers' hours properly, avoid overlaps, and ensure last-minute coverage. Moreover, a scheduling tool can help automate the entire scheduling process and make it transparent among a care agency's staff. These softwares help build trust, giving a feeling of complete transparency. In addition, software solutions can improve employee engagement and offer employees a sense of control over their shifts. These types of tools will allow agency carers to swap shifts, accept or deny available shifts, and even request paid time off.
2. Optimising onboarding and training:
The initial hiring of homecare staff is vital for the long-term success of an agency in the UK. As per studies, only a very small percentage of employees are happy with the way their organisation tackles onboarding new staff. This indicates that there is considerable room for process improvement.
Currently, there are many technology-implemented recruitment software solutions and onboarding apps to improve carer morale and build a sense of belonging.
Investigate options such as gamification and interactive virtual experiences to boost the success of homecare agency induction. Thus, a homecare agency can engage their new carers immediately, and they will look forward to their new agency carer job rather than despise it.
Technology can also help homecare agencies design complete training programmes that will effectively prepare agency carers to face the different scenarios they might have to face. Proper carer training will help in job satisfaction, which ultimately leads to improved staff retention rates and prevents burnout among carers, which are common problems faced by agency carers. Proper training will also help improve the quality of care and reduce medication errors.
3. A mobile-first workforce:
Staying up-to-date and having access to real-time information is a crucial aspect, especially for care workers.
For example, one way agency carers get information in real-time on their devices is by investing in healthcare cloud integration software, which all agency carers have access to.
It is best to avoid using Zoom, FaceTime, or WhatsApp. These technological solutions are cost-effective, but they don't have data protection features. In such cases, the sensitive information of clients is at risk.
Furthermore, implementing cloud software organisation-wide helps everyone stay in the loop by maintaining one centralised depository and storage place for data and documentation. With designated access, every carer will have access to real-time information on their device at any time.
4. Streamlining the payroll process:
Another repetitive challenge faced by homecare agencies in the UK is the calculation and processing of payroll for each agency carer, especially for those care workers who work on a shift basis and are paid on an hourly basis. Payroll software can help homecare agencies track the team’s working hours and capture time sheets, overtime, and attendance, resulting in simplified and automated payroll calculations.
With the proper payroll software or tool, homecare agencies can ensure that their care workers are paid promptly and maintain transparency. In addition to being able to view their working hours and time sheets, care workers will have the assurance of receiving appropriate compensation for their work.
Additionally, a payroll tool can help homecare agencies stay compliant with their local tax laws and correctly calculate benefits for each carer. In a nutshell, proper payroll software is not only useful to homecare agencies but also to their carers. These softwares enable homecare agencies to select the agency carer's preferred payment method, review their time worked, view their payment history, and, most importantly, get paid on time.
5. Boost carer engagement:
Employee engagement and employee appreciation are crucial aspects of reducing staff turnover rates and improving retention rates, especially when it comes to filling positions such as carers and homecare aids.
Furthermore, it is more difficult and expensive to hire a new care worker, onboard them, and train them than to maintain the existing carer. When a homecare agency considers care workers in the UK market and the costs needed to find, recruit, and train a new carer, it becomes very clear why employee engagement is crucial in the homecare industry in the UK.
For instance, homecare agencies can boost engagement through different collaborative tools or gamification efforts based on healthy competitions, rewards, badges, leaderboards and similar activities. Additionally, pay attention to the work hours agency carers put in, since burnouts aren’t uncommon in this profession. Maintaining agency carers' physical and mental health is essential for retention in the UK.
If you are looking for a reputable care agency in the UK, come work with Nurses Group Homecare. We assist you in growing and developing in your profession as an agency carer.