Solving Cambrdgeshire Fire & Rescue Service’s inefficient rostering problem
The Problem
Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service employs over 300 full-time staff across multiple locations and rosters. This meant managing multiple staff rosters to keep track of key personnel. It was a difficult and complex process, which involved lots of manual planning. No small feat! Despite best efforts, leave and unforeseen sick days created gaps in staffing levels that could only be resolved by phone calls, last minute juggling of resources, and an ever-expanding paper trail. It was highly inefficient.
Staff availability was further complicated because the different rosters had different governing rules. Annual leave, training, sickness rules and overtime entitlements varied. This resulted in an inability to accurately manage and monitor both staff shortfalls and cost overspends. Most importantly, the organisation didn’t know whether it had sufficient staff to ensure that emergency vehicles staff were available throughout the 24 hour period.
The Challenge
Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service needed a way to minimise their roster administration tasks and to simplify the entire process. They needed a system that the organisation could rely on to manage and monitor, in real-time, their staffing requirements and could interface with the other systems already in place.
The Solution
Gartan Roster was adopted by Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service and has been successful in accurately planning and recording staff work time. It has dramatically reduced administration and makes the day-to-day running of multiple rosters at multiple locations much, much easier. Crucially, Roster can accommodate mobile and online access. Managers have easier access to the most accurate and up-to-date information they need to monitor costs and make informed decisions.
Leave, absences and shift changes are monitored 24/7 and staffing shortfalls are immediately flagged. Requesting and approving leave is easier for both staff and managers. The organisation can now manage both planned and unplanned overtime, including different pay rates, and the overtime is subject to a more robust and efficient approvals process. In addition, Gartan Roster has numerous eye-catching features such as an automated alerting facility that tells users when employee skills need to be refreshed. All in all, Gartan Roster is the ‘David’ who took down the ‘Goliath’ of multiple roster administration.
Here’s what Gary Mitchley, Station Manager, Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service had to say about Gartan.
“We continue to enjoy working with Gartan and we thank them for their flexibility and continued commitment to ensure CFRS have a quality product.”
Contact us for information on how Gartan Roster can help your organisation.
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