As the colder months approach, health and social care organisations face the daunting challenge of maintaining safe and efficient staffing levels amidst winter pressures. The increased demand for services, coupled with the impact of seasonal illnesses like flu and COVID-19, can strain already stretched resources. This makes it crucial for care organisations to adopt proactive staffing strategies to ensure patient care remains uncompromised.
At Florence, we understand these challenges all too well. With over 100,000 fully-vetted nurses, carers, and support workers nationwide, we provide solutions that help healthcare providers weather the storm and keep their staffing costs under control.
Daniel Kazmi, longstanding Business Development Manager at Florence gives his top tips for how your organisation can prepare for the winter surge:
1. Plan in advance for staffing needs
One of the most effective ways to mitigate staffing shortages during peak times is through early planning. Predicting winter demands, based on historical data and current trends, allows managers to map out their staffing requirements well in advance. Start by reviewing historical winter admissions, sickness rates, and staff absences from previous years to get a clear understanding of where the gaps may appear.
By anticipating the surge, you can align your recruitment strategies early and avoid last-minute scrambles to fill shifts. Florence’s platform helps you forecast staffing needs and offers access to your own permanent and bank staff first, ensuring that your internal workforce is fully utilised before resorting to external hires.
2. Prioritise internal bank and permanent staff
Relying on agency staff during winter can quickly escalate costs and make budget control difficult. To avoid this, ensure that you first fill rota gaps with your own permanent and bank staff. This not only reduces reliance on costly agency workers but also fosters a sense of team continuity, as your staff are more familiar with your processes and patient needs.
Florence provides an easy-to-use system that allows you to quickly identify available shifts and fill them with your existing workforce, by communicating with them all in one place about vacancies. This empowers you to manage staffing effectively without incurring unnecessary expenses.
3. Leverage Florence’s network of vetted professionals
When internal staff are unavailable, Florence can step in with our extensive pool of over 100,000 fully-vetted healthcare professionals, including nurses, carers, and support workers. Our platform allows you to find qualified workers quickly, filling any remaining gaps in your rota with ease.
Our nationwide coverage means that no matter where your facility is located, we can provide highly-skilled staff who are ready to step in, ensuring you maintain safe staffing levels and meet the rising demand during winter.
4. Source specialist workers via other staffing agencies
There may be instances where specialist skills are required, such as domestic or kitchen staff during the winter season, and Florence now allows you to connect with other staffing agencies. By doing this, you can access workers across multiple agencies, Florence and your own bank staff!
Partnering with Florence gives you the flexibility to source the right people at the right time.
5. Maintain control of agency costs
During the winter months, agency costs can spiral out of control if not carefully managed. Many organisations end up paying inflated rates in the scramble to fill last-minute shifts. Florence’s platform provides transparency and control over your agency spend. We offer competitive rates, allowing you to better manage your costs while still accessing high-quality care staff.
Additionally, by planning ahead and filling shifts with your own staff first, you reduce the dependency on external agencies, ensuring that your budget remains under control throughout the challenging winter period.
Ensure your staffing success this winter – Talk to Florence today
Winter pressures don’t have to overwhelm your workforce. By planning ahead, utilising your own team, and accessing Florence’s vast network of fully-vetted healthcare professionals, you can keep your staffing costs down while ensuring safe care delivery.
Let Florence help you manage your workforce and keep your facility running smoothly this winter.
Contact us today to learn how we can support your staffing needs and reduce costs during the seasonal surge.
About the author:
Daniel is one of Florence’s longstanding Business Development Managers. He specialises in forging impactful partnerships with care organisations across the UK, helping to deliver tailored staffing solutions that meet the unique needs of each provider. Passionate about supporting the care sector, Daniel is dedicated to advancing technology-driven, person-centered approaches that streamline staffing and improve outcomes.
