The findings of the Government’s latest report on the adult social care workforce highlight the ongoing challenges we face as a sector. Issues such as pay, employment conditions and workforce stability are driving dissatisfaction and sector exits. While some of these challenges require policy reform, digital transformation offers care providers immediate, tangible ways to improve working conditions and staff retention.
At CoolCare, we believe technology should make life easier for care home staff, enabling them to focus on providing high-quality care while also benefiting from fairer, more flexible employment conditions.
This includes:
1. Making shift management fairer and easier
The unpredictability of shift-based work is a major source of stress for care workers,
especially those on zero-hour contracts. Rostering and shift management tools allow staff to easily see available shifts and pick up extra hours with minimal admin hassle. This level of transparency ensures that work opportunities are allocated fairly, reducing frustration and improving engagement.
2. Prioritising care home staff over agencies
High agency reliance can destabilise teams and contribute to staff dissatisfaction. With workforce management software, care homes can prioritise their bank staff for open shifts before turning to agencies. This not only improves continuity of care but also strengthens team relationships and boosts morale. Our customers see 80% of their homes recording no agency usage by using digital rostering effectively.
3. Earned Wage Access for financial wellbeing
Financial insecurity is a major factor in workforce stress. Studies show that offering Earned Wage Access can increase staff retention in care homes by up to 73%. Through our partnerships with FlexEarn, care homes can provide this essential financial flexibility, helping staff manage unexpected expenses and reducing the likelihood of them seeking employment elsewhere.
4. Reducing admin burden with digital tools
Excessive paperwork and inefficient processes add to job dissatisfaction. Biometric clock-in systems simplify attendance tracking, ensuring staff are paid accurately for the hours they work without the need for manual timesheets. Additionally, virtual noticeboards and digital reception systems keep staff informed, reducing communication gaps and enhancing workplace experience.
Workforce challenges can’t be solved overnight, but real-time data analytics allow care home managers to proactively identify trends in staff satisfaction, shift uptake and financial wellbeing. By using digital tools to anticipate and prevent workforce issues, care providers can build a more resilient, satisfied, and motivated team.
This report reinforces what the sector already knows: change is needed to keep people in social care roles. While policy adjustments are crucial, technology provides solutions that can be implemented today. By embracing digital workforce management tools, care homes can create fairer, more flexible, and financially supportive workplaces – key to reducing sector exits and ensuring quality care.
