Innovate UK has awarded £140,000 to a new tool developed by an offshoot of tech outfit Florence that helps care providers more safely staff their services.
The Staff Smarter software helps managers make more efficient use of existing staff and regularly-used bank staff, making filling shifts easier.
Staff receive open shift notifications as texts to their phone, which they can accept or reject with a click, speeding up time taken to fill rota gaps.
This has the added benefit of increasing continuity of care while decreasing Covid-19 risks to residents and staff alike.
Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £191m to fund single and collaborative research and development projects that stimulate the UK’s recovery from Covid-19.
“In these difficult times we have seen the best of British business innovation. The pandemic is not just a health emergency but one that impacts society and the economy,” Innovate UK executive chair Dr Ian Campbell.
“Staff Smarter, along with every initiative Innovate UK has supported through this fund, is an important step forward in driving sustainable economic development. Each one is also helping to realise the ambitions of hard-working people,” he added.
The Innovate UK funding has helped Staff Smarter to be free to use for a limited period. More information can be found at www.staffsmarter.co.uk.
