Why Digital Rostering Is Essential for the Modern NDIS Provider

Digital rostering can help NDIS providers reduce no-shows and save hours of time. Discover the benefits, along with how to make the most of rostering tools.

Digital Rostering Can Revolutionise Your Disability Support Business

Rostering software has a crucial role to play in helping NDIS providers adapt to the challenges of running a disability support business in the digital age. 

ShiftCare user Abilities NQ tells us, “We’ve reduced the time it takes to roster dramatically, only 52 hours compared to our previous 400 hours of rostering. Huge savings… and now we have been able to confidently increase our support staff and participant capacity without a drastic increase in our administrative staff.”

Key Benefits of Digital Rostering

Let’s take a deeper look at why digital rostering is essential for the modern NDIS provider.

1. Time Savings and Improved Efficiencies

With digital rostering, your admin team can roster more efficiently. They’ll be able to create recurring shifts and team shifts so that the roster is always already half-done. 

Forget poring over spreadsheets to see who is available when: with rostering software, you’ll get an at-a-glance understanding of your team’s availability. The right digital tools will simplify rostering.

Integration with your time-tracking, accounting and payroll software will also help you save hours each week. Your team will be able to auto-generate payroll and NDIS invoices based on the shift records.

It’s not just your admin team who will find they work more efficiently, either. You can use your scheduling software to filter staff by distance and hone in on individual support workers’ rosters. It will be easier to spot and fix issues such as city-centre travel scheduled during rush hour.

You’ll be able to build a shift schedule that helps reduce the time your staff spend in transit and, instead, maximises their time with clients.

2. Fewer Rostering Errors

Reduce the risk of no-shows or over-scheduling staff by switching to digital rostering. You can invite your support workers to set their preferred availability via your rostering software, so you can avoid scheduling someone at a time when they won’t be able to work. 

Drag-and-drop rostering software also reduces the risk of human error in rostering. Your admin team won’t be able to select an unavailable team member. And, thanks to it all being done digitally, they won’t accidentally write down the wrong shift date or time, either.

Once you’ve created your roster, just click publish. Your staff can then access an up-to-date, digital roster at any time, so they’ll know exactly when and where their shifts are.

3. Easier Information Sharing

A digital schedule makes it easier to share relevant client information, especially if you have all-in-one NDIS software that connects your rosters with client documentation. 

Your team will be able to select their shift from the roster and then access all the details they need, from the client’s address to their healthcare records and support plan.

What’s more, they can attach their updated digital records to the roster, from new progress notes to receipts for petrol and other expenses.

4. Finding Cover Made Simple

NDIS providers need to act quickly when a support worker calls in sick. Fortunately, with a digital roster, you won’t have to spend hours calling your team to find cover. 

Not only will your scheduling software show you your team members’ availability, but you can use a job board and SMS notifications to advertise shifts. Set parameters for who can apply for the shift, then publish it on your software’s job board and wait for your team members to claim it. 

You’ll cut down on your workload while ensuring hiccup-free support service delivery for your clients. And, you’ll give your support workers greater control over their schedule.

5. Better Reporting and Compliance

Accurate shift records are crucial for both NDIS and SCHADS compliance. Fortunately, digital rostering makes reporting easy. You’ll have an instant digital record that can be linked to staff clock-in times, NDIS invoices and payroll.

You can also use your NDIS software to auto-generate reports based on your rosters and shift records, so you have a deep understanding of your labour costs, service cancellations and no-show rates.

A Schedule that Meets Everyone's Needs

With digital rostering tools, it’s easier to build shifts that suit your clients’ and your support workers’ preferred schedules. Roster flexibility is a major factor in support worker retention and recruitment. Your NDIS rostering software will give your team more control over their work-life balance.

How NDIS Providers Can Make the Most of Digital Scheduling Software

Get the most value out of your disability care provider software with these three tips:

1. Carefully select the best NDIS software for your needs. Make sure it’s easy for your team to use. We recommend asking for a free trial so you can test it out fully before you commit.

2. Look for integration with your payroll and accounting software, as well as NDIS integrations.

3. Digital rostering saves you time, but it’s also important to maintain a human connection. Make sure your support workers know who to contact if they have a problem with their roster.

Make the Switch to Digital Rostering and Watch Your Business Thrive

Digital rostering can help NDIS providers improve service delivery and support their team of support workers. What’s more, it can do this while also reducing the workload.

ShiftCare’s NDIS software has drag-and-drop rostering so you can take control of your shift schedules. Support workers can set their availability and view their shift details via a mobile app. Plus, they can bid on new shifts via the job board. And you can use the per-client, per-shift and per-worker views of the roster to make sure that it really does meet everyone’s needs.

Our clients find that they can reduce the time they spend on admin tasks like rostering and invoicing by up to 90%. Discover how much time you can save. Try ShiftCare for free.