NHS HIGHLAND INTEGRATED STAFF BANK
CHANGE TO BOOKING SYSTEM APRIL 2017
This is a very exciting time for not only the Bank office but also for all staff working on the Bank within NHS Highland.
NHS Highland Integrated Staff Bank office will shortly be moving to a new system to book, request and authorise payment of bank shifts. This system will be intranet and internet based so that it can be accessed by departments who do not have full access to the intranet.
The new system is called ‘BankStaff’ and you will continue to book shifts directly entering details right up to a minute before shifts commence and request the bank fills shifts as you do now, it will not be possible to book shifts retrospectively (after the bank shift has taken place). Timesheets will be completed electronically on ‘BankStaff’. You will also have the facility to generate bank reports for your own departments.
The major change will be for bank workers who wish to access ‘StaffBank’ on the intranet. They will be able to see their own details and directly book into bank shifts available to them. They will also be able to enter availability and unavailability and view a personal diary with shifts booked also the timesheets with dates that they have been approved. The bank admin team will of course still provide a service for those who wish to phone to book shifts.
The new system will become active in April 2017. The Bank team want to keep you up to date with what is happening and we will do this by putting information onto the NHSH Internet and Intranet Pages and e-mail information bulletins via the Lead Nurses. Please speak to your fellow Bank colleagues to ensure they are receiving this information. If they are unaware of the changes please could you forward the information to your Bank colleague or ask them to contact the Staff Bank directly to find out why they have not received the text.
We have also prepared a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) sheet. You are welcome to contact the Staff Bank with any questions or concerns you may have. If we do not have the answer when you phone we will get it and then update the FAQ.
Contact details for staff Bank:
Phone number: 01463 706666
Email:
Address: John Dewar Building, Inverness Business and Retail Park, Inverness IV27GE
‘BANKSTAFF’ – NHS Highland new bank IT system
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
QWhen will the change take place?
AChange is scheduled to take place in April 2017
QWhy is the change taking place?
ACurrent system is unsupported which means it cannot be updated and errors appearing in the current system cannot be repaired. There are also departments in NHS Highland which cannot access the intranet and the current booking system.
QWhat does this mean to me?
AThere is no great change to the online booking system – authorised requestors will log in and enter bank shifts as usual. Last minute shifts can be entered right up to the start of shift which is new. There will no longer be paper timesheets; instead there will be electronic timesheets which will be authorised for payment on ‘BankStaff’.Services which cannot access the intranet will be able to book on the internet.
QCan I still book directly if I know bank workers have the skills required and are available for my bank shifts?
AYes, you can book directly by selecting the name of the bank worker right up until to the shift start, however if the worker already has a booking or an NMC registration has lapsed or breach of working time regulations the system will not allow the direct booking. It will not be possible to book shifts after the shift has started.
QWill the bank team hand back unfilled shifts?
ANo, the status of all shifts can be viewed on the system as they are now.
QHow is it going to work and what do you need bank workers to do?
AAll bank workers who have provided an email address and have internet access will be able to log into the new system. We will email bank workers user names and passwords to let them access the system. They should then log into the system and check details held. If any details need updated they should contact the staff bank.
QWill bank workers be able to book shifts on line?
ABank Workers will be able to review the shifts available in the areas where they are authorised to work. They can then choose to book the shifts they wish to work. They will receive reminder texts and e-mail before shifts. They can also review the status of the timesheets for shifts which have been worked i.e. they can check to ensure the shifts have been approved by the ward and forwarded for payment.
QHow do bank workers access the App?
ABank workers will access the system via the internet, using a login and password which will be provided. Any questions regarding access should be directed to the Staff Bank office. It is necessary for the bank office to have email addresses as this is how they will share log in information.
QWhat if Bank workers cannot access the internet or don’t want an App?
AThey can contact the bank office as usual and the bank team will advise of shifts available on dates available for work.
QWho will show me how to use the system?
AInformation on how to use the system will be shared with you by email, the internet and intranet, there will also be training sessions available. If you cannot access contact us at the Staff Bank, John Dewar and we will send information to your home address.
QHow can you guarantee bank workers will get a text for a shift?
AWith the new system Bank workers will be able to access all shifts available for the area in which they work. They will be able to go onto the system and book into the shifts. This can be done 24/7 at work, at home, or any time when they have access to the internet. They will only be sent a text for shifts within 5 days of the shift being required, so it is important that they are actively logging into the system to check and book available shifts.
QHow do I cancel out of a shift?
ANo change, would still ask bank workers to call the Bank office and the ward if they have to cancel out of a shift.
QHow reliable is this new system?
AIt has successfully been set up in other NHS areas in Scotland, where it has been reported as being very reliable. (It also comes with 24/7 support should any technical issues crop up.)
QWill there be timesheets?
AAll timesheets will now be electronic so there will be no further need for paper timesheets. Timesheets will be completed electronically on the ward by the senior staff member in charge.
QWhat are the next steps?
ATraining information will be produced and shared widely across NHS Highland. We would ask that you look out for further update texts from the Bank office. Please also check NHSH Internet Page and NHSH Intranet regularly.