Successes of the Pilot Workforce Resourcing Team

The Workforce Resourcing Team (WRT) pilot project was launched in May 2024 within the Llanelli area, covering four Residential Care Homes and one learning disability Respite Home. Historically, each establishment managed their own small casual pool of staff who worked almost exclusively in one care home and supplemented this with agency workers.   
The WRT pilot has centralised these teams and sought to provide a regional cover solution. At the start of the project the WRT had 12 active staff less than 50% of whom worked in more than one establishment after 7 months this had grown to 34 active staff 83% of whom are working in multiple establishments 

Performance and Benefits

The benefits for the establishments
•    Increased efficiency with staff having greater knowledge of each homes processes and procedures
•    Improved quality and consistency of work from the staff covering shifts 
•    Positive impact on residents with reports of increased satisfaction in care and wellbeing 
•    More effective rota management
•    Greater team cohesion
•    Reduction in fees paid to external agency’s

Recent Mangers feedback demonstrates the service quality benefits are clearly recognisable.

‘WRT casual care workers are flexible, cost-effective workforce that is transforming the way care is delivered across the authority.’
‘The Work Resource Team has been an invaluable asset to our service.  We have successfully transitioned away from using agency staff and now benefit from a consistent team of well trained personnel who are familiar with the individuals we support’
‘In fairness the service has relieved a lot of pressure on the home, and it’s reassuring to have our own trained “in-house” staff, consistency is key for the residents.’
‘We have had very little WRT experience to date but are excited about the future roll out,  it will help with recruitment and retention of staff, continuity of care  and a better skilled workforce (than agency) .

The benefits for staff 
•    Staff feel valued
•    Staff who have transferred from the agency like being part of CCC and not an outside agency
•    Staff appreciate being able to do more, due to training and greater knowledge of the sites
•    Existing CCC Staff have enjoyed being able to pick up more shifts and having the opportunity to work across services
•    Existing CCC staff feel better supported in their role with confidence their will be staff they can rely on available when demand rises reducing the risk of burnout and work place stress. 

Team Member Alison’s feedback

Since joining WRT last May I feel that I have gained confidence in my ability to deliver the best quality care. The WRT management help and support me with any questions or concerns that I may have.  Whilst being with WRT I have shown my experience from working in care previously and I have also gained new knowledge and skills to provide the best care possible to all residents that I assist. 

Cost Savings

The project has successfully reduced agency usage.  The WRT has steadily increased its ability to support the needs of the establishments resulting in 74% of cover (over 2000 hours) being supplied by the WRT by December 24.  For every hour covered by the WRT there is a saving of £3 against the cost of agency staff filling the shift.  In December 2024 this equated to a saving of over £6000

Interested in joining the team?

If you are interested in  joining the WRT in addition to your existing role or know someone who would like to join the team please apply for one of our Casual Care worker positions via the councils Jobs and Careers page

Potential for Expansion

Given the success of the pilot project this is now being rolled out to other areas of Adult Social care. There is a strong potential for this approach to be rolled out to other areas of the business seeking sustainable solutions to workforce challenges.   
If you would like to explore whether this model or approach could be developed to support your team or service please contact Linda Thomas in the Transformation Team or you can contact the Transformation team via our webform