Southern Health & Social Care Trust partners with Civica on new employee app
Connect app developed in four weeks to boost communications and share real-time information with employees
Southern Health & Social Care Trust (SHSCT) is working with Civica to provide its employees with the new SHSCT Connect App.
The app will play a vital role in keeping the trust’s employees informed of the latest updates during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a central hub for information and issuing alerts.
As an established partner, Civica has been working with the trust to support delivery of care using its patient administration and document management systems.
And, following Civica’s collaboration with the Northern Ireland Department of Health to develop the COVID-19 NI mobile app, the trust commissioned Civica to help build an app to ensure vital information is shared with all its staff, including those with no access to corporate systems such as contract and agency staff.
The app is a vital source of information, guidance and engagement for employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It provides the trust with direct control over all content using a flexible content management system, providing complete autonomy.
It was developed in four weeks following a virtual design workshop with Civica, SHSCT and UX design company, Big Motive, as just one innovation within the Civica North Star lab.
This is a first for the trust and will give all employees access to the content they need on a day-to-day basis, as well as provide a central hub for podcasts and newsletters.
Chatbot functionality enables employees to ask questions and get a response at any time of day or night. It then provides a daily breakdown of questions being asked so the trust’s communications team can refine the content and resources within the app accordingly. In addition, the trust can send out push notifications for important announcements, such as notifying employees of a new PPE delivery.
Vivienne Toal, director of human resources and organisational development at Southern Health & Social Care Trust, said: “Together with Civica and Big Motive, we have been working extremely hard over the past month to find a way to ensure all our employees, including those who do not have easy access to a computer, can access information regarding news, benefits and health and wellbeing on a regular basis.
“Engaging with and listening to our staff is fundamental to helping us create a great place to work. One of the key areas we identified for improvement following our 2019 staff survey was communication and engagement, so we are thrilled that this app will enable us to connect and engage with everyone across the organisation quickly and effectively. This rollout is just the first phase and we are very excited about how the app will develop over time.”
Steve Brain, executive director of health and care at Civica, added: “Technology and software are key enablers to improving communications and driving efficiencies across the NHS.
“The SHSCT Connect App will allow the Southern Health & Social Care Trust to share focused, easily-consumed content with its 13,000 employees, ensuring they are always kept up to date.
“We are delighted to be supporting the trust with its digital transformation strategy at this crucial time and improving its employees’ engagement and wellbeing at work.”