With increasing demand for temporary staff in fast paced environments such as Children and Adult Social Care settings, we have adopted new methods to assess required outcomes and achieve them effectively and efficiently. This has seen us support the hiring of full Social Care teams in tight deadlines to support increased workload through our Neutral Vendor model.
With a high demand of caseloads during the pandemic, one client approached their Business Manager for a complete Duty Assessment Team consisting of a Team Manager, Assistant Team Manager and eight experienced Social Workers. This team needed to be self-contained and fully operational to help with the high demand with assurance that the provider would be able to manage and fill any replacements or shortages if required.
Due to the nature, responsibilities and accountability the team would have, it was agreed that one sole provider would be the most effective approach. The initial approach was to release this requirement via an external procurement platform, however Matrix SCM were confident that we could fulfil the requirement within the limited timescales provided. Our Business Management team held conference calls with a handful of key specialist Social Care suppliers whereby the scope of the project was delivered and deadlines provided.
With a number of roles being recruited for, one objective of the process was that the client would only interview and appoint the Team Manager. From here, the successful candidate would have sole responsibility with support to recruit the remaining seven open posts to complete the team through one successful supplier. Matrix SCM assisted the suppliers through compiling a list of potential CVs and included evidence that the supplier had the capacity to fill the entire team. Our client reviewed the prospective CVs with Matrix SCM helping facilitate the interviews. Once the Team Manager was appointed, Matrix SCM helped raise required orders and managed the recruitment for the rest of the team. This was deployed within the expected timescales and have successfully completed the project to a high standard. Not only has Matrix SCM been able to offer a streamlined effective alternative solution, but by doing so, has saved the client additional cost and resource by avoiding the need to conduct a procurement exercise.
“Initially, consideration was given to outsourcing to procurement for a Protect Team – Duty and Assessment, however, through discussions, Matrix SCM were confident they would be able to meet the needs of the request/requirement. With the support from Matrix SCM, appropriate highly skilled and experienced workers were identified and put forward for the positions, then interviewed and appointed. The team is now fully operational with positive feedback received from workers, agencies and families. There was an extremely tight timescale for the team to be in place and operational and this deadline was met.”
- Divisional Manager, Child in Need/Child Protection