It's World Cup fever.

Pubs are full, living rooms are packed and group chats are full of predictions. As England prepare for another huge knockout game, millions of us will be planning our evening around kick off.

But in care, it's just another shift.

While the rest of the country debates formations and score predictions, care teams will be handing out medication, supporting residents, serving meals, completing handovers and making sure everyone feels safe and comfortable.

The match might last 90 minutes, but great care never takes time off.

Football can affect your rota

Big sporting events often bring a few extra challenges for care managers.

Someone wants to swap onto the early shift so they can watch the match.

Another member of staff asks if they can leave an hour earlier.

Someone else suddenly remembers they booked tickets to watch it at the local pub.

None of these requests are unreasonable, but when they all happen at once, things can become difficult to manage.

That's why planning ahead makes such a difference.

Supporting your team

Major sporting events can actually be a great opportunity to boost morale.

Maybe you organise a sweepstake.

Perhaps residents watch the game together with staff.

Or maybe you simply make sure everyone who is working knows they'll be able to catch the score during their break.

Small gestures can make a big difference to staff wellbeing.

Keeping your rota under control

When last minute changes happen, you need to know exactly who is available, who is already working and whether a shift can be covered safely.

Instead of relying on phone calls, text messages or trying to remember everyone's availability, having everything in one place makes life much easier.

With JMS One, managers can quickly view availability, manage shift swaps, communicate with staff and keep rotas up to date, all from one workforce management platform.

That means less stress before kick off and more confidence that every shift is covered.

Whatever the result...

Whether England lift the trophy or not, one thing never changes.

Care continues.

To every care worker, nurse, manager and support team working while the rest of the country watches the football, thank you.

You're the real team making a difference every single day.

And while football might be coming home...

Your staff should still know exactly where they're supposed to be