The government has announced a £500 million investment to support the UK’s first fair pay agreement for care workers, marking a significant step toward more consistent and equitable compensation. gov.uk However, many providers are already warning that this funding “barely scratches the surface” when it comes to addressing long-term pay pressures across social care. Community Care

This means while fair pay is necessary, it is not sufficient. To sustainably absorb wage increases, care providers will need systems that make every shift count.

The Hidden Costs of Inefficient Rotas

In health and social care, the rota is one of the most fragile yet critical parts of operations. When it’s done inefficiently, it drains time, energy and money. Some of the recurring pain points we hear:

• Managers spending hours clawing together rotas and constantly reworking staff allocations
• Staff being under-utilised or overworked because of mismatch in planning
• Heavy dependence on agency staff to plug gaps, driving up cost
• Compliance issues creeping in due to manual tracking of training or shifts
• Limited visibility across services and districts

When your rota is your biggest administrative burden, something is broken.

JMS One: Built for Care, Designed to Solve

JMS One is not just another workforce tool, it’s designed by individuals who navigated these very rota challenges in care. We built a platform for care, not a generic tool that barely fits.

Here’s how we aim to make a difference:

• AI-powered rota: We optimise staffing using patterns, availability, and your requirements, reducing guesswork and enabling smarter shift coverage.
• Integrated workforce platform: From recruitment and compliance to training, leave and payroll, everything works together, eliminating siloed systems.
• Real-time oversight: Instant dashboards and alerts give you clarity across units or districts, helping you act before problems escalate.
• Staff-facing app: Carers see shifts, request leave, and access relevant data, without needing to wait for managers.
• Compliance automation: Certificates, DBS checks, training expiries, no more overdue surprises.

The result? Less time firefighting, fewer rota headaches, and more focus on care.

Why Fair Pay Demands Smarter Tools

As wage pressures rise and budgets tighten, every care provider must justify that they are delivering value. A fair pay agreement doesn’t guarantee sustainability, but better rotas and workforce tools can.

You can’t resolve structural inefficiencies by throwing money at them. But you can transform your workforce management so that talent, care, and resources align without unnecessary waste.

See It in Action: Free Rota Optimisation

We’re offering a free rota optimisation, where we run your current rota through JMS One and show you how much time and money could be saved. No obligation, just insight.