Solving Human Services Workforce Problems with Mobile Solutions
In the field of human services, caseworkers play a critical role in supporting vulnerable populations and ensuring their well-being. To provide the best services and care for their clients, caseworkers must be at the top of their game. All too often, these professionals are stressed, overworked, and frustrated. Many organizations are reporting turnover and vacancies rates above 50%. There are a number of contributing factors to the workforce crisis including excessive caseloads, emotional stress, exposure trauma, lack of resources and support, and challenging working conditions.
The consequences of high turnover and vacancy rates are far reaching. Low staff and high caseloads lead to decreased morale and reduced quality of service. In some areas of human services, like child welfare, it is known that case transfer has substantial negative impacts on outcomes for children. Additionally, the ability to recruit and train new workers takes significant time, which is a luxury that most organizations simply do not have. As a result, the impact falls on the remaining staff further compounding the issue.
In today's digital era, mobile solutions offer promising approaches to address some of these issues. By harnessing the power of mobile technology human services organizations can streamline workflows, enhance communication, and empower their workforce. All of these things can directly contribute to increased employee satisfaction and retention. In this blog, we will explore how Diona solutions can revolutionize the human services sector to overcome common workforce problems.
Reducing Administrative Burden
A common complaint in social work is that caseworkers are spending too much time in front of a computer and not enough time working with children and families. Human services are by nature “high touch.” With the use of Diona solutions it can become “right-touch.” Much of the administrative burden that caseworkers deal with is a result of the historically manual and duplicative nature of the work. It is the way it has always been done. Here are some ways in which Diona solutions can quickly and easily reduce the burden:
Saving Time and Money with Electronic Forms: There are many forms that caseworkers are required to complete. With Diona Visits, there is no need to wonder if you have the right one. It is always the one available in the Diona solution on the device. Not only will the worker have the right version, but it will be pre-populated with the information already known about the client. Do not even get us started on saving the trees (we will save that for another blog).
Maximizing Time: There are only so many hours in a day, so making the most of every minute is important. Diona Visits can help prepare the caseworker for a visit with a client while they are driving to the appointment. The Diona solution will read out the previous case notes, providing a refresh to inform the visit. Directionally challenged? Diona Visits can even provide the best route for the day to minimize drive time.
Technology Helper: Using Diona Visits in the field is like having your very own virtual assistant. While the caseworker is focused on having a productive and impactful conversation with the client, Diona Visits offers transcribed audio with speech-to-text technology that can be viewed and edited after the visit.
Client Self-Service: One of the best ways to reduce the administrative burden for caseworkers is to empower clients to perform certain tasks at their convenience. When clients are empowered with self-service solutions, the workload of the caseworker is reduced. Diona offers a number of solutions for child support, SNAP, workers compensation and other benefit programs, which extend self-service capabilities to the client and reduce the burden on the worker. Key features like applying for benefits, notifications and messaging, and appointment scheduling provide streamlined communication and collaboration, while also expanding the capacity of the workers.
Flexibility: The Key to Acceptance
Caseworkers, like all people, have different ways in which they like to get their work done. And in most cases, that is perfectly fine. Rather than force a one-size-fits-all approach or solution, Diona offers flexible features that allow workers to use the technology in the way that works best for them.
Capturing Notes: Transforming notes into actionable data has never been easier. Diona solutions have options for voice, typed or handwritten notes which are then transformed into text and integrated with the case.
Work Location: Whether a worker is online or offline, Diona Visits provides full functionality to support the work. When a signal is detected, the content is automatically synchronized with no worries of lost data or missing notes. Additionally, there is no need to return to the office to upload the information.
Managing the Caseload: If a caseworker has a visit in an area where another client lives, why not swing by and say hello? The routing capabilities of Diona solutions provide visual maps that not only promote efficiency, but also improve client engagement.
Diona’s comprehensive suite of solutions addresses workforce challenges within the human services sector. By reducing administrative burden, offering flexibility and personalization, and enhancing communication and collaboration caseworkers will feel supported, empowered, and valued. Diona is committed to revolutionizing the way human services professionals operate and engage allowing them to do more of what they do best…serving others. To learn more about Diona's mobile solutions for human services, visit our home page.