Flexibility is the Future of Workforce Retention

Flexible working is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s an expectation.
For healthcare providers facing retention challenges and staffing gaps, it’s also a critical tool for engagement and shift coverage.

Healthcare staff want greater say over when and how they work.
The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan recognises flexible working as key to:

  • Reducing burnout
  • Retaining experienced staff
  • Supporting work-life balance
  • Improving shift fill and morale

But many organisations still struggle to implement flexible options operationally.

Barriers to True Flexibility

  • Rotas are managed manually, so shift swaps create chaos
  • No digital workflows for bidding, cover, or TOIL
  • Managers lack real-time visibility to approve changes confidently
  • Compliance risks arise when eligibility isn’t enforced
  • Staff feel disengaged and excluded from scheduling decisions

When these gaps go unresolved, flexibility becomes unmanageable.

RotaMaster Makes Flexibility Work For Everyone

With mobile-first tools and built-in safety checks, RotaMaster enables flexible working at scale while keeping managers fully in control. Swipe right/left to view table.
Feature
Why it Matters
Staff Hub App
Staff can view, request and bid for shifts from any device
Shift Bidding & Swaps
Self-service model that allows fast internal fill and staff autonomy
Manager Approval Dashboard
Full rota context to approve or decline requests safely
Compliance-Aware Logic
Only qualified and available staff can be matched to open shifts
TOIL and Leave Integration
Supports flexible scheduling without disrupting absence and entitlement rules

NHS Strategy: Flexibility to Retain & Rebalance the Workforce

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (2023) recommends:

  • “Expanding flexible working options across all staff groups”
  • “Prioritising work-life balance as part of retention strategy”
  • “Using digital tools to enable flexibility and autonomy at scale”

What Success Looks Like

With RotaMaster, you can:

  • Let staff self-serve — bid, request and swap shifts via app
  • Improve internal shift fill without manual follow-up
  • Approve flexible requests quickly, with built-in rota visibility
  • Retain more staff by supporting personal preferences and life commitments
  • Align to NHS workforce transformation goals and staff experience KPIs
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What our customers say about us

  • RotaMaster has provided us with the tools we needed to streamline our operation and gain better conrtol over our workforce management. The improved visibility and integration have already made a significant impact on our efficiency and recruitment process.

    Mike Foster
    Finance Director, Camden Health Partners

  • Accurate rotas. No need to constantly phone to try and cover shifts. Good recording tool of absences and annual leave.

    Derek Johnston
    Performance Manager, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS

  • Major cost savings and major time savings. The impact of RotaMaster cannot be overstated!

    Maisie Chart
    Operations Officer, Teladoc Health UK

  • Now we can reproduce a month’s rota at the click of a button and can have complete control over when staff get to see it.

    Rebecca Fawcett
    Workforce Manager, Kernow Health CIC

  • ... both HR and service managers can have access to the same contemporaneous records which supports us in meeting requirements from our regulators, and managing our CQC inspections better.

    Ruth Mabika
    Chief of Staff, Nouvita Healthcare

  • Rotamaster has helped us to manage and control our rosters in an easier way. This enables us to push for shifts that we require filling first and work closer with staff to balance our needs and theirs.

    Joe Chilton
    Deputy General Manager, London Ambulance Service

  • RotaMaster has provided excellent account management and personalised training sessions. The online learning portal (knowledge zone) is also an excellent tool to support learning, as well as the newly introduced lunchtime learning webinars

    Sarah Rochelle
    Operations Manager, Northern Health

  • There is no doubt about the care and enthusiasm that your (RotaMaster) staff have. Their constant availability through the process has helped so much.

    Craig Barker
    Operations Manager, NUPAS

  • Before RotaMaster, we had no way of effectively managing our extended access services. Now we’re able to effectively schedule staff and ensure prompt payment – removing bias and giving consistency to operations.

    Sally White
    Project Manager, Suffolk GP Federation

  • Working in collaboration with RotaMaster, the SWL Alliance, SWL Federations and Primary Care Networks have been able to build workforce resilience due to the tools and technology as well as the flexibility that RotaMaster has been able to provide.

    Mariam Ganesaratnam
    Director and CEO, SWL Primary Care Provider Alliance

Ready to find out more?

Book a demo with one of our team today.

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Contact

RotaMaster
West One, Wellington Street,
Leeds, LS1 1BA

01924 252 360
enquiries@rotamaster.co.uk