Benefits of SMS:
Time savings
Ask people who use SMS what they most appreciate about it (we did) and they’ll most probably tell you it’s the time they save, every day.
Entering data into SMS is quicker, easier and more accurate than manual or other software systems.
Funding body reports
But the real time savings come when you have to compile reports; especially complex service provision reports for funding bodies, each in their own format and with their own peculiarities (click for more details).
SMS generates these reports automatically, not only producing the information but matching the format the funding body requires.
Every single report can save you hours, every time. And you can have real confidence in the results.
Management reports
SMS can automatically generate detailed, specific management reports and graphs that enable you to really understand how your business is working and see where you can make improvements that maximise efficiency (click for more details).
SMS gives you time out from working in your organization, and the tools to spend that time working on it.
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Control
A community care organisation is a complex operation involving many variables, most important amongst them – people.
To keep control of everything that’s happening and ensure reliable, quality outcomes you must have information: comprehensive, accurate and immediate.
You have to know what every staff member is doing, where you are at with every client and how the organisation is moving.
You need to be able to make changes – to rosters for instance – on the fly and have everyone fully informed.
That’s what Service Management System delivers: it puts you in control.
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Information
Service Management System will automatically produce more relevant and accurate information about your organisation than a room full of accountants could achieve – and it will do it faster and more accurately.
Information is vital to management success. Without good information you cannot be in control.
SMS produces hundreds of reports and graphs, including performance and comparative information about clients, staff, financial performance, service delivery and funding body compliance.
New reports are being added all the time in response to customer requests.
SMS ensures you get the information you need. Immediately.
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Client care
In our sector, what we do is ultimately about client care.
Every organization must ask, are we delivering the best quality care we possibly can, in the circumstances and budget?
SMS makes it possible to measure client care across a wide range of variables, so you can answer with authority and with evidence, Yes, we deliver the best quality care that is possible.
Where there are areas of difficulty, the reports SMS generates will help you identify them, act on them and measure your success.
SMS gives you the service quality tools you need and the evidence to claim the recognition you deserve.
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Administration
In today’s cost-conscious world administration often has to run very lean – but it’s still expected to ensure effective, efficient operation, to maintain control and to provide extensive reporting and management information.
Such efficiency can only be achieved with the time-saving and control delivered by a strong, software based management system.
That’s what the Service Management System delivers: it automates standard processes, ensures reliable data entry, manages daily processes including the inevitable last minute changes and produces comprehensive reports, so you can run a lean management that is highly efficient and effective.
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Compliance with funding body reporting requirements
One of the great bug-bears of the community sector is the time taken in complying with funding body reporting requirements.
Sometimes it can seem like the costs of serving the funding are almost more than its worth!
SMS puts an end to that with automated funding body reports that are customised to each major funding source.
SMS also handles funding from multiple source types (Federal, State and Local governments and private). It is the only program which can do this.
SMS makes it easy to supply information required during an audit process.
Our exclusive guarantee means that you will always be up to date with new modules, customised to new programs as they are announced.
SMS will free you from the chore of compiling funding body reports, saving hours, often days of your time every reporting period.
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Record keeping
Modern standards of management, reporting and care require the keeping of even more detailed and comprehensive records, in formats that remain readily accessible for longer periods.
It’s not just about reporting, good record keeping is also vital to effective organisational management and operational efficiency.
That’s why a strong software based management system is now critically essential to the success of any organization in community care.
Records have to be created accurately and then made immediately accessible.
SMS delivers big on record keeping, including data quality control and using the information to its maximum.
SMS “future proofs” your oganisation against future changes to funding regimes with our exclusive guarantee to always update key modules when circumstances change and to create new modules for major new programs.
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Staff and volunteer development
In the community care sector, people are our most valuable and most expensive asset.
Leading organisations are making gains by investing directly in developing the skills of their staff and volunteers, including through formal training and on-the-job, supervised experience.
Keeping track of this investment in human capital, including maintaining training records and performance results, is now a key management function.
SMS makes it easy, managing the data for you and producing immediate reports, so you can focus on the real task of training and building a great team.
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Data groups
Data groups are a unique SMS feature that enables advanced data segmentation from a single database.
A data group is made up of clients, workers and/or services who meet certain criteria which you set.
For example, you might define services according to the funding source that supports them, plus the location it is delivered in and the type of service – or any other combination of tracked variables.
You can also combine data groups to make report group.
A data or report group is like a mini SMS, where every screen and report is for that data group or report group only.
Data can be reported separately for each data group and report group, but it remains within the single database so it is included in organisation-wide reporting.
This facility is very flexible, allowing you to very precisely define groups that are relevant to you.
It eliminates repetitive, redundant, manual processing and reprocessing of data, boosting staff job satisfaction and productivity.
Examples:
A wholly HACC funded organisation with several day centres may wish to create a different group for each day centre.
An agency which provides services to a range of external organisations may split their database according to who is being invoiced for each clients services.
A Meals-on-Wheels organisation with HACC funding plus brokerage has different data groups for each.
A local government organisation may split their database into the various sections of the council.
Data groups can be especially effective in managing waiting lists, with statistical reports including auto-generated graphs.
If you are unsure about the appropriate groups for your organisation, the Support Team at Alchemy Technology can help determine the appropriate groups for you.
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Managers
SMS gives managers immediate access to comprehensive information for:
- Budgets
- Costings
- KPI key performance indicators and graphs
- Quality assurance and improvement
- Annual and board reports
- Funding submissions
Almost anything a manager might need to know to manage and improve the operation of their organisation can be reported from SMS.
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Front line staff
SMS contains the tools that front line staff need for effective day-to day operations, including:
- Rostering
- Case planning, reviews and assessments
- Care Plans
- Staff/volunteer management
SMS is particularly strong on rostering, including the last-minute and one-day only changes that can so easily cause confusion and are so difficult to handle in other programs.
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