How do I search for an individual worker?

For coordinators and administrators, the Individual Worker Search is a powerful tool designed to help you find the right person for a specific shift or client. Instead of scrolling through an entire staff list, you can apply smart filters to identify employees who are qualified, available, and located near the service area.

1. Accessing the Worker Search

The search tool is available within the administrative or "Manager" view of the platform.

1. Log in to the Platform for Care web portal or administrative app view.
2. Navigate to the Staff or Employees module in the main sidebar.
3. Select Worker Search or use the Search Bar at the top of the employee list.

2. Applying Search Filters

To narrow down your results from hundreds of staff to the perfect candidate, utilize the multi-layered filtering system:

• Availability: Filter for staff who are marked as "Available" during the specific date and time of the required shift. This automatically excludes staff who are already rostered elsewhere or on leave.
• Skills & Competencies: Filter by specific qualifications (e.g., "Manual Handling," "Medication Competency," or "PEG Feeding").
• Location & Proximity: Enter the client's suburb or postcode and set a radius (e.g., 10km) to find local workers and minimize travel claims.
• Employment Type: Filter by Permanent, Part-time, or Casual status.
• Gender Preferences: Some clients may have specific gender requirements for personal care; use this filter to ensure compliance with care plans.

3. Reviewing Worker Profiles from Search

Once the search results are displayed, you can quickly assess the suitability of each candidate before assigning them.

1. View "Quick Look": Hover over a staff member's name to see their current workload for the week.
2. Compliance Status: Look for green checkmarks indicating that all mandatory documents (Police Checks, WWCC, etc.) are current.
3. Distance: The search results will often show the distance from the worker's home address to the service location.
4. Conflicts: The system will highlight if a worker has a "Soft Conflict" (e.g., a shift finishing shortly before the searched time).

4. Assigning the Worker

Once you have identified the ideal staff member:

1. Click on the worker's name from the search results.
2. Select Assign to Shift or Send Invitation.
3. If sending an invitation, the worker will receive a Broadcast or Direct Notification on their mobile app to accept the work.

Best Practices for Effective Searching

• Clear Existing Filters: Always ensure you have cleared previous search parameters before starting a new search to avoid missing eligible staff.
• Update Skills Regularly: Encourage your staff to upload new certifications so they appear in your "Skill-based" searches.
• Use the Map View: If your organization has the feature enabled, use the Map Search to visually identify staff locations relative to the client’s home.

Troubleshooting Search Results

• No Results Found: Try widening your location radius or removing non-essential skill filters.
• Staff Not Appearing: Check the employee's profile to ensure their status is set to "Active" and that their availability has been "Approved."
• Missing Skills: If a worker has a certificate but doesn't appear in a skill search, verify that the skill has been formally "mapped" to their profile in the Compliance tab.