Creative Staffing Methods to Enhance Care: HCO’s Open Shift Pool

Hannah Faas grew up in Madison, WI. She is the middle child, with one older brother and a younger sister. She enjoys working out, traveling, trying new foods, and spending time outside with her husband and their two Labradors.

Hannah first came to Winona to attend college at Winona State University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication. She fell in love with the city and made it her home. Hannah is currently completing her Master’s degree in Public Administration at Metro State University. In addition to her full-time job as an employment counselor for the State of Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development, she also works part-time for Home and Community Options. “Working at HCO feels like walking into your friend’s house to spend the day together,” Hannah shares. “It’s a comforting feeling knowing you’re working but also making a difference in someone’s life.”

She loves spending time with the people she supports – learning more about their upbringing, family, friends, and what is important to them. Her favorite part of her job is participating in activities with the people she supports that they enjoy. “It’s incredibly rewarding to put a smile on someone’s face simply by spending time with them,” Hannah says.

Hannah is among many HCO employees participating in the agency’s Open Shift Pool (OSP). The Open Shift Pool was created to bridge gaps in staffing across all of the agency’s programs. When staff are not available to work a particular shift at a program, employees in the Open Shift Pool who work at other HCO programs can fill a shift at a different program in need.

“I initially joined the Open Shift Pool to pick up more hours, but I’ve also found it beneficial to learn more about other programs throughout the agency. I’ve met a lot of new individuals and colleagues,” Hannah says. She enjoys participating in the OSP because of how flexible the scheduling is. The Open Shift Pool allows employees to earn more hours and makes it easier for other programs to fill hard-to-cover shifts in a pinch. Hannah can pick up extra shifts when she wants to work additional hours, or she has more availability outside the standard shifts that her regular program offers. Many shifts are shorter, making them easier to pick up too.

“The Open Shift Pool has enabled us to provide some basic training specific to each program to support staff coming in from other programs to help at times when the need for additional support is critical,” Amber Weaver, Program Coordinator, shares. “This has allowed for new growth within the agency and the opportunity for more diversity. I have picked up shifts in the OSP before and have enjoyed learning a new program, meeting more individuals, and providing support where needed.”

The individuals we serve get to meet new people, and staff can expand their skill set. “I also think it benefits HCO when staff can see how other programs operate and learn more about other individuals we serve,” Hannah says. They can see a larger picture of what HCO does – the vast array of ages, skills, and abilities that make up the children and adults that HCO supports.

Thanks to the Open Shift Pool, HCO continues to provide more care to people who need it. It has reduced overtime expenses and improved work/life balance for program supervisors tasked with working additional shifts to fill gaps and address care needs.

While working to address ongoing workforce shortage challenges, HCO saw the need to find a creative way to staff necessary shifts so that people needing support get the care they need. Since established, individuals served by HCO have seen less disruption to their regular routines thanks to the Open Shift Pool and the participating staff who were cross-trained to provide care through the OSP.