Developing a successful self-rostering shift system

Three wards of different sizes and with a mixture of full-time and part-time staff, qualified and unqualified, took part in a self-rostering trial lasting a total of six months. The results showed a high satisfaction rate among staff, with 82 per cent saying they were usually able to organise a work and home life balance compared to 38 per cent before the trial. In addition baseline sickness, and figures on the use of bank and agency staff, were taken for the preceding three months and repeated at six and 16 months after self-rostering was adopted. Two years later, staff on those wards are continuing with self-rostering and the concept has now been extended to other areas in the trust.