It’s been a cracker summer (for most parts of Aotearoa), but unfortunately winter is on its way, and we need to ensure that districts and services have contingency plans in place/planning underway – particularly where they know there will be vacancies across the winter months.
In the latest round of negotiations, STONZ introduced an important addition to the roster management framework: Appendix 8 – Chronic Cross Cover Situations. This new clause is designed to address the challenges faced when there is an ongoing vacancy in the roster, particularly when the vacancy persists for weeks or longer.
An ongoing vacancy in a roster can place significant strain on the remaining team members, often leading to increased workloads, burnout, and reduced quality of care. To mitigate this, the new guidelines emphasise the importance of collaboration between the remaining rostered RMOs, service managers, and SMOs. With a goal to find solutions that not only ensure the roster remains functional but also recognises the efforts of those continuing to work under increased pressure.
When an ongoing vacancy is identified, the service is expected to explore potential solutions and ways to acknowledge the efforts of the remaining RMOs on the roster. This process should involve input from the RMOs themselves, as well as collaboration with the service manager and SMOs.
Some possible solutions that are suggested:
Increasing the salary category for a set period of time while there is a vacant position.
The salary of the vacant position is split between those that are covering.
Service can reduce their service provision to allow for remaining RMOs to continue to work and train without a sustained increase in workload.
Using the roster review framework for a long-term absence, to come up with an agreeable temporary roster. This would also need to include a salary review for the additional work. This may mean agreeing to a non-compliant roster for a period of time but could still be preferable to the RMOs working in the service.
It is expected that any solutions need to be agreed upon with RMOs and documented, including a time frame for review and that any agreement to the above would be in lieu of daily cross-cover payments.
If you find yourself in a chronic cross-cover situation we encourage you to raise this appendix with your RMO Unit or Service Manager. If you need further assistance or have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to STONZ for support.