Support Services Representative

About the position

The Support Services Representative is a member of the nursing team and contributes directly to patient care by ensuring that the necessary level of staff are provided for the inpatient units. The Support Services rep. serves as a liaison between the nursing staff and the nursing administration team members and is responsible for the correct interpretation of the provisions of the collective bargaining agreements covering staffing, scheduling, and pay practices.

Responsibilities

• Ensures sufficient, appropriately qualified staff on a daily basis in accordance with the KP nursing workload management system, currently known as GRASP.
• Generates daily reports describing variances between GRASP requirements and actual staffing needs.
• Works with Registry vendors to ensure compliance with The Joint Commission regulatory requirements for outside registry personnel.
• Interprets collective bargaining agreements (CBA) to minimize the cost of overtime and/or other premium payments.
• Ensures seniority in vacation selection or other time off.
• Creates ranking systems for regular staff in accordance with seniority provisions of contracts and availability forms filed by employees.
• Documents discussions with staff and management to ensure that contract provisions are followed.
• May be required to testify at arbitrations or other legal proceedings regarding such documentation.
• Negotiates with staff to cover vacant shifts in accordance with individual facilities guidelines.
• Generates and maintains computerized master schedule on a 28-day basis covering all nursing shifts throughout the hospital.
• Addresses all urgent staffing/payroll situations.
• Works with and/or provides necessary information to payroll to ensure employees are paid in accordance with CBAs or other KP policies and guidelines.
• Interprets coded timecard module that arise and processes timecards for payment on a bi-weekly basis.

Requirements

• Typing speed of 40 words per minute.
• Ability to pass PC skills assessment.
• Excellent analytical abilities of both the written word, metrics, charts or other documents generated by the GRASP system.
• Excellent interpersonal communications skills to work with a variety of personalities and negotiate necessary coverage.
• Strong problem-solving skills to develop creative alternatives to staffing/payroll issues.
• Detail-oriented to ensure documentation of discussions with staff and decisions regarding selection of staff.
• Decisive with the ability to work independently and make decisions regarding staffing/payroll requests or challenges.
• Excellent knowledge of computer programs such as Word and Excel.
• Ability to quickly understand and utilize the nursing workload database.
• Knowledge of health-care environment preferred.
• High school diploma required; some college preferred.