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SDMS Latest News

eFront Announced as Honoree for Best of e-Learning! 2011 Awards

 

e-Learning! Media Group announces eFront as a finalist for The Best of e-Learning! 2011 Awards.

 

Nominated as: 1.            Best Learning Management System, and 2.            Best Open Source Solution

eFront was selected by worldwide readers and professionals from both the private and public sector involved in the e-Learning industry.

As the only reader’s choice awards in the eLearning industry, The Best of e-Learning! Awards seek to formalize “word-of-mouth” referrals for those in the learning and workforce market. Because the awards are completely user nominated and committed to recognising innovation and user satisfaction the honorees reflect direct successful experiences with eFront.

SDMS Ltd is the lead UK partner for the marketing, support and implementation of eFront Enterprise, offering its existing and future customers the eFront eLearning.

eFront can be implemented as a standalone system or combined with SDMS Staff Development and Learning Management for Windows and e-Training to provide a fully integrated total training and learning system.

Click Here For More Information on eFront and SDMS.

 

 

 

	New Version of SDMS V Simplex: Version 4 for Schools and Business 2011 sees the latest release of the exciting new Version of SDMS V Simplex: Version 4 for both Schools and Business Users.  Expanding on the current functions in Version 3, the latest major upgrade to Simplex now includes several new features to ease the data administration of employee training and learning.

Skills and Competency management lies at the heart of SDMS Software and Simplex Version 4 is no exception. Qualifications and Competencies can now be assigned to Activities and automatically awarded to delegates on successful completion of the course. Post Qualification and Requirements can be set up and inherited by the staff assigned to those posts. Materials and Documents can also be assigned to both Activities and Employee Profiles within SDMS Simplex.

	Version 4 also extends the Simplex software with some 30 additional reports to help training administration, appraisal and review, qualification and competencies, as well as staff information reports. Simplex now contains over 120 different reports and with Version 4, all can now be exported to Microsoft Word, Excel, Text Files and PDF’s or XPS.
In Summary, the Upgrade includes: Export all Reports to Excel™, Word™, Text Files and PDFs Schedule Reminder Tasks in Outlook to run Exports at Regular Intervals Appraisal Cycle Feature Age Group Utility Activity Qualifications and Competencies Post Qualification and Competency Requirements Ability to Attach Materials and Documents to Activities and Employees Additional Fields for Recording Employee Qualifications and Competencies Exclude Evaluation Feature Course Completion Feature Update to include Changes to QCF/NVQ’s 31 New Reports
What is SDMS Simplex? SDMS Simplex meets the needs of Schools and Businesses, whatever their size, to manage Employee Training and Learning as well as the performance appraisal of staff regardless of role or grade. It combines - Learning Management and Training Administration, Evaluation of Training as well as Appraisal - in a single easy to use system.

For Further Information: For further information about the New Features of Simplex Version 4, please contact us on 01952 200911 or by email: admin@sdmsltd.com.     For more information about SDMS V Simplex for Business – Click Here   For more information about SDMS V Simplex for Schools – Click Here

 

 

 

e-SD.Net – New Training Evaluation Module

 

Following the release of SDMS V e-SD.Net earlier this year; a web access module for smaller businesses – the product has been extended by the release of a training evaluation module. This allows staff attending training courses to complete standard evaluation forms On Line - providing invaluable feedback on the quality and value of training.

 

As all experienced training and learning managers know to their cost, making sure that evaluation forms are completed and returned by delegates on courses is easier said than done – we have all seen the pile of completed evaluation forms on the corner of our desks which we will log when things are quiet! e-SD.Net solves the problem by offering delegates the convenience of completing evaluations On Line on any device with a browser at any time.

 

“We are increasingly embodying our 20 year expertise in Staff Development and Learning Management products not just for high end users with big budgets but for the smaller organisations that have smaller budgets but big aspirations for quality and developing their staff. We see this as part of our mission as committed staff developers”

 

David Stevens, Managing Director SDMS Ltd

 

e-SD.Net provides Web Access for SDMS V Staff Development and Learning Management for Windows and so benefits from the functionality of the Windows training evaluation module with its questionnaire designer. This allows unlimited questions to be set up, pre-course, end of course and post course evaluations to be completed and a large number of response types such alphabetical, numeric, descriptive or text to be selected. e-SD.Net Evaluation also provides evaluation completion for trainers to allow comparison of delegate and trainer perceptions.

 

e-SD.Net

 

e-SD.Net helps you simplify and reduce the cost of training course applications and evaluations by providing easy to use browser access for employees, managers and administrators. It will cut out unnecessary paper forms and the time taken to complete them, and at the same time improve communication and collaborative working with between staff. It also provides employees and managers with an easy to use means of logging and updating training needs so that training provided can be better targeted. Extending the bounds of traditional training models; staff can log their own CPD or self-study providing a complete picture of employee training in a single system.

Click here for more information

 

 

FE Colleges in England: SIR 19

 
Latest SIR 19 (Staff Individualised Record) Requirements Incorporated into HRPersonnel  

The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) has taken over management of the Staff Individualised Record (SIR) collection from Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK). For the SIR19 2010/11 year, the collection is to follow the same process as under Lifelong Learning UK, via the online SIR data collection system.

 

The SIR Module of SDMS V HRPersonnel for Windows has now been amended and updated to meet the latest SIR 19 requirements and is available to customers well ahead of schedule.

 

SIR 19 On Line Briefing: Wednesday 1st June 10.30 - 11.00am

Call SDMS Business Support on 01952 200911 to Book

 

We are offering a free 30 minute On Line Briefing to take customers through the latest SIR 19 and how the SIR Module should be used to collect the SIR data. It will also help you users consider any changes in  data collection and entry practices to ensure that the production  of the college SIR return is trouble free. This is one of many additional support services provided to SDMS College Customers.

 

SIR Module

 

The SIR Module of SDMS Ltds personnel software is a fully integrated product and wherever SIR related data is entered it is automatically presented in the SIR module screens. Missing data audits smooth out the often troublesome process of gathering the SIR data. The SIR module and updates are standard within the FE Edition and are provided free together with On Line Training in the latest changes.

 

Links

 

Click Here for Further Information

See What Our College Users Say

SDMS HRPersonnel for Windows: FE Edition

 

New Version of SDMS V Football Academy for Windows: Version 6 with e-Academy for the Web Now Released

Improved and Extended

 

SDMS Ltd has been working with the football industry to provide specialist systems for player management since the 1990s when it was contracted by Everton FC to develop systems for the new emerging Academies and Professional Player Contract and Pay Administration.

 

SDMS V Academy and Youth Development for Windows: Version 6 is the latest and newest release of SDMS Ltds premier system for player administration and records for Football Academies and Centres of Excellence.

 

Starting with basic personnel and contact details for each player, whatever age group they belong to, the newest version provides all that is required to implement good player administration and record keeping. It is simple and easy to use, but rich in functionality and comprehensive in scope. The system provides many features to assist in compliance with the FA’s Programme of Excellence and to audit the Academies compliance with them.

 

With Version 6, Web and Intranet Access is a standard part of the system – either by full web enablement using Citrix XenApp or similar platform technologies or with the web access module of Version 6 itself.

 

Version 6 also extends the Academy product with the integration of full scouting and medical records, professional player contracts and a full club personnel record into the standard product. It is also a full club personnel module as standard to help record and administer records of professional staff – administrators, coaches, education and medical staff, grounds staff and scouts who work with young players.

 

“With the release of Version 6, I believe that SDMS has demonstrated its commitment to this sector by both the investment in new functionality and the technical innovations of the product to the latest Windows client and server environments”

 

David Stevens, Managing Director SDMS Ltd

 

Technical

 

Addressing the needs of users who are now installing Windows 7 on their desktops in both its 32 and 64 bit releases; SDMS V Academy and Youth Development for Windows: Version 6 is fully compatible with Windows 7. Similarly, with the latest release, SDMS V Academy and Youth Development for Windows Version 6 is also fully compatible with Windows Server 2008 32 and 64 bit operating systems. A major breakthrough with the release of Version 6 and one which overcomes a weakness of previous versions of SDMS Football Software is that is can now be deployed with Windows Remote Desktop, Citrix XenApps and VMware operating systems. This allows out of the box remote access across wide area networks or via the web. Where IT resources and servers are located in the main club site, while administrators and coaches are based in a separate training ground, they will now be able to access the system from their offices regardless of location. Likewise, if the system is based in the training ground, club officers and managers will be able to access it from the main club site.  And where you don’t want the trouble of setting up your own computers to use SDMS software, it is now available as a hosted service where we deal with all aspects of computer set up, maintenance and backups in return for a monthly fee. No set up fees payable.

 

Click Here for more Information:

SDMS V Football Academy and Youth Development for Windows

SDMS V e-Academy for Web Access

 

e-SD.Net and e-HRP.Net: Self-Serve Web Access

Web Access for Learning and Personnel Management Designed Specifically for the Smaller Business and Schools

“It is not only large organisations that are now transferring many HR and Business functions to the web. In some ways, with fewer legacy systems and practices to hold them back, smaller businesses (and schools) see some element of web access as being a standard and normal part of any system they use. Our work with smaller businesses and schools provides us with clear support for this and with this in mind we have developed e-SD.Net and e-HRP.Net Web Access providing web access modules for SDMS V Staff Development and Learning Management for Windows and HRPersonnel for Windows respectively just for these types of users. "

David Stevens, Managing Director, SDMS Ltd

The e-SD.Net and e.HRP.Net Web Access Modules provide seamless and fully dynamic intranet and web access for SDMS Systems. Designed for the smaller business who want to reap the benefits of supporting HR and Training with On Line Access; they provide simple and cost effective web solutions. They are simple and easy to use and simple and easy to implement.

Access

Day to day administration tasks are supported by providing easy to use browser access for employees, managers and administrators.

e-SD.Net

e-SD.Net helps you simplify and reduce the cost of training course applications by providing easy to use browser access for employees, managers and administrators. It will cut out unnecessary paper forms and the time taken to complete them, and at the same time improve communication and collaborative working between staff. It also provides employees and managers with an easy to use means of logging and updating training needs so that training provided can be better targeted. Extending the bounds of traditional training models; staff can log their own CPD or Self-study providing a complete picture of employee training in a single system.

e-HRP.Net

Similarly, e-HRP.Net provides a wide range of features for employees, managers and administrators.

e-HRP.Net Elements Matrix

The e-HRP.Net Module provides:

 

	Employee	Manager	Admin
My Personal Contact Details
My Skills
My Qualifications
My Training Courses
My Training Course Applications
My CPD
My Training Needs
My Absence Record
My Absence Form
My Holiday Leave
My Holiday Leave Request
HR Task Review
Messaging

 

HR Task Review and Workflow: e-SD.Net and e-HRP.Net Web Access

Keeping track of requests from staff for such things as applications to go on a training course or holiday leave requests are built into these modules by the HR Tasks Workflow Manager.

All web based requests from their staff are presented in a single task screen for action as well as being listed by type of web transaction, such as all changes to contact details, new CPD Record for request or holiday leave. Line Managers simply choose the most appropriate way of accessing HR tasks that need to be dealt with and when. Processing completed forms or letting them know of changes in staff records is avoided with lower costs and reduced workload. The Line Manager Task List is a single point of access to browse of all types of records that have been entered or updated by an employee that the Line Manager needs to process.

And in addition, the module has its own in-built messaging feature which allows managers and staff to clarify anything that may arise in the course of processing HR Web Tasks. An automatic email is sent telling the member of staff that they have a new message.

SDMS V e-SD.Net Web Access
SDMS V e-HRP.Net Web Access

SDMS Ltd VMware Support Statement - Keeping Pace with Technology

 

SDMS Ltd confirms that we will support customers running Staff Development and Learning Management, HRPersonnel for Windows, and Recruitment and Selection on supported Operating Systems in a VMware virtual machine environment.

SDMS Ltd will provide unqualified support for Staff Development and Learning Management, HRPersonnel for Windows, and Recruitment and Selection producst running in a VMware virtual environment in an identical manner as with Staff Development and Learning Management, HRPersonnel for Windows, and Recruitment and Selection products running on any other major x86 based systems without initially requiring reproduction of issues on native hardware.

Should SDMS Ltd suspect that the virtualisation layer is the root cause of an incident; the customer will be required to contact the appropriate VMware support provider to resolve the VMware issue.

While SDMS Ltd products are expected to function properly in a VMware virtual environment, there may be performance implications which can invalidate Staff Development and Learning Management, HRPersonnel for Windows and Recruitment and Selection typical sizing and recommendations.

For more information please visit:
VMWare Alliance Website

 

New Version of SDMS Simplex for Small Business

Simplexity: Simple to Use to Deal with Complex Business Tasks

“A finely distilled software product extracting the essential features of our leading staff development and learning management products and making them available and affordable to the smallest Company in the latest Microsoft Technologies - Access 2007”.

David Stevens, Managing Director.

New Version

This new version of SDMS Simplex meets the needs of businesses, whatever their size, to manage Employee Training and Learning as well as the performance appraisal of staff regardless of role or grade. It combines - Learning Management and Training Administration, Evaluation of Training as well as Appraisal - in a single easy to use system.

Compliance

It thereby provides an essential set of tools for ensuring compliance with both internal and external requirements such as health and safety, supplier contract audit, business liability as well as a wide variety of Professional Standards. This is achieved by bringing together for each employee a single record of their Training and Development, Skills and Appraisals.

CPD and Professional Standards

For businesses, such as Solicitors, who need to maintain records of Continuous Professional Development against professional standards, Simplex will be particularly attractive.

Free Download Trial and On Line Purchase

And to ensure that the software can be used and installed with the minimum amount of effort by customers with this new version of Simplex, we have introduced a Free Trial Download and On Line Purchase option.

To get your Free Trial - Click Here
To Purchase - Click Here

 

SDMS V Football Academy and Youth Development provides Web Functionality Using the Latest Microsoft Technologies

First developed with Everton FC and now used by several leading (and we mean leading!) Football Clubs for managing their Academy Players or Youth Programmes, SDMS V Football Academy for Windows has now been upgraded to include Web or Intranet Access functionality for its users.

SDMS research indicates that the vast majority of Clubs – whatever their status, size or apparent wealth - do not use systems such as SDMS V Academy because of the Administrative Staff time involved in recording player information. Of course their data is held somewhere – normally in a not particularly useable way or place. SDMS V Football Web Tools are designed to minimise this by providing easy to use web pages for Coaches, Scouts and others to record information they currently have on paper (or in their head), and of course, making it more available to others in the Club at the same time.

Technology:

SDMS V Web Tools are developed with the latest Microsoft technologies of asp.net and Expression Web 2 and enable each Web Access Tool to be easily embedded in the Clubs own Intranet of information portal and amended and tailored.

Functionality and Use:

Simple and easy to use Web Pages allow information about players and fixtures to be entered with immediate data synchronisation with SDMS V Football Academy for Windows acting as the “back office”. All features are controlled by Password and Access Rights as well as standard Firewall and Intranet Security protocols.

My Players:

Keeping basic player records up to date and accurate is now made easier with My Player Web Tool. View, add or amend player information such as Name, Address, Contact Details, Date of Birth, Nationality, Gender, Schools Details and Dates, Guardian and Next of Kin Details, Current Club and FA Registration Information, Qualifications, Skills and Competencies as well as a record of equipment assigned to them and basic Finance Records.

My Fixtures:

Allows Coaches and Administrators to view match and fixture lists for Academy and young players, add new fixtures and record reports on each match. This includes: date, opponents, league, age category, location with notes and comments. The match report includes details of match Referee, half time and full time score, penalties, whether extra time played, result, match attendance with further comments and notes.

My Prospects:

Allows Scouts, Coaches and others to log in through the Customers Intranet portal to record the basic details of young players “of interest” i.e. young players who have been brought to the attention of the Scout as someone who might be worth scouting via more detailed player assessment, inviting for trial, or simply keep in touch with. Initial contact details for the player include: name, surname, address and contact details, whether young player or senior player, age category, equal opportunities related data, current position, date of first contact, name of scout, agent name, full next of kin or guardian details and permissions. And importantly; initial assessment date, assessment and recommendations.

Pricing and Availability:

Whether you are a major club of International renown, play in one of the smaller Leagues or a County Association; SDMS V Football Academy with Web Tools is available in a range of options and editions which you will be able to afford.

 

Hopwood Hall College Uses SDMS Software for Staff Development and CPD

Hopwood Hall College is a UK Government funded Further Education College based on two campuses in Rochdale and Middleton in Lancashire (http://www.hopwood.ac.uk).

Claire McGuire, Assistant Director for Quality, Hopwood Hall College:

“As a College providing a wide range of subjects and courses to members of the local community and business, the training and development of College Staff lies at the heart of our continuing drive to achieve the highest standards.

The College had previously used SDMS Software in its earlier versions and when we decided to review and update our software, looking at the latest offering from SDMS was an obvious choice.

The clear fit between the organisation of Staff Development in the College and what SDMS Software offered, together with its optional modules such as Training Needs and Evaluation, which we were looking to introduce, led us to purchase the latest version.

Recent developments in relation to the Institute for Learning and the response SDMS Ltd has made to this confirms our choice. In collaboration with the College SDMS has now developed a CPD Web Tool which allows staff to record their CPD on the College Staff Intranet with automatic data entry into the SDMS back office. This allows us to have a complete picture of all training and CPD done by Staff and to offer support where information may be required in the future by IfL. This module is now being implemented and the initial response from Staff using it is very positive.”

Hopwood Hall College Website

 

SDMS Ltd Joins Sage Developer Programme

 

SDMS Ltd has recently joined the Sage Developer Programme. Now providing a WorkGroup Edition of SDMS V Staff Development and Learning into the SME market we have been asked to integrate SDMS products with SAGE Products.This the SAGE Developer Programme helps us to do. The demand was doublely reinforced by Hospice users of its Personnel and Rostering software.

This Sage Developer Programme allows SDMS to develop integration options for its customers who use Sage and also to provide developer services and add-ons to them.

Sage

 

Sage (UK) Limited is a subsidiary of The Sage Group Plc, a leading supplier of business software and services to 5.7 million customers worldwide. Its well known range of business software and services includes software to manage business finances, payroll, manage customer and supplier relationships, and support to the HR function. In the UK, it provides software and services to over 760,000 small and medium-sized businesses. SDMS Ltd Sage Dealership Plans: Our plans include the development of a range of integration modules and add-ons to support the use of Sage products by SDMS Customers. This will include SAGE Payroll, SAGE Line 50 and ACT. We have already released an integration module for SDMS V HRPersonnel with SAGE Payroll and SAGE 50 HR Easy Link for SDMS Staff Development Workgroup Edition. SDMS V Recruitment and Selection for Windows is also now offered with an Easy Link Integration for use with SAGE 50 HR. Our next offering will be to provide integration between SAGE Payroll and SDMS Ltd’s latest and perhaps most innovative product for Hospices and Care Homes – SDMS V Rostering and Staff Scheduling.

 

Focused firmly towards the smaller business by joining the Sage Developer Programme we hope to make sure that SDMS Customers make the best use of their purchased products by high quality developer support and enhancement services.

David Stevens, Managing Director, SDMS Ltd said, “We have found that in the new market sectors we are beginning to work in prospective users of SDMS products asked us to provide integration with Sage products – the logical result of which was to become a Sage Developer!”

About SDMS Ltd

SDMS Ltd is a long established supplier of specialist Staff Development and Personnel products to the Local Government and Education markets and latterly the medium and small businesses market place. It provides a range of specialist editions to LEAs and Children’s Services, Social and Adult Care as well as Further Education.

Useful Links:

Sage (UK) Ltd Website

 

An SDMS Programme of User Groups, Seminars and Product Presentations for Learning and Staff Development Managers and Personnel Administrators

Following our successful programme of User Groups and Seminars in 2010 for current and prospective customers we will soon be announcing the 2011 dates for User Groups Meetings and Product Seminars in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland:

User Meetings:

The Scottish User Meeting: Edinburgh

The North West of England Meeting: Manchester

The Welsh User Meeting: Newport, South Wales

The London and South East England Meeting

To Book Your Place:

To book your place at the User Meeting: National User Meeting Full Day: £200 per person, Scottish, Northern Ireland and Welsh Meetings; Half Day: £100 per person.

Simply call Sales and Business Development on 01952-200911, email: sales@sdmsltd.com and indicate which session you would like to attend. We will then confirm your booking by email together with a Meeting Agenda and Information Pack.

Product Presentation Seminars:

The Scottish SDMS Product Presentation Seminar: Edinburgh

Product Roadshow Sales Seminar: North West of England

The Welsh SDMS Product Presentation Seminar: South Wales

Product Roadshow Sales Seminar: London & South East of England

To Book Your Place:

Simply call Sales and Business Development on 01952-200911, email: sales@sdmsltd.com and indicate which session you would like to attend.

 

Seminar - Products To Be Presented:

SDMS V Staff Development for Windows - Learning and Staff Development Management

SDMS V e-Training for Web and Intranet Access - Web Based Learning Management

SDMS V Staff Development for Windows Optional Modules:    Training Needs    Evaluation    Appraisal and CPD Planning

SDMS V e-Learning Connect and Knowledge e-Learning - Integrated e-Learning

SDMS V SVQ/NVQ Learning and Skills for Windows - SVQ/NVQ Awards and Portfolio Management

SDMS V HRPersonnel for Windows - Modular Personnel Administration

SDMS V Adviser and School Support for Windows - Education Department Systems

SDMS V e-Adviser for Web and Intranet Access - Web Based School Support Records

 

SDMS V Charting Module with OrgPlus7® Professional Released for both Staff Development and Personnel Systems

Charting and Visualisation of Training and Staffing Data for SDMS V Staff Development and HRPersonnel Solutions

We have now released SDMS V Charting: OrgPlus® Professional to provide organisational charts for HRPersonnel and Staff Development products. This is an optional module provided with Connectivity Kit, Starter Charts and Support. OrgPlus® intelligent organisational charting, data visualisation and workforce modelling solution extends the value of our Staff Development and Personnel solutions by providing users with easy and secure access to Graphical Views of Employee Information, Organisational Structures and Directories. These may be published via a web browser. By providing complex information in a visualised form SDMS V Charting: OrgPlus® aids Information Sharing, Empowerment and Manager and Employee Involvement in the work of the business. This added capability with OrgPlus® will assist Training and Personnel Managers to plan and execute workforce management tasks such as: Succession Planning, Skills Development, Budgeting for Training and Staffing, Development of Qualifications Profiles and communicating a Corporate Employee Directory.

David Stevens, Managing Director, SDMS Ltd; “We provide Staff Development and Personnel Administration Systems at all levels in the market – from organisations with less than 50 Staff to organisations with 5,000. They all have a need for data presented in an easy to digest and share form as well as the need to produce Standard Organisational Charts. Our approach is to provide them with OrgPlus® and a set of starter prewritten Charts and Data Views. The ability to go beyond charting and the many new features of the latest OrgPlus® will I’m sure provide our Customers with the tools they need now.”

Useful Links:

HumanConcepts Website

 

Colleges: Latest SIR (Staff Individualised Record) Requirements Incorporated into HRPersonnel ahead of Schedule!

With the 2008 data collection process for the College Staff Individualised Record (SIR) not due to begin until August 1st and with Colleges required to ensure that its SIR has been approved by LLUK Ltd by 1st November, SDMS Ltd is well ahead of schedule. We have just released in May 2008 the latest changes required by LLUK Ltd for the SIR 16.

This will allow College Users ample time to review any changes in their own personnel data collection and recording processes to ensure a trouble free and minimum cost SIR submission in 2008.

These changes have been built into the fully integrated SIR Module of SDMS V HRPersonnel for Windows: College Edition.

 

SDMS Rostering Software Now Released!

SDMS Addresses the Need to Ensure the Right Staff are in the Right Place with the Release of - Staff Scheduling and Rostering Module for HRPersonnel for Windows

Making sure that we have the right Staff in the right place at the right time is of course one of the main jobs for all Team Supervisors and Managers as well as departmental or Corporate HR.

But in many situations the demands of the business go way beyond this generalisation. Whether you have the correct number of Staff with the specific qualifications and experience doing a specific job can effect the very survival of the business – current legislative and inspection regimes for many businesses demand that this can be evidenced.

Staff Scheduling and Rostering for SDMS V HRPersonnel: Care Edition has been developed in close partnership with a group of four Midlands Hospices. Their exacting demands for a product which can assist the day by day Rostering Job of Nursing Staff, Kitchen Supervisors and Organisers of Volunteers as well as the needs of Hospice CEO's for the best solutions in Staffing has been now delivered in a module of HRPersonnel.

With its easy to use worksheet style Rostering screen it allows Team Leaders to prepare Weekly or Monthly Staff Rosters just by entering the Work Type Code with immediate visual feedback through Colour Coding, Cell Letter Codes, Tool Tips and Detail Drill Downs. Utilising Roster templates and copy facilites from previous months HRRostering can be used completely independently of HRPersonnel, massively reducing the time and cost of preparing Rosters.Furthermore, given its full integrations with HRPersonnel its allows data, such as Staff Details, Work Patterns, Absence, Holidays etc. to be loaded into draft templates for minor modification and preparation of the finalised Roster. And, in setting the Roster the various Work Types or Absence entered in the Roster can be actualised and copied into the Personnel Data files for individual members of Staff. When taken with the ability to make on the hoof adjustments to the Roster to account for Staff no shows, or emergencies, the System closes many of the gaps between planned Staffing and what actually happens.

 

City Staff Services Adopts SDMS V NVQ/SVQ Learning and Skills Manager for Windows

City Staff Services is a highly innovative recruitment providing a range of services in the Engineering and Industrial Sectors of the Economy. It has recently purchased and implemented SDMS V NVQ Administration Software for Workgroups - an offering designed for a maximum of 5 users and the Smaller Business.

City Staff Services - Lee Moody, Managing Director, explains why he chose SDMS and his experience so far:

“SDMS’s software for controlling and monitoring of our NVQ processes is an ideal tool for City Staff Services to manage its quality systems for the delivery of NVQ’s.

We are providing Security, Care and Cleaning NVQ’s across the UK and this system allows us to administer the whole process centrally keeping track of learner targets, assessor workload and quality control of our service delivery.

Customer satisfaction is vital to the success of our Company and we are confident that the use of the SDMS’s software will underline our commitment to quality with our clients.

The system implementation went very smoothly with training carried out over a web link which allowed us to quickly get to grips with the basics and start using the system more or less from day one, support is always available at the end of the phone”.

 

Bethesda Hospice Implements SDMS V HRPersonnel for Windows - Version 5

Bethesda is a unique Institution. The Hospice provides for the physical and the spiritual needs of its patients, with comfortable, spotlessly clean (yet homely) rooms and large beautifully landscaped gardens.

Bethesda Hospice, Carol Sommerville, Hospice Administrator:

"Bethesda Care Home and Hospice have chosen SDMS Ltd to provide its HR Management Information System (SDMS V HRPersonnel for Windows). As a major provider of Hospice Care in the Hebrides we are faced with the increasing challenge of maintaining Personnel information to satisfy Statutory Requirement Inspections, as well as our own internal needs of day to day management. Our research of the Market, led us to SDMS Ltd who could meet our needs with a proven, highly professional and cost effective system. Importantly we were able to talk directly with one of the Hospices they have been working with for several years. Training and Support have been provided On Line given our physical location and SDMS Support has been very helpful at all stages of implementation."

We are sure that as we progress with its use SDMS V HRPersonnel for Windows will provide us with the means to extend our day to day Personnel practice and we look forward to the introduction of the Staff Rostering and Scheduling Module which we feel will allow us to improve the management of what is continuously a complex problem of maintaining the right staff in the right place at the right time".

 

SDMS Releases SDMS V Staff Development for Windows: Social Services Edition with NMDS Modules for England, Scotland and Wales

From the very first release of SDMS V Staff Development the Software has not only addressed the Central Training Administration Needs of users but also addressed the related Workforce Management Issues - such as the production of Staffing Return SD0001 and other Work Force Data issues such as those defined by LGMB Workforce Analysis requirements in the early 1990s.

With the latest release, these features have been completely revised, extended and updated, not only to meet the increasing needs of Workforce Planning within Social Services and its link to training, but also to address the need for Training and Workforce Managers to gather and produce the data required for the National Minimum Data Set of Skills for Care.

The latest release of the Social Services Edition of SDMS V Staff Development for Windows System for day to day management of Staff will enable departments to gather NMDS data in the course of Managing Training and Staff and therefore will contribute to making sure that the tools provided by Skills for Care - paper questionnaires, Excel? Workbooks and now a Web Application - are used to best effect.

The upgrade will assist users to extract the data required for the NMDS from their local data and is an important tool for doing this.

National Minimum Data Set for Social Care will give us a complete picture of the Social Care Workforce. This vital information will help to plan for future Training, Qualifications, Funding and Policies to develop the Social Care Workforce.

This release of SDMS V Staff Development for Windows: Social Services Edition has been the result of several years development - responding to and working with the request and perhaps demands of key Social Services Clients. The new release includes:

1. Significant additional data items and features on Employees and Staff
2. Major extension of the Posts and Jobs Management of the Software
3. Additonal Reporting based on the extended data items of Employees and Jobs
4. A fully revised user definable Workforce Module to address - amongst other things - the National Minimum Data Set
5. Extension of the scope of the System to hold data for Partner Organisations and not just the Department and its own Staff6. Substantially expanded to include several additional features for the Management and Analysis of Staff Training and Qualifications - including Qualifications Framework
7. Many general improvements and enhancements.

And of course the new release is available in specific Editons for England, Scotland and Wales with appropriate differences reflecting the Management of Training and Workforce Planning in each Country.

Qualifications Framework

The Types of Qualifications required by Staff in certain roles can be identified, with the differentiation between Required, Recommended, Vocationally Recognised, Professional, Social Work and Management Qualifications. Skill Gaps and proposed Training Activities leading to those Qualifications are automatically listed.

Equivalent Qualifications can be grouped into blocks and Staff can be analysed against Qualification Gained or equivalent.

Staff Qualifications can be analysed by new Achievement Status, to differentiate between To be Achieved Qualifications (from Post Requirements), Achieved (from Training, NVQ Enrolment or otherwise) or In Progress.

Work Force Analysis Tools

As part of the new module, several Work Force Analysis Tools are provided, ranging from:

HR Analysis on Staffing Levels, Turnovers and Forthcoming Retirements aiding in Succession Planning and identifying potential Skill Gaps and Training Requirements for New Starters. All analysis can be done by several indicators like Type of Staff, Location, Equal Opportunities Data.

Volume of Training Analysis - checking how many Staff Have Been Trained, Will Be Training or Needs Training is easier with this matrix, allowing Analysis by Location, Job Role, Equal Opportunities or Training Area.

Qualifications and Competencies Framework and Achievements - how many Staff Have Gained, Need To Gain or Will Gain a Qualification depending on Certificate Type or Job Roles.

The analyses are done in matrix style - with one indicator compared against the other - e.g. Staff Level by Ethnicity and Gender, or on individual breakdowns. All statistical data is presented on screen with drill-down facilities to check where the counts are coming from, or an option to print to Excel spreadsheet.
All analysis can be Period Based, or Monthly Breakdowns. Previous counts can be saved and archived to Excel to allow year on year comparisons. Where statistical data is not available to be scanned from SDMS Data, it can be entered from the known figures and saved for future reference. Data can be analysed for the whole Organisation, Specific Groups, or Clusters of Groups. Preferred analysis set-ups for each Work Force Analysis Tool can be saved by each user for future runs.

NMDS-SC Return

Additions to Employee and Group screens have ensured that all the data required for the NMDS-SC Organisations and Individual Questionnaire can be held in SDMS System, with user definable output to spreadsheet. In addition to Group Type, Groups can now be analysed in terms of Sector, Client Area, Client Type and the snapshot of data can be saved to Excel for future years and trends analysed with previous years. Codes required by NDMS-SC Return are supplied with the System.

Additional user definable data can be held against Groups and Employees by using new extended Profiles allowing unlimited number of "profile" items to be held, with multiple "answers" and comments against each profile.

Assembling the Data

In general the data requried by the NMDS is not held in a single place - some will be in SDMS, some in Corporate Payroll, some on spreadsheets and some will need to be gathered directly from Staff themselves. To help Departments assemble this data we will be providing a range of integration services to migrate this data to SDMS as a " data portal" for the NMDS.

 

Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Child Board Decides to Stay with SDMS V Staff Development for Windows - Version 5

Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Board (NSCB) exists to protect all children from abuse and to provide the highest standards of practice towards the safeguarding of children by delivering a wide variety of Training Courses on Safeguarding Children to all Staff and Agencies who have a role in this within Nottinghamshire.

Pradip Panchmatia, Training Manager, Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Board:

"As part of Nottinghamshire County Council we have used SDMS Software for many years and have come to rely on it as our main Software System in the delivery of our training programmes. Following recent organisational changes within the Council we were faced with a decision: do we stay with SDMS Software or move to a new system with all the issues involved in such a decision? Following discussions with SDMS Senior Staff and an On Line Presentation (which we found very useful by the way) of the latest version - we had been using Version 3, we have decided to continue to use SDMS and upgrade to SDMS V Staff Development for Windows - Version 5.

Throughout this process SDMS was keen to address our needs – both in terms of the need to upgrade, a price that could fit within our very tight budgets and in offering additional services”.

Useful Links:

NSCB Website

 

Christ the King Sixth Form College Praises SDMS V HRPersonnel for Windows

Christ the King Sixth Form College is a Catholic College dedicated to the Education and Development of the whole person, so that all Students can realise their full potential. To achieve this as a community they provide the highest standards of Teaching and Learning, Provide equality of opportunity with mutual respect and positive encouragement, build and further develop a partnership with Parents, Schools, Parishes, Higher Education and the Local Community and value Staff and support their Professional Development.

Ciaran Burns, Director of Finance & Estates, Christ the King Sixth Form College:

"Christ The King Sixth Form College has been named by Ofsted as being outstanding in its prestigious Annual List. As the College's needs for improved management information became a vital component of our operating criteria the purchase of a suitable Personnel Administration System to support the ongoing development of the College's HR Function became an essential. After careful consideration of our current needs at the time and with an eye to future developments we chose SDMS V HRPersonnel for Windows and have now been using the Software for some 3 years. We have been impressed by the scope of SDMS Ltd's HRPersonnel System and the Training and Support offered by the Company. The combination of these has proven a wise choice."

 

SDMS Progresses in the Care Sector

Reflexion Care is a leading provider for young people of specialist dedicated services in the Care Sector. It has some 11 homes across the UK caring for young people between the ages of 11 and 16 years ranging from single Intensive Care Units to Community Homes of up to four residents all of which meet Local Authority Requirements. (Reflexion Care Website)

Doreen Curtis, HR Manager, Reflexion Care Solutions:

"We chose SDMS V HRPersonnel for Windows to provide us with an effective solution to HR in what is for us a regulated and challenging environment. Our staff are critical to our business. We have recently purchased SDMS V HRPersonnel from SDMS Ltd and introduced INTEX EARNIE Payroll Executive to complement this. With this the scope and functionality of SDMS V HRPersonnel has improved further our HR management and control. Throughout the process SDMS have provided support and training to speedily implement the new systems both face to face and On Line confirming our decision to go with SDMS as the correct choice."

 

SDMS Software Available for Windows Vista

Microsoft has recently launched the latest version of its Windows Operating System - Windows Vista. Available in several Editions: Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium, Vista Business, Vista Ultimate as well as Enterprise Editions. Vista provides higher security, enhanced multimedia capacity and a new look and feel for Windows.

SDMS Ltd's Software Quality and Support Team have completed their release testing of all SDMS Windows Products on Windows Vista as well as our Web Products on Internet Explorer 7 supplied with Windows Vista. Workflow and Mailmerge have been tested on Vista with Office 2003 and for future announcements on Office 2007 keep in touch with our website or contact SDMS Support at Support@sdmsltd.com.

SDMS Software is available for all Versions of Windows from Windows 98 and above.

 

New Module for Adviser and School Support Software

SDMS Ltd adds another Module to its Adviser and School Support Software Addressing Essential Requirements in Education and Children’s Services Management

Integration and Synchronisation Module for MS Outlook™

The need to systematically record the time spent by Advisers and other LEA Staff in supporting or providing services to Schools combined with the ability to assemble this data into Corporate views and report on it is hard to find. But perhaps the main difficulty is one of finding cost effective solutions which bring together what Advisers want - when it comes to recording how they spend their time supporting Schools - and what central Education Department Administrators and those with the need for strategic analysis of this activity want.

With the release of SDMS V Integration and Synchronisation System for MS Outlook™ offered as part of Adviser and School System for Windows SDMS Ltd offers such a solution.

 

SDMS V e-Adviser helps Monitor LEA Support to Schools

SDMS Ltd is absolutely sure that Chief Education Officers and Directors of Children’s Services are not planning the abolition of LEAs with the publication of Education and Inspections 2006 Bill. Whatever the final formulas arrived at as the Bill wends its way though Parliament it is clear that the vast majority of schools in the vast majority of LEAs will still wish the LEA to provide a wide range of Support, Consultancy and Training Services. We are sure they will do so.

And it is this that leads us to offer a new web product to the market. SDMS V e-Adviser for Web and Intranet Access provides LEAs with a browser based method of recording Adviser and Officer Support to Schools - including details and reports of On-site Visits. SDMS V Adviser and School Support for Windows with SDMS V e-Adviser Version 5 provides an extensive Adviser Diary and School Visit Recording System with Web and Intranet Access for Advisers and other LEA Staff providing support to Schools. Fully integrated, this System significantly extends the capacity of LEAs to support Schools by a simple easy to use Web-based System recording School Visits and Adviser Diaries. Massively reducing time-consuming paperwork, the simple process of recording appointments and School Visits leads to a comprehensive profile of support provided to Schools by the LEA - by all types of Staff, Subject or Business Area, Service Type, Date and by School and Phase.

 

SDMS Ltd Awarded Investor in People Award

As a Company SDMS Ltd has always been committed to the Training and Development of its Staff. Employee Training is a regular part of the weekly experience of all Staff working in the Company. In October 2004 we decided to gain external recognition for our internal Employee Development Processes and Practice and registered for IIP. We are pleased to announce that we were awarded Investor in People in December of 2005.

 

SDMS Ltd Provides Industry Standard Audit Module for all its Products

Increasingly Human Resource Managers in the modern Organisational environment have to pay attention to the requirements of Data Protection Legislation and Data Control. With the optional Audit Trail Module SDMS V Staff Development for Windows and SDMS V HRPersonnel for Windows now ensures that the Personnel and Training Function is able to account for all changes to its Personnel and Establishment Data. The module tracks all changes to the Personnel and Training Data, when the change was made and by whom, thereby providing full Traceability, Accountability and Security.

 

SDMS Ltd Releases Version 5 Generation Products

May 2005 marks a special month in the life of SDMS Ltd with the release of its Version 5 Generation Products.

With new interface and enriched functionality these products are based on several years’ detailed development with key Customers. Version 5 Generation Products are a simultaneous release of the Company’s products for Personnel, Staff Development, NVQ Management and its specialist Staff Development products for Training Needs, Appraisal, Evaluation and IIP Planning. It addition the release also includes a new release of its Advisor and Schools Support System for LEAs. To accompany this Company has also released its Version 5 of its e-Training Software for Web and Intranet Training Management. SDMS Ltds Development Manager, Alina Charcinski said “Our new product releases are a platform for the next stage in our product and technical development strategy, enabling us to address increasingly the demands emanating from the market place today and in the future”.

Four Midlands Hospices Join SDMS Ltd Development Group

Committed to providing specialist editions of its products SDMS Ltd has joined with a group of four Midlands Hospices to extend and develop its leading Personnel Software to meet the unique and demanding requirements of Personnel Management in Hospices and the Care Sector.

The Hospices are actively involved in deciding the requirements for enhancements to the software and this has already led to the development of a CRB and Professional Registration Module as well as providing Line Manager Access to Employee Records to fit the management style of the Hospice Sector. The work of the project is guided by a Hospice Steering Group. Its next set of concerns is to finalise the design of a new Staff Rostering Module for HRPersonnel planned for release in the autumn.

 

SDMS Releases NVQ Laptop Assessor

To complement SDMS V NVQ/SVQ Learning and Skills for Windows we have now released the Laptop Assessor Module which allows NVQ Assessors to dock out Candidate Records and Portfolios, conduct Assessments - paperlessly if required - and dock in the information and updated portfolios on return to base.

 

SDMS Ltd Involved with NHS Scotland National Data Set

As a provider of Personnel Systems to Shetland Health Board SDMS Ltd has been asked to provide Data Export routines to support the collection of data on Employees working in the Health Service in Scotland.

It appears that this is an increasing number of Projects with a similar theme – to support Organisational change by better Workforce Planning and Employee Data.