How do I set up and apply a shift pattern?

Creating and applying shift patterns requires a user to have (self) scheduler privileges or above. For this feature your station will need to have two of the following modules enabled 'Standby Duty' and 'Standby duty. These modules can be requested by using the Feedback button at the bottom of the screen in FireServiceRota. (To know more about modules you can click HERE).

Many watches work in fixed shift patterns. The pattern should be defined as a draft in one member on the rota and can then be applied to team members for extended periods of time.

1) How to Define the pattern?

To define the pattern FireServiceRota needs an example period. Use any member of a watch on the rota to assign one complete shift pattern. This will be the example period based on which the rota will create the pattern. Below an example of a 2-2-4 complete tour.

Once the draft is  complete, a template can be created through the 'Rota' --> 'Duty Template Planning' menu, select the tab New Pattern. Fill in the form as shown below:

Weeks on FSR are 7 days Monday to Sunday, we would recommend to start your pattern on a monday and remember to select the correct days even if the user is not working for specific dates. For example if the shifts start on a Monday and the user has a 2-2-4 pattern next Monday the user wil not work, remember to select until the pattern is done.

If the pattern you want to create also has availability codes to always be applied, this is where you select the needed code.

 When the 'align to start' option is selected the start of the tour as defined for Jane will always align with the first day of the period you apply the pattern to in a later stage. When deselected all green watch 224 shifts will always be aligned with each other.

Click 'save' to save the pattern.

2) How to apply the pattern?

Going into the 'Rota' --> 'Duty Template Pattern' again you can now select the pattern we just defined. Once selected it can be applied to various crew members for an extended period of time. Don't worry about changing the original crew member's (Jane's) pattern as a copy is stored that will not be changed.

Note that the 'Planning period' is the period the template will be applied to. This period will be wiped clean of any pre-existing shifts and the new pattern of shifts will be applied.

Here you also have to select a duty schedule, meaning that there are blue shifts or stations that use the blue shifts on their availability. Then press process and changes will be saved.

The system will make a quick information update for you of how the pattern was created, and then you will be able to see the changes on the rota.