Volunteer & Admin Portal - THE Admin Burden Reduction Tool

Adult Staff Execs
181

What would dodge the inevitable politics about which is better is adding a unit level setting for whether events should appear on CP automatically or not

182

I expect most squadrons would choose not. It’s awkward if something goes up on CP and cadets see it and then you have to unadvertise it and potentially remove them.

A better option might be for units to get an email notification when they are invited to something (which includes the basic event info) with buttons to say “yes” or “no” to advertise.

There is the added complication that we currently have the option to customise the CP details for our unit, which you may need to do for some events.

183

There is a fairly sensible middle ground. Currently, staff have to go on and advertise events to cadets. This is good as it allows staff control over what their cadets see, but is a bit of an admin burden, and often events get missed and cadets don’t see it.

Most people are against events being automatically pushed straight away to their cadets.

So what about a cool down system instead? Wing staff create an event, tick a ‘advertise in Cadet Portal’ box, but it won’t be advertised for, say 7 days. So Sqn staff can still, if they choose, go in and stop it from going to their cadets. But if they don’t do anything, then it’ll auto-push after 7 days.

This doesn’t increase any admin burden, as going in to stop it is the same as having to currently go in to put things onto Portal. It sort of reduces burden, as if the staff aren’t worried about cadets seeing all events, they now don’t need to log in and advertise them.

2 Likes
184

The problem with that is invariably sqns have to make adjustments to event details prior to publishing to CP, such as drop off and pick up times if providing transport.

185

We currently have a deadline date on SMS why not have an “advertise from” field?

This allows events to be started as draft several months before hand and then advertised in the date the organisers want them to.

Secondly why not have the notification emails about events only be sent on the cadet portal deadline date - avoids unnecessary emails cluttering the system & reduces the micro management.

2 Likes
186

I did say that :wink:

187

You did.

188

The primary purpose of this release is to roll out the claiming of Volunteer Allowance (VA) electronically to the whole organisation.

It’s finally happening!!

1 Like
189

giphy

1 Like
190

Video was really useful.

Glad that you can also switch between Primary and Supernumerary Posts.

191

It’s been operational for a while, I’m yet to use it. When I’ve tried it doesn’t quite work in the way you’d want around travel time, which I’ve fedback to the team but don’t know if it changed.

192

It’s pretty quick and easy. Gotta make sure your SMS events are at least 4 hours long or they won’t show on the list though.

193

Well that was the issue. If the event itself isn’t right but the travel time included takes the total time past the mandated number, you can’t claim it and I think you should be able to.

Edit:

For example if i run an activity that is 3h30m long, and have a 15m each way trip to get to the activity, i think that is claimable currently on paper forms but it won’t be claimable digitally, meaning either you have to amend your sms activity to include fake hours or you have to inflate the travel time artificially to get it through, none of which are acceptable.

2 Likes
194

Sorry, I thought you meant the amount you could put for travel time. I think the last time I did it it wouldn’t let you put less than 0.5 or 1 hour (can’t remember which).

195

Unless things have changed, there is a minimum total duration for a half day / full day (4 or 8 hours) but then also within that is supposed to be a minimum training duration as well (2 or 4 hours).

Edited to add from ACP 300:

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image740×191 9.95 KB

196

So in @pEp’s case a 3hr 30 “half day” event meets the minimum “2 hours contact time”

thus any travel time over the 3hrs30 and to extend the total over 4 hours meets the requirements for a 4 hour/half day criteria.

1 Like
197

Yeah, but currently to claim VA for it you’d have to either fudge your travel time or the timings on SMS.

198

i am not disagreeing - i am simply adding to pEp’s case that with the policy wording shared, the activity is viable but the system does not allow it

3 Likes
199

It’s here!

I’ve submitted my first claim and it was so much easier… no confusion around email subjects or combining claims to a single email and I can now really easily see what I’ve claimed.

5 Likes
200

How’s it work before I go exploring later?