Timetable Daily: SMS Casuals feature

Modified on Thu, 14 Aug at 1:00 AM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Creating a Casual Request
SMS Texts Sent and Received
Closed Status
Creating a Custom outgoing SMS Message Template

The Timetable Daily SMS Casuals feature is part of Timetable Daily module. This feature provides a quick and easy method of contacting casual teachers when work is available.

Note: When creating a Casual Request, the list of available casual teachers now includes permanent part-time teachers who have been flagged as 'Part-time casuals'. Part-time casuals must be available for the full day to be eligible for a Casual Request.

Creating a Casual Request

On the Daily>Home page, click on the ‘Casual requests’ tab.

To send out a job request, click ‘ Create new casual request’.

The ‘Choose teachers’ window will open.

Enter the required information.

The number of casual teachers required on this date (the number of positions offered).
The required message template. See information below on how to create a new custom message template. If a custom template is not selected, the default message will be sent.
The date that the casuals are required.
The date and time that the job offer will close.
Select the casual teachers you wish to contact by ticking the relevant boxes. Only those with valid phone numbers and who have been flagged as eligible for SMS will be selectable.
Enter the start time of the job that each casual is being considered for. Note that this can be different for each teacher.
To send the selected message, click ‘ Send out SMSs’ at the bottom of the window.

The details of the job will appear in the ‘ Casual requests’ tab with the job status of ‘Open’.

SMS Texts Sent and Received

The casual teachers selected will receive an SMS, either the default message as shown below, or a custom message that can be created and saved using the SMS document template functionality.

They have the option to reply:

‘Yes’ to accept the job. If they reply ‘Yes’ and are the successful applicant, they will receive a confirmation SMS. Unsuccessful applicants who reply ‘Yes’ but are too late, will also receive an SMS notifying them that they were not successful.
‘Stop’ to opt out of receiving future SMS job offers. If they reply ‘Stop’, this will be recorded against their details in Timetable Daily and they will not be available to receive any further SMSs unless edited to ‘Yes’ again by the Daily Organiser.

When creating a custom SMS message, it is important to include the information above regarding the reply options.

Successful applicants will receive the following message:

Closed Status

Once the job has been filled, the details will appear in the ‘Casual requests ’ tab with the job status of ‘Closed’ and the casual teacher will now appear in the ‘Alternatives ’ window tab ‘Casuals here today’ ready to be assigned to classes.

Creating a Custom outgoing SMS Message Template

This function will allow a user with the permission Edit Document Templates to create a custom outgoing SMS message template.

To create a custom message template go to Daily > Document templates and select Create template.

Name the template
From the Type dropdown select Casual request . This will display the SMS template.

To add merge fields to the message, select 'Merge field'. This will display the following:

Click in the Merge fields box to display the available merge fields as shown above. Not all merge fields need to be included in the message but it is recommended that they are used where appropriate. Using the Casual request id is useful if more than one casual request has been sent for a given date.

Type the required message into the body of the template, inserting merge fields where appropriate.
There is a limit of 160 characters as indicated. When the limit is reached the cursor will return to the beginning of the message and no further text can be entered. The character indicator will also turn red when the limit is reached.
Select Save and exit to save the template for future use.