ACS buys staff scheduling software firm

Primary care IT specialist, Advanced Computer Systems, has purchased StaffPlan Ltd, a London based domiciliary and homecare software provider in a cash and equity transaction for £1.36m.

The latest company purchase will enable ACS to offer a proven rostering and administration solution, designed specifically for community-based, and home care care providers operating in health and social care.

ACS has targeted staff rostering as a key application to offer, in conjunction with its iNurse product, to be delivered on a Software as a Service basis, offering customers models that avoid high upfront capital costs.

The deal follows ACS’s purchase in May of hosting firm Business Systems Group Holdings Plc, which provides outsourced managed services, designing, deploying and operating clients’ technical infrastructure and systems operations.

ACS, which bought Adastra in 2008, has made clear its objectives to rapidly consolidate the primary community care. in May raised £43.7m of new funds to enable further acquisitions.

Vin Murria, CEO of ACS, said of the latest deal: “The acquisition of StaffPlan allows us to develop further our reputation as a leading supplier of innovative software solutions to the very substantial homecare sector. An area where literally thousands and thousands of carers still use paper for their schedules and patient treatment management.”

StaffPlan’s Connect software provides secure point of care systems, delivering live rosters and electronic monitoring to care workers on PDAs. The solutions are already delivered as a hosted application.

Existing StaffPlan customers include 30 local authorities including Blackpool Council, Derbyshire County Council, London Borough of Sutton, Cheshire County Council, and Leeds City Council, along with Primary Care Trusts such as Camden and Peterborough. The company also supports independent providers of nursing and homecare services including Supporta Care, Independent Living Services, Age Concern and Carewatch Care Services.

Launched in 2000, StaffPlan had revenues of £1.48m in 2008/09, and profits of £0.07m before tax, and cash of £0.1m. ACS will pay £1.36m, as £0.57m in cash and £0.79m in shares.