Last updated 12 Oct 2026
Module
Messaging
Secure messaging for staff and families
Messaging keeps conversations about participants inside a secure system. Autonomy Care has direct and group messages between staff, team channels, and conversations with family contacts who have full Family portal access. Messages can carry attachments, saved replies speed up common answers, and admins can export conversations for audit.
Who can message whom?
Staff can message each other directly, in groups and in team channels. Family contacts with full Family portal access can message the provider team.
Can messages include files?
Yes. Up to 5 attachments per message, up to 10 MB each, including PDFs, images and Office documents.
Can we review conversations?
Admins can remove messages and export conversations, including removed messages, as CSV or JSON for audit. Each export is logged.
What it does and doesn't do
It does
- Supports direct, group and team channel messages
- Lets families with full access message the team
- Supports attachments and saved replies
- Exports conversations for audit
It doesn't
- Doesn't send messages by SMS or WhatsApp
- Isn't a replacement for urgent calls; use worker safety alerts for emergencies
Frequently asked questions
Will I know about new messages when I'm not signed in?
Yes. Unread messages trigger an email notice, and you can mute conversations.
Can we reuse common replies?
Yes. Save up to 100 replies with placeholders such as the person's first name.
Can messages go by SMS?
No. Messaging is in the app only.
Can we export a conversation?
Yes. Admins can export conversations as CSV or JSON, and each export is logged.
How it works
Start a conversation
Message a colleague, a group of up to 50 people or a team channel.
Talk with families
Contacts with full access message the provider team. Their messages go to the participant's support coordinators, or else to staff who manage participants.
Share files
Attach up to 5 files per message, such as PDFs, photos and documents.
Keep a record
Admins can remove messages and export conversations for audit, and every export is logged.
Who uses it
Coordinators and office staff
Support workers
Families with full access
Related modules
Family portal
The Family portal gives participants and their chosen contacts a secure login. With view access, family members see upcoming and past supports, goals and feedback. With full access, such as a nominee, they also see plans and budgets, the support team, shared documents to sign, messages and support change requests. Providers control each contact's access.
Signals
Signals are automatic checks across progress notes, the roster, invoices and messages. Every 15 minutes, Autonomy Care looks for things like missing notes, unfilled shifts, prices over the limit and unanswered messages. Each signal explains why it appeared, suggests a fix, and clears itself once the issue is resolved. The checks follow fixed, written rules, not AI.
See it with your own rosters and plans
Get started, or book a demo and we will walk you through it with your questions.