Although staffing needs can be difficult, they don’t need to be. Instead, to find and recruit quality caregivers an employer needs to know the advantages of hiring temporary, short-term, contractual, full or part-time workers. These workers offer the following plus points: flexibility, work from home, no need for a security deposit, no health or dental benefits required, no stringent background or criminal record requirements, no special training, no boss pressure or harassment issues, no long commute and no need for a lot of money. Plus, these workers offer some of the best care giving jobs available today. They are valued by families as well as their patients and are willing and able to help out with a smile.
But finding a qualified and trustworthy caregiver is just the first step. When considering agencies to hire, the prospective caregiver should also be sure the agencies are thorough with their background checks on potential employees. This includes agencies that perform nationwide searches to confirm the potential caregiver’s identity, as well as agencies that perform local searches in the location of the potential caregiver’s residence. The agency may also want to check with local law enforcement to determine if the potential caregiver has past criminal records. Additionally, the agency may want to look into other complaints and problems in the person’s community to ensure that the potential caregiver won’t have any run ins with the local police or other agencies.
A background check, while an important first step, is only part of the screening process. There are other criteria that should be considered when hiring a caregiver, especially if the home care agency is recruiting through the internet or referrals. These steps include verifying that the agency is licensed to provide home health care in the state where the caregiver will spend a majority of time, checking for the agency’s accreditation status in this state, and locating any former clients who can provide feedback on the agency. Each state has a different licensing process, and it’s best to inquire with the local licensing boards for the particular type of home health aide you’re interested in hiring. While some states do not require licensing or accreditation, others do, and each state has specific rules regarding background checks and licensing.
Once you’ve located the most appropriate agency to help you find and recruit quality caregivers for your home care services, you need to establish an individual care plan. Your care plan should include the most basic information, such as the number of patients, the type of assistance needed, the length of the planned stay, the expected medical and emotional needs, the cost of the care, and any restrictions (i.e., no smoking allowed). It’s also helpful to inform the potential caregiver of his or her particular duties and responsibilities. This ensures the caregiver knows what he or she is responsible for, and what the home health aide is expected to do. In addition, it helps the caregiver to know what’s required of him or her. For example, if a patient is on oxygen, the care plan will detail exactly when and how much oxygen the patient will receive.
After you have established a care plan, you’ll need to find and recruit qualified caregivers. One way to find and recruit quality caregivers is to look for a home health agency that specializes in finding and recruiting qualified and trained caregivers. There are many agencies out there, especially online, that help people find and recruit caregivers. Many agencies use experienced therapists and recruitment professionals to find and recruit caregivers for their clients. You should consider using one or more agencies that specialize in finding and recruiting quality caregivers.
Starting a home health care business in Washington an individual care plan and recruited the right caregivers, your next step is to ensure they are placed in the right nursing homes. You can either perform a direct referral from your assigned care aide or look for an agency that provides placement services for a fee. With either method, you can expect a highly organized placement process. The agency may use its own screening methods and nursing home ratings to find the most qualified and safest caregivers. You can be confident that you have made the best possible decision for your loved one.