How to recruit reliable permanent care staff

Looking to provide the best service possible to your clients? Then, it is important that you have the best permanent members of care staff in place. Having a strong permanent care and support team in place can help build a strong community feel in your team as well as build a strong connection with your clients and their families. Below, we have broken down how to attract, evaluate, and retain the best caregivers.

1. Define the Job Role

Before starting the recruitment process, clearly outline the job requirements and responsibilities. This will help attract the right candidates and give you and your team a clear understanding of how to assess any possible candidate. 

Key Steps:

• Job Description: Detail the duties, skills required, and qualifications.
• Expectations: Clarify work hours, conditions, and clients’ specific needs.
• Essential Traits: Identify key traits such as empathy, patience, and reliability.

2. Use the Right Recruitment Channels

Today, there is a huge range of channels you can use to find the right candidate, so understanding what channel is right for you is extremely important, as choosing the wrong one can cost you time and money or even leave you with the wrong person for the job. 

Effective Channels:

• Job Portals: This is one of the most common ways of finding new candidates; it can be quick and cost-effective. Unfortunately, it can also lead to many unqualified and unfiltered responses, leaving you with more work to do to find the right candidate.
• Word of Mouth: You can ask your current employees if they know anyone who is looking for a job. This is a great way of building a community and can be incentivised by offering a finder’s fee. However, this method can lead to some complications if a recommended applicant doesn’t get the job or does not pass the probation period. 
• Specialist recruiter: A specialist recruit like us at SafeHands Recruitment is a great way of finding your next hire. As specialists in healthcare recruiters, we can help filter our applicants and offer advice on the hiring process. This way is more expensive than others but is often the fastest and easiest way to find the right hire. 

3. Screen Applications Thoroughly

Finding the right candidate means looking through CVs. Remember the job role you wrote out in step one, and make sure the applicants are covering that role as much as possible.

Screening Tips:

• Initial Review: Evaluate CVs for relevant experience and qualifications.
• Phone Interviews: Conduct preliminary interviews to gauge communication skills and interest.
• Background Checks: Perform background checks to verify qualifications and check for any criminal records.

4. Conduct Comprehensive Interviews

Interviews are your first opportunity to asses the candidates face to face; these can be as formal or as informal as you would like, but remember, the candidate is asses you as much as you are assessing them, so stay professional and welcoming. 

Interview Strategies:

• Structured Questions: Use behavioural and situational questions to understand how candidates handle various scenarios.
• Skills Assessment: Test practical skills relevant to the job, such as patient handling and emergency response.
• Cultural Fit: Ensure the candidate’s values align with your culture and ethos.
• Ask if they have any questions: Offer them a chance to ask questions; an interested candidate will more often have questions about the organisation to determine whether it is the right fit. 

5. Check References and Credentials

Verifying references and credentials helps confirm the candidate’s qualifications and past performance and ensures the safety of your clients.

Verification Steps:

• Professional References: Contact previous employers to get insights into the candidate’s work ethic and reliability.
• Credential Verification: Ensure all certifications and licences are valid and up-to-date.

6. Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits

Attracting top talent requires offering competitive salaries and benefits packages.

Compensation Tips:

• Market Research: Compare salaries with industry standards to stay competitive; a recruiter can help you with what offers are being offered.
• Benefits: Offer comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and flexibility where possible.
• Career Development: Provide opportunities for further training and career advancement.

7. Build a Positive Work Environment

Creating a supportive and positive work environment not only helps to attract the best staff but also helps retain staff and reduce turnover.

Work Environment Strategies:

• Supportive Culture: Promote a culture of respect, teamwork, and open communication.
• Recognition: Regularly acknowledge and reward employees’ hard work and achievements.
• Work-Life Balance: Encourage a healthy work-life balance with flexible scheduling options.

8. Continuous Training and Development

Investing in continuous training ensures your staff remains competent and motivated.

Training Programs:

• Onboarding: Implement a comprehensive onboarding program for new hires.
• Ongoing Education: Offer regular training sessions to update skills and introduce new care techniques.
• Professional Growth: Encourage staff to pursue further certifications and provide support for continuing education.

9. Monitor and Evaluate Performance

Regular performance evaluations help maintain high standards of care and identify areas for improvement.

Performance Management:

• Regular Reviews: Conduct annual performance reviews to provide feedback and set goals.
• Open Communication: Maintain open lines of communication to address any issues promptly.
• Support Systems: Offer support and resources to help staff improve their performance.

Recruiting reliable permanent care staff involves a strategic approach, from defining job requirements to providing ongoing support and development. By following these steps, you can build a dedicated and competent team that ensures the highest standard of care for your clients. For more guidance and support in recruiting care staff, contact Rhys Jones on 01242 383781 or email rhysj@safehandsrecruitment.co.uk. We are here to help you every step of the way.