So, you’ve created a profile that provides all your amazing skills and credentials as a caregiver. You’ve checked the available jobs, noted those families whose needs match your qualifications and double checked that they also suit your availability. What next? Here’s some tips to move you safely from potential applicant to providing confirmed care with a family.
Island Care offers a level of security vetting based on Governmental regulations, laws, and standards. While we do our best to screen and reject anyone that demonstrates inappropriate conduct, it’s important to understand that our service is not all-knowing. We strongly encourage you to screen potential candidates yourself as well. Check their references and contact previous employers to ask questions. You may consider doing online searches, using social media, or networking to gain information about the person’s work ethic, performance, character, and general lifestyle. In a small community, it is often fairly easy to access this information, which helps you to get a sense of the potential candidate before you make a decision about connecting with them.
Deciding to provide care to a family is a professional choice that is enhanced based on connections and attaining the “right fit”. Hiring a caregiver is a personal and unique experience for families. As a caregiver, it is important that you connect with families before accepting jobs to discuss your position/role, their expectations of you in your professional role, and your expectations of them as your potential employer. We suggest that you use our direct messaging platform to communicate securely with families that you think may be a good match. This way you can start to build connections and review the job requirements in detail without compromising your privacy.
Communication may start as messaging and progress to telephone and/or video interviews so that you can experience real time interactions and feedback from the potential employer. Whether you are offering long-term care or care for a single occasion, you can still start to build a relationship toward being hired. This is an opportunity to share your skill sets and professional and personal experiences directly so that the client can get a feel for who you are and what you have to offer. We suggest that while there may be a demand for your skills that you also trust your gut. If your instincts tell you, that the potential client may expect more than you can offer, are difficult to communicate with, or present with some concerns, they may not be a good match for you, and you should consider alternative clients instead. If your intuition suggests that it might be a good match, and the clients remain interested in your unique set of skills, you can then go one step further to meet the family in person in a public space before finalizing any job offers.
With Island Care support, you share your contact details only when you feel comfortable and decide the caregiving positions that are a good match for your specific skills, experience, and availability.
After you’ve taken the time to learn as much as you can about the needs of the family that you will provide care to and made the decision to accept a caregiving position, we recommend that you remain vigilant. We encourage you to be optimistic yet exercise caution.
If you are providing care for a single occasion, you may want to schedule some time at the beginning of the first care session to make sure you are comfortable with the client and have all of the instructions you need to carry out your job safely. Observe their space and check for any safety risks or hazards that may be present if you are providing care in their home. Double check that you have available access to fire extinguishers, working smoke detectors, and emergency contact numbers if an emergency should arise. You should also be aware of where medications are kept and receive formal instruction on medication administration wherever necessary. If you are providing care in your own home, offer time to familiarize your clients with the area(s) of your home where you will be providing care, including any safety features they should be aware of. Confirm your emergency protocols with them while they are in your home, offering them the opportunity to ask questions. Address any of their concerns directly before finalizing the care arrangement. Please also remember, it is your responsibility to maintain any licensure or registration requirements associated with your professional role.
If you have been hired as a long-term caregiver, please be aware that your clients may drop in unexpectedly on occasion, use video monitoring, or get feedback from neighbors or others about how things are going. They have a right to address any concerns about the care you offer with you. You also have the right to address any challenges that you may be experiencing, such as inconsistent or frequent changes in their care expectations.
Please be mindful that as a caregiver you are also a mandated reporter. If you have reason to suspect that a minor child, elderly person, or animal in your care are the subject of mistreatment, you must report your concerns to the relevant authorities. You may also wish to red flag the individual on our platform so that we can investigate your concern further.
Below is a list of the relevant authorities that may assist you with making a report if you have a concern related to care:
So, you’ve created a profile that provides all your amazing skills and credentials as a caregiver. You’ve checked the available jobs, noted those families whose needs match your qualifications and double
At Island Care, we really believe in the goodness of people. We strive to focus on the positive attributes of others and work hard to maintain a positive care culture. However, at the same time we are realistically cautious and protective of our Island Care community.
So, you’ve created a profile that provides all your amazing skills and credentials as a caregiver. You’ve checked the available jobs, noted those families whose needs match your qualifications and double checked that they also suit your availability. What next? Here’s some tips to move you safely from potential applicant to providing confirmed care with a family.