1. Finding and Hiring Quality Attendants

2. Workshop Goals Determine Your Attendant Needs Recruit Attendants Create Hiring Agreements & Dismissal Criteria Create Prevention Strategies for Emergencies & Critical Incidents Maintain Health

3. Your Attendant Needs

4. Develop a Tasks Check List Be clear and specific about your needs Describe how often and how long each task will take Include personal care, homemaker and skilled needs

5. Sample Tasks Check List TaskHow Often Transferring4 times a day/ 5 min per transfer Bathing4 days a wk/ 45 min per bath Dressing7 times a wk/ 15 min each Bladder Care2 times in A.M/ 7 days a wk/ 10 min each Bowel Care3 times a wk/ 1 hour each Grooming7 times a wk/ 15 min each Range of Motion4 days per wk/ 30 min each Prepare breakfast and clean up7 times per wk/ 40 min per meal

6. Benefits of Using a Check List Determines how many hours per day you will need support staff Shows everything that needs to be done Useful tool when interviewing Helps with developing a budget for CDAS

7. Recruit Attendants

8. How Many Support Staff Hire more than one support staff Plan for backup Recruit support staff on an on-going basis

9. Create a Job Description from Task List Include: - a list of skills, education (if any) and experience you want - hours and times required - range of salary - duties - any other requirements

10. Sample Job Description – Personal Attendant Duties: The person in this position will assist the employer with activities of daily living. The employer is a 25 year-old man who has a physical disability, lives in his own apartment and uses a wheelchair. Specific activities include assistance with bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, toileting (includes bladder and bowel), eating, transferring to and from the wheelchair, taking medications, and range of motion exercises. The position also involves meal preparation, housekeeping, shopping, laundry and other household chores. The position requires a valid Driver’s License. Education and Experience: Some experience providing attendant services in the home of a person with a disability is helpful. Salary Range: $8.50 to $11.50 an hour depending upon experience. Hours: 2 hours a day in the early morning, typically 6:00 to 8:00 am, and some weekend hours. Other Requirements: The person selected should be prompt, reliable, able to work independently, and have good personal hygiene. The person selected must submit to a criminal background check.

11. Where to Recruit Family, friends, neighbors, churches, your immediate community Medical facilities such as hospitals and clinics Colleges, universities, and technical schools Colorado workforce centers Newspapers both local and regional On-line job search engine

12. Sample Ads RELIABLE AIDE/ATTENDANT Weekend (Friday-Saturday) work opportunity for strong, reliable, energetic person willing to learn new skills. Provide personal care and supportive assistance for two busy professionals with physical disabilities. Duties include lifting, bathing, dressing, feeding, cooking, cleaning, accompanying to social events, etc. May include some (optional) travel. Will train. E-mail responses preferred myemail@writeme.commyemail@writeme.com or call 303 555-6666. PERSONAL CARE WORKER Nonsmoker needed to work with adult female with severe disabilities, assist with personal care, laundry and housekeeping. Days negotiable. $9 an hour; some benefits available. Call (719) 123-4567 or send email to: myemail@cybermail.commyemail@cybermail.com

13. Screen Applicants and Interview

14. Screening Applicants Follow non-discrimination laws, federal and state employment laws Screen over phone or in person Ask questions to help decide if the applicant meets your needs Look for experience, education, and work history

15. Sample Screening Questions Are you at least 16 years of age? Do you have a Social Security number? I need someone to work weekends from 8-10 am. Are you available? Do you like and/or are you allergic to animals? (If you have animals) Do you mind working in a smoke-free environment?, or Do you mind working in a smoking environment? What transportation do you use to get to work and is it reliable? Do you have experience providing attendant services? Are you comfortable assisting adults in bathing, toileting, and dressing? Do you have any limitations or restrictions regarding lifting weight?

16. Interview Guidelines BE PREPARED Plan your interview and questions Write attendant guidelines Decide where and how the interview will happen Hold them at a time you are least likely to be interrupted Comply with non-discrimination requirements Request that they bring a copy of a picture ID, social security card, and work references to the interview and review the originals

17. Interview Guidelines (cont.) Be frank, clear, and matter of fact about tasks involved Notice not only what the person says, but how they say it Get complete application, references, CBI form, I-9 immigration form Check references before offering position

18. Sample Interview Questions What jobs have you had in the past? How did you feel about those jobs? What did you like/ not like? Why do you want this job? How would you describe your work ethic? Dependability? What work environment do you like? Are you a multi-tasker? What do you see will be your biggest challenge working with me if you get this position?

19. Create Hiring or Provider Agreement and Dismissal Criteria

20. Information about Hiring/Provider Agreement Benefits of having a hiring agreement What to include

21. Sample Hiring/Provider Agreement 1.Wages: a. Chris will begin work at $9.00 an hour b. After 3 months of satisfactory work, Chris will receive a $.25/hr raise. c. further raise increases will be based on quarterly performance evaluations 2.Benefits: a. If Chris is injured on the job, worker’s compensation is available. 3. Services: a. Assist Kelly up and out of bed b. Assist Kelly to shower or take a bath, based on preference c. Assist with grooming and dressing d. Prepare Kelly’s breakfast and lunch for Kelly to have later

22. Sample Hiring/Provider Agreement (cont.) f. Wash dishes every other visit g. Perform light housekeeping as requested by Kelly h. Assist Kelly with toileting as necessary i. Assist Kelly with medications as necessary j. Check Kelly’s skin condition as requested by Kelly 4. Work Schedule: a. Chris will work for Kelly Monday through Thursday from 6:00 am until 8:30 am beginning on November 4. b. Chris will work Saturday and Sunday mornings, 7:30 to 10:00 am beginning on November 2. c. If Kelly needs to make a change in the schedule, Kelly and Chris will discuss the change at least 24 hours in advance. 5. Working Conditions: a. If Chris feels he is becoming ill he will wear a mask while at work b. Chris will not come to work smelling like cigarette smoke

23. Dismissal Most common grounds for dismissal Immediate grounds for dismissal Things to think about before dismissal

24. Create Prevention Strategies for Emergencies and Incidents

25. Prevention Strategies Plan your backup care Prepare for community-wide disasters Complete a health care emergency form and train your staff on how and when to use it Minimize your risk of theft Recognize and prevent abuse

26. Maintain Health

27. Health Maintenance Staying in good health Be open and frank about your needs Explain different types of health maintenance activities you require Quality care = good health

28. Questions?