Hiring a Personal Support Worker - Pt. 2

In my endless task of improving senior care in Ontario, one client at a time, I have finally hired another Personal Support Worker to join my team.

This specific lady comes to me as a member of The Ontario Personal Support Worker Association www.opswa.ca

Regular readers of my blog have heard me sing the praises of OPSWA countless times.

"OPSWA was created out of necessity and want. PSWs all over Ontario wanted a professional association they could call their own.
OPSWA is that Professional Association. It is run by a board of directors and an advisory committee. All who are dedicated to Personal Support Workers in Ontario and making a difference for everyone."

Why is this significant to my hiring process?

First, members of an association automatically stand out and have a leg up on the competition. Think about it - if an individual has taken the time and money to join a specific association, then don't you think that individual will be more committed to the job at hand. I certainly do!
I, personally, am a member of many associations and organizations. This is not just because it looks good at the bottom of my email signature, but because it shows my clients and potential clients that I have taken the time and money to be part of a bigger body - to be part of an important team.

Second, I know that my new staff member is now held accountable, not just by my company policies, but also by the policies of OPSWA. I have been told that I have some of the strictest company policies in Ontario. Why? Would you want somebody caring for your loved one, on the most personal level, with slack policies? So, if my staff are following my specific governing rules in addition to the governing rules of the association that they took time to join, then I feel more than comfortable representing my company as one of the best in Ontario.

Third, members of OPSWA are just more professional, plain and simple.
One of my biggest complaints while trying to hire personal support workers, is the lack of professionalism within the industry. As mentioned in my last blog, I believe this starts at the beginning, during the schooling stage. Professionalism is not taught in the curriculum, but it is sure part of OPSWA! Members of OPSWA come to the interview with a well organized binder of all their credentials, extra schooling, awards, etc. They are also dressed professionally and know how to answer those tough questions. This specific new hire also took the time to send me a "Thank You" card (I have never had this happen before!)

You may be asking yourself, why is this important or relevant to regulations of private home care? Easy - if it was mandatory, due to the regulations, that all private home care organizations only hire members of an association, then don't you think that home care would drastically improve? I sure do!

So the question I leave you with is this ... Why are employers not pushing for all of their staff to be part of this association? I'm jumping on board, are you?

If you feel as passionate about improving senior care regulations in Ontario as I do, please sign my petition - http://www.gopetition.com/petition/30982/signatures.html