Whether you are seeking a caregiver to help you on an occasional basis or you need somebody to provide you with help and support every day, there are several very important questions that you need to ask the candidates you interview. In this short article, we discuss 4 questions that we feel should be at the top of your list, no matter what your personal circumstances or specific care requirements.
Asking Caregivers in Toronto the Important Questions
Whatever else you may be planning to ask potential caregivers, make sure that you pose the following 4 questions to each one that you interview:
- Do You Have any Formal Qualifications or Training? – As far as qualifications are concerned, you should be looking primarily for those that are directly related to care giving but you may also wish to give preference to candidates who have medical qualifications and training that would make it easier for them to provide assistance to you in the event of an emergency. Experienced caregivers with no formal qualifications or training may be very good at their jobs but in order to avoid those with no relevant skills you may wish to rule out such carers just in case.
- Do You Genuinely Like Your Job? – This is a question to which all candidates are likely to respond in the positive so you may be wondering why we have included it in our list. In our extensive experience it is very easy to gauge when somebody is giving you a genuine answer and when they are just saying what you want to hear, which is why we always recommend asking this question. There are many caregivers in Toronto who truly love their work: you need to focus on this group when you are looking for the perfect candidate.
- Are You Happy to Work the Hours That I Need You? – The important point to bear in mind as far as this question is concerned is that you are not asking them whether they are capable of working the hours you need but whether they are happy to do so. The best caregiver in the city is unlikely to be a good choice if the hours that you want them to work will conflict with their home life or other personal responsibilities. Focus your search on professional caregivers in Toronto who are willing and able to fit in with your requirements.
- Can You Provide References? – The best way to confirm whether a particular caregiver is genuinely good at their job is by finding out what their previous employers thought of them. If possible, try to find candidates who are happy for you to contact previous employers directly rather than relying on written references that they have already obtained.
If you want to save time and focus on caregivers in Toronto who can answer yes to all of the above questions, and many more that you may have in mind, call and speak to a member of our team today.