For Caregivers and People Who Are Looking for a Job in the Caregiving Industry

When you are looking for a job in the caregiving industry, make sure that the agency that hired you runs your background check and sends you to do the fingerprinting before assigning you a client. It is required by law, and, from my personal experience, working for the agency that knows and follows legal procedure while hiring people will most likely mean that they will follow it when it comes to employee retention. In other words, they will treat you fairly.

Some agencies could also send you to do a drug test. Agencies are required to perform certain steps to ensure they get employees who are trustworthy, safe, and legally allowed to work in the United States.

Other agencies could also ask you whether you are vaccinated against Covid-19 and influenza viruses; if not, they may ask you to schedule those to be done as soon as possible and will reimburse you if your insurance does not cover them.

Some employers ask newly hired employees to complete a tuberculosis questionnaire, and they will check your professional references.

HCA Certification and Training

The agency that hired you will need to make sure that you possess an HCA certification OR that you are willing to complete the certification. This may take 1 to 4 weeks to complete (with the following examination that may occur immediately OR up to several weeks after), depending on your agency’s policy.

Also, the agency that hired you will decide whether to assign you a client after your first 5 hours of HCA training have been completed OR after you’ve completed the whole training.

In addition, you will be asked to do 10–40 additional hours of mandatory classes related to your job each year. These classes could be scheduled for you, or you can schedule them yourself, or complete them online at your own pace; however, there will be a deadline by which you will have to finish them.

CPR/First Aid Certification

Some agencies require you to possess a CPR/First Aid certification as well. And again, if you do not have it and it is required by your agency’s Policies and Procedures, they will schedule you for the class as soon as possible. Or you can schedule it yourself, and they will reimburse you for the cost.

CPR/First Aid class has to be completed in person. There are organizations in Washington State that offer this class that’s led by a qualified instructor. It can be completed in 1 or 2 days, and you will receive your certification shortly after completing it.

All of the training should be free of charge for you.

Look for an agency that offers professional development if you wish to move up to an administrative position, if and when it’s available.

Just know: while evaluating you, your employer will be looking at not just WHAT you do, but especially HOW you do it.

Once You Are Hired, You Have the Right To:

a) See Your Pay Information

See your pay stubs, all the deductions, your rate of pay, and your hours worked AND receive answers if you have any questions regarding your pay.

Usually, you will need to contact HR with questions about your pay. But it may be a Compliance Manager or even the Owner, if the agency is just starting its operations.

b) Have an Orientation

The Orientation will familiarize you with the company’s values. You may think that each caregiving agency’s values are the same, but in reality, they are not.

So please pay attention and take plenty of notes. This will help you when you start working.

The Orientation is also a time to ask questions and clarify things you hear.

c) Receive Management Support

Caregiving jobs are often taxing, physically, emotionally, and mentally. At the very least, you need to be heard by your supervisor.

Ignis Rose Care provides in-house training on topics such as compassion fatigue, mental health, and more, as well as caregiver support.

Your Feedback!

If you are an Ignis Rose Care client, a potential client, a professional caregiver, a person who aspires to become a caregiver, a client’s loved one, the owner or administrator of a caregiving agency, or just a person learning about caregiving industry, please tell us your opinion, comment, questions, or concerns about this post! You can utilize this website by going to “Contact” – “Contact Us”, then complete a form located on the right side of the page, under “Send Us a Message”, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

We welcome suggestions!