By Mariah Martinez
July 2019 | 2019 Summer Newsletter
Whether you found a potential In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) care provider through the Public Authority (PA) Registry or your personal search, screen these providers to make sure they are a great fit for you.
To ensure the screening process is successful, follow these three steps to choose the best provider for you:
- The Telephone Interview: Learn if the provider will meet your needs during this screening by asking:
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- What IHSS tasks are you willing to do?
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- How many hours are you willing to work?
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- What days of the week can you work?
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- What times of the day can you work?
Remember to be flexible. If the provider can only work some of your hours, or they can work only certain days, you may find it worthwhile to hire them and test if the match works for you.
When you call, if the provider does not immediately answer, leave a clear message stating your name, why you are calling, and your phone number. Make sure your voicemail is set up and your voicemail box is not full so the provider can leave a message if you are unavailable when they call back.
2. Face to Face Interview: If the phone interview goes well, meeting with the provider in person to discuss the information from the phone interview in more detail can aid you in making your decision. As the employer, you make the work environment —your home— as safe and welcoming as you are able. If you are meeting in your home, tidy up if you can, and make sure a place is available for the provider to sit during the interview.
Additional screening questions you may like to ask the provider:
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- What is your experience as a care provider?
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- What type of services have you provided to other clients?
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- Do you have any special training?
3. Reference Checks: If the provider is not from a PA Registry list, ask for their references. When you call the references, ask:
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- How long did the provider work for you?
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- What type of tasks did they perform for you?
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- Was the provider reliable?
For more information on how to hire an IHSS provider or to receive a list of pre-screened IHSS providers to interview, contact the Public Authority Registry: (408) 350-3251.