Recruiting The Best Staff to Aged Care

Australia’s ageing population is growing, along with the demand for aged care services and the need to fill the increasing number of jobs across the country. But we don’t just need more workers to support the sector – we need high quality, well-trained aged care workers to deliver exceptional care for all.

The Aged Care Royal Commission Final Report summary projected that the numbers of Australian’s aged over 85 years will increase from 515,700 in 2018–19 to more than 1.5 million by 2058. The Royal Commission into Aged Care has propelled the sector to undergo significant changes and encouraged a renewed focus on improving the quality of care for all aged care recipients now and in years to come.

This begins by empowering more aged care staff with the qualities of respect, compassion and dignity when working with aged care residents and clients.

Recruiting high quality staff for aged care jobs

High quality aged care workers can raise the standard of care across the sector, but some aged care employers face challenges in recruiting people who are have the necessary qualities to thrive in aged care. Particularly, the interpersonal skills that enable them to connect with and care for the elderly to the highest possible standard. Other aged care employers may find that aged care training has been inadequate. There are a couple of recruitment approaches that we see utilised regularly that can yield excellent outcomes for aged care workplaces:

• Traineeships
  A workplace traineeship could be the perfect way for your aged care facility to attract those new to the sector while training them on the job. The trainee has the opportunity to earn while they learn, plus you get to train aged care workers in a way that best suits your workplace.
• Practical placement provider
  Being a practical placement provider allows aged care workplaces to have extra staff on board to support the running of your facility and help someone training for an aged care career at the same time. For many practical placement partners, this can be a great way to discover new team members who become assets in the workplace permanently.

What do you need in an aged care worker?

Whether you’re assessing job applicants, trainees or those on practical placement in your aged care facility, knowing what qualities and skills to look for can help you make wise recruitment choices. So, what should employers look for in an aged care worker?

• Soft skills
  Soft skills or interpersonal skills are human qualities. When a person has well-developed soft skills, including empathy, communication and patience, they are more likely to be able to thrive in aged care and contribute positively to your facility.
• Well-rounded training
  Training for the aged care sector should balance theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on learning. Know what’s what and how it applied in a real-world situation is a must for anyone working in aged care and quality training should provide that.
• Aligned workplace values
  While every aged care workplace should prioritise respect, dignity and care, there are differences between facilities. When you are recruiting, it’s important to find staff who can fit in with your unique workplace and its values.

Attracting and keeping the best candidates for your aged care jobs

A positive employment experience is vital to attract and retain aged care staff. This doesn’t mean ensuring that every day is going to be perfect but offering a positive environment that encourages them to grow. Effort needs to go toward two areas: retaining older, experienced workers for longer and attracting younger employees.

There are many things you can do to reduce your staff turnover and make working with your facility more appealing, and while fair pay is a must, it’s not all about salary:

• Flexible work options
  Passion for work is important, but so is your personal life and wellbeing. Flexibility in the workplace can go a long way to attracting and keeping quality aged care workers. Flexible work options might be rotating rosters or understanding for those with responsibilities such as picking up children from school.
• Opportunities to upskill and grow
  Career development is a big priority for many employees, particularly those who are younger or new to the sector. Providing staff with opportunities to upskill and grow professionally can make them more likely to want to work with you and stay on board.
• Supportive environment
  Acknowledging achievements, celebrating birthdays, and showing understanding for each individual are part of creating a positive, support work environment. If you want to keep quality employees in your aged care jobs, this is a must.

Shaping quality workforces in aged care

The team at Selmar are dedicated to supporting aged care professionals and workplaces in shaping an aged care sector above the rest.

Experienced, knowledgeable trainers deliver quality, relevant course material with in-depth practical training. Selmar’s aged care courses also incorporate theoretical learning and have a focus on developing interpersonal skills. We recognise that a strong aged care sector needs to be underpinned by a commitment to compassion and care.

Whether you want to upskill your team, partner with our practical placement or learn more about the incentives for employing workplace trainees, get in touch with Selmar on 1300 484 158.