• Clarify your vision and write it down – it will drive the process and will determine what the worker will focus on.
• Prepare a Job Description to distribute to potential candidates. To help you get started we have included a sample Job Description.
• Prepare an Employment Contract or Contractor Service Agreement that includes all critical details. You may consult with a lawyer or check out customized templates for Employment Contracts, Employment Offers and Service Agreements available through the Law Depot.

• Determine your interviewing process in advance.
• Consider an orientation and training opportunities for the person you hire.

With individualized funding, you have the flexibility of hiring whomever is right for the position without restriction so when it comes to recruiting, get creative and think outside of the box. 

One strategy is to recruit workers who may share a similar interest as your loved one. This is where you can get creative. If your son or daughter aspires to gardening, music, going to a gym, working in a restaurant, etc., hiring workers with these interests, skills or connections can be effective. Consider posting your job ad where people with these interests can see it. Try posting on related Facebook groups, community centres, local organizations or websites that appeal to those who share the same interests as the person being supported . 

Some parents have found that referrals from friends or current workers can be effective or they’ll post the job ad with their church, service club or other groups they’re members of. Leverage your relationships. 

Traditional newspaper advertising is much less common these days but perhaps an option in your community. Promotion on online platforms is much more popular. There are free platforms like Kijjiji, Craigslist or even community Facebook groups or paid platforms like Charity Village or Indeed. While the paid platforms can be expensive, they often have functionality built in to their platforms that can help simplify and manage the recruitment process. 

Are there colleges or universities in your community? If so, do they have Personal Support Worker or Disability Studies or other related programs. Searching for someone who has an awareness of disability issues could be effective. These programs may also have job boards you can check out. 

If your preference is to hire supporters who have been through a Developmental Service Workers program, the DSW Coop was created in Ottawa in collaboration with Algonquin College as a reliable source for DSWs in the Ottawa area. You can find other colleges in Ontario that offer DSW Programs here. 

The bottom line is, finding a great support worker may take some creativity and diligence but the effort may be well worth it in the long term.

• It can be effective to hold telephone screening calls before meeting candidates in person. This way you can quickly eliminate unsuitable candidates.
• You may want to conduct the first interview in a public location. This is a safe practice for you and your family but also for the candidates.
• Your loved one should definitely have a say in who is supporting them but for some, it may be beneficial to delay introducing them after you have short-listed the candidates.
  

In hiring support workers it’s helpful to learn a little about employment law. Specifically, you will want to understand if the person you hire is an independent contractor or an employee. Quite often, the distinction between the two has to do with how the position is setup initially. 

Independent contractors are similar to those who might run a small business like a landscaper, house painter or mechanic. They fulfill services for you, set their own fees and invoice accordingly. The person hiring them does not remit income taxes, allocate holidays, tell them how to do their job, etc.

PooranLaw has written an article “Tips & Traps for Families Hiring Private Workers” that offers insights on employment status and links to a variety of resources. 

Regardless of whether your worker is an employee or an independent contractor, providing a written contract or service agreement is critical. 

It’s always a good practice to check a candidate’s references and to arrange for a Police Background Check or Vulnerable Sector Screening Check. Your local police department can provide information on the process.