It isn’t always easy for care homes to recruit and retain the best staff. There are several reasons for this – perhaps the workplace doesn’t provide the ability to climb the career ladder or maybe carers can find better work elsewhere.
Is Retention an Issue In Care Homes?
Unfortunately, yes – many care homes have struggled to retain their best staff in recent years, with a 28.2% turnover rate during 2021-2022. This problem is widespread throughout the entirety of the NHS. Many NHS workers cite problems like long work hours, high stress levels, and low job satisfaction as reasons for this.
So, how do you improve recruitment and retention rates? Here are some strategies that make a difference.
Investing More in Training
Many carers will leave a care home environment if they don’t feel they are trained well enough. Working to only half your potential isn’t stimulating or enjoyable for anyone, so it’s essential to invest more time and effort into the training part of recruitment. A good training strategy that uses technology can make a big difference to the recruitment rate. Also, it’s important not to forget about ongoing training for staff members who have been there for a long time and who want to improve their skill set.
An Enjoyable Environment
You cannot underestimate how important an environment is for a care home. Not only is it essential for the residents, but for everyone who works there, too. You want to create a beautiful space that encourages positivity. Take a place like Signature at Reigate Grange Care Home as an example. This is a care home that offers gorgeous communal spaces, including decorations like plants and artwork, as well as wide, open windows for lots of natural light. These additions make everyone more positive, whether they’re residents reading a book in an armchair or a carer completing their daily tasks.
Implementing Better Technology
The medical world arguably benefits the most from modern tech, and it could even help with staff retention. Technology can help in a wide range of ways, starting with recruitment – with the right management software, care homes can make the recruitment process much more streamlined and even make the training period even faster. Remember that the highest turnover rates are usually in the earlier stages of onboarding!
Plus, carers are more likely to stick around if the home is well-organised and makes the most of beneficial modern technology, such as medical wearables, digital care plans, and assistive technology. These being in place make managing and running the care home easier for staff members.
Making the Changes for Increased Retention
Making these changes to increase retention isn’t an overnight job. Usually, you will need to implement a new strategy to create smaller changes over time. For example, you might start with redecorating the space or implementing new training into the recruitment process. Then, over time, you will see steady changes that don’t only benefit the residents but also the staff. As a result, the best staff will stick around, meaning care homes can thrive in the long run.
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