p.s. I've had smaller agencies...I've found the larger ones have more oversite by their own corporate. But I'm new at this so I'm sure my opinion will flop around til I have more experience.
Some agencies do NOT do background checks ... I KNOW because they told me and fired our aide who failed a spot check. Be careful. I went to another agency after being told I couldn't see references. I expect I can see this ladies but she has years on the job at this agency and meets all requirements. mmm try asking for an English speaking aide! haha Or American? Last aide kept doing things wrong and admitted she couldn't understand me. The waiver says they MUST be able to speak and understand English. This is America after all....and they must be able to speak and understand English to work here I would think. Not all of their clients will be speaking whatever they speak. English is the first language here. One agency told me they couldn't promise me that the aide they send would speak English. Imagine that! I went elsewhere. I know it's really hard to get a good aide who can understand directions and FOLLOW them. But keep on trying!!!
Agencies will not give you any type of employee information as this is private and it is the agencies livelihood. Just like a clients privacy rights are protected so are the agencies and their employees. If you are looking for a caregiver you will have to either go through the agency or you will have to advertise for a caregiver. Going through an agency is so much better as they have done all of the ground work on the employee whereas you would have to do all of this on your own. You would have to screen people, check their credentials, background checks, and most importantly a police background check. All of this is necessary to protect your loved one and yourself. It is not easy to just hire someone privately. Hope this helps clear things up for you. Best of luck to you.
Most agencies are the same! (Or I should say almost all!) National agencies are franchised and, what appears great in one state, may vary from county to county. You do not even have to go far! It's just like McD'! Would you consider "fast food" when it comes to your parent's well being? Check LOCAL agencies!
Agencies do their own background checks when they hire someone. They can't give you any of the employee's personal information. You have to find an agency that you trust and trust that they have done their job in hiring trustworthy, dependable people.
Here's a personal story: I work in home healthcare. A long time ago I interviewed with Visiting Angels for a supervisory position. At the end of the interview the interviewer offered me the job and wanted me to go out on a job that very same day. She hadn't checked my references or done a search on me with the national family registry or checked to see if my license was valid and in good standing. She had no idea what kind of person I was. I turned down the job. She was just going to send me to some person's house without knowing a thing about me! That's an agency that doesn't care about their clients and if they don't care about their clients they're not going to care about their employees.
Then I interviewed with another agency. A local agency, privately owned. After the interview I was offered the position provided that my background check, license, and references were clean. They scheduled me for a shift in 4 days provided all my bona fides came back positive. I accepted the job at this agency and I have learned that not only do they care about their employees but they take a personal interest in their (our) clients as well. If you look up my agency online you will not see one negative comment or review and I'm proud to work there.
Stay away from Visiting Angels and do your research. There are good agencies out there.
Agency can't pass you info on their other clients (as references). Yes, you are up to surprises when hire somebody, especially through the agency.... They are not supposed to "discriminate" and, considering that they often pay minimum to those people, you might end up with somebody who is not qualified for the job. Ask friends and family if they can refer you a good caregiver. It will cost you less if you hire private caregiver (if you pay cash!) Interview every person, ask if they are willing to pass drug test and back ground check. Good luck!
Agencies cannot give you employee records. What they can do is show you the agency license, proof of insurance and agency references. If they don't have those, move on.
National agencies are franchised and, what appears great in one state, may vary from county to county. You do not even have to go far! It's just like McD'!
Would you consider "fast food" when it comes to your parent's well being? Check LOCAL agencies!
Here's a personal story: I work in home healthcare. A long time ago I interviewed with Visiting Angels for a supervisory position. At the end of the interview the interviewer offered me the job and wanted me to go out on a job that very same day. She hadn't checked my references or done a search on me with the national family registry or checked to see if my license was valid and in good standing. She had no idea what kind of person I was. I turned down the job. She was just going to send me to some person's house without knowing a thing about me! That's an agency that doesn't care about their clients and if they don't care about their clients they're not going to care about their employees.
Then I interviewed with another agency. A local agency, privately owned. After the interview I was offered the position provided that my background check, license, and references were clean. They scheduled me for a shift in 4 days provided all my bona fides came back positive. I accepted the job at this agency and I have learned that not only do they care about their employees but they take a personal interest in their (our) clients as well. If you look up my agency online you will not see one negative comment or review and I'm proud to work there.
Stay away from Visiting Angels and do your research. There are good agencies out there.
Ask friends and family if they can refer you a good caregiver. It will cost you less if you hire private caregiver (if you pay cash!) Interview every person, ask if they are willing to pass drug test and back ground check.
Good luck!