“To find the best caregivers for our clients, we look for certain personality traits – kindness, empathy, professionalism, strong communication skills and a sincere desire to make a positive difference in the lives of patients,” said Jack Maloney, President and Co-founder of FirstLantic Healthcare and LiveWell Placements. Being a caregiver can be very rewarding but in order to do the job well, you have to be a compassionate and caring person who truly puts patients first. Have you ever thought about a career that involves helping others? Do you think you have what it takes? FirstLantic describes the steps they use during the hiring process in order to ensure that they employ only the most qualified candidates in South Florida.
Step 1:
All candidates must take a competency test prior to being interviewed. The competency test screens out people who do not have the necessary skills or the appropriate experience that is required to be a caregiver.
Step 2:
If candidates pass the competency test, they then are required to complete a comprehensive application form which must include previous verifiable experience, recent references, acquired skills and educational background.
Step 3:
After successfully completing the application process, candidates go through a series of interviews. At this stage, FirstLantic is looking for a proven track record that the caregiver was a strong advocate for their previous patients. They also look for candidates that are confident, strong communicators, maintain a positive attitude and are caring and sensitive to the needs of others.
Step 4:
If the interview process goes well, then FirstLantic checks references and does a thorough background check. If the candidate receives positive reviews and passes the background checking process, FirstLantic puts together an offer letter which outlines responsibilities of the role and gives the candidate the opportunity to pursue a career with FirstLantic. “We hire people who want to have a long career with us rather than just a job” said T’Amber Jackson, HR Coordinator.
Finally, FirstLantic provides ongoing guidance and training so that caregivers can continuously build their skills and education. As a result, FirstLantic is able to retain their staff for longer periods of time. When one caregiver was asked why she had stayed so long with the company, she replied “I am impressed every day with the support that I receive from management and the commitment that every employee has to making a difference. This keeps me highly engaged and inspired to always do my best for my patients”.
If you think you have what it takes to provide the most compassionate care and utmost professionalism, we would love to hear from you. Learn more about career opportunities >
For information on caregiver certification programs in South Florida, resources are below:
BOCA HELPING HANDS
PARAMOUNT TRAINING SERVICES
CENTER FOR CAREER TRAINING
FAITH CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE
FLORIDA CAREER COLLEGE
FLORIDA HEALTH INSTITUTE
MARLENE’S TRAINING CENTER
RUBY’S ACADEMY FOR HEALTH OCCUPATIONS
SIENA COLLEGE OF HEALTH
WEST BROWARD SCHOOL FOR NURSING ASSISTANT