Re: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

[Guest guest]

You continue to be awesome! Thank you very much!

Lori

________________________________

From: althegrrl <alanarutht@...>

Sent: Thu, January 13, 2011 11:11:58 AM

Subject: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

Lori,

I just wrote a long how-to-hire guide for my niece. It includes a job

description with general dudies. Please know it's geared towards a high school

student employer.

Here are excerpts:

2) This is the ad I use. It's been really effective for me and other friends:

Seeking Personal Assistant(s)

Sunday, Thursday – 8:30 p.m. (2 - 3 hours)

Friday (every other), Saturday – 9:30 p.m.

I'm an active 44 year old woman who lives with my partner and 2 cats.

[saying you have pets is important to weed out people with allergies

or phobias.] I need assistance with most aspects of my personal care,

cooking, household chores including occasional home maintenance and

light repairs, and administrative tasks. I also need someone who can

drive me in my van. There may be opportunities to travel with us. I

use a power wheelchair and numerous home health gadgets. Our home is

5 blocks from the N. Berkeley BART Station, a mile west of UCB, and on

the 51 & 88 Bus lines.

I work part-time as a consultant, volunteer at local non-profit

organizations, and enjoy spending time with my partner, friends, and

family. I like cooking, listening to music, writing, playing games,

watching movies, beading, drawing, reading, computer geeking,

gardening, chatting over tea, and such. I am a responsible employer

with 28 years of experience hiring, training and working with my

assistants. I am looking for responsible, organized, careful, and

meticulous people who enjoy good conversation, respect my home and

privacy, and don't mind if I zone out on good and bad TV.

Personal Care

- Bathing (Bed Bath)

- Bathrooming (Bedpan & Catheter)

- Dressing

- Transferring (55 lb. Cradle Lift - Yes, I'm really small)

- Occasional Feeding

- Grooming

Household Stuff

- Cooking with my instruction as needed

- Dishes

- Making Bed

- Tidying Up

- Plant/Garden Care

- Sweeping/Mopping

- Errands

- Driving My Van

- Cat Care

Clerical (Minimal)

- Filing

- Bill Paying

- Correspondence

- Computer Scheduling (must have and use e-mail account regularly to

coordinate with other attendants)

Requirements

- Male or Female

- Comfort with Personal Care

- Ability to Readily Lift 55 lbs.

- Prompt and Reliable (sick days must be very rare, though,

occasionally swapping shifts with other assistants is fine)

- Must Be Able to Follow Directions

- Good Sense of Humor

- Detail-Oriented Quick Learner

- Strong Communication Skills

- Fluent in English

- Valid Driver's License with Clean Driving Record

- Social Security #

- Good References

- I am willing to Train/No Attendant Work Experience Necessary

- No perfume

- No homophobes please

Rate of Pay:

$XX.00/hr. Training

$XX.00 Starting (negotiable based on experience)

Regular Raises

Possible Medical/Dental/Vision Benefits for working 70+ hrs./month

after 3 Months

E-mail resume or paragraph about yourself, plus references; or phone:

3) Some of the more telling interview questions I often use or that

fit your situation that are not explict in the job description.

Why are you interested in this type of work?

Tell me what you would do if your regular transportation was

unavailable to you on a day you were scheduled to get me up.

This job is paid through the state on a xxx-frequency. Do you have a

photo ID and Social Security Card I can make a copy of if your hired?

Do you think you would be comfortable doing some of the more intimate

things I need help with such as washing me when I'm menstuating?

Please give me an example of a conflict you've had with an employer or

co-worker and how you worked through it.

This job is only a few hours and not enough to live one; how does it

fit into the rest of your life?

If I'm accepted to my 1st choice college I plan to move away in the

mid to late summer. Would you be able to commit ton working for me

through tothat time? If I go to a local college, would you be willing

to consider working longer?

Do you have a need to take any time off in the next 6 months?

4) I can usually tell during an interview if the person is going to

be good at following directions and will respect me as the one making

decisions about my care. I use reference checks to learn more about

their reliability and character. I ask references the following:

Hi, I'm a quadruplegic who is considering hiring so-and-so to assist

me with daily living tasks. I had a great interview with them and am

hoping I can ask just a few questions about your work with them:

- Can you confirm when you worked together?

Some more formal employers won't answers these for legal reasons:

- What were so-and-so's responsibilities? May I ask if they did them well?

- What are so-and-so's strengths and weaknesses?

When people know your disabled they can't seem to resist asking these:

- Hypothetically, would you trust so-and-so with the keys to your

house or watching your children if you have any?

- Were you able to rely on them to show up on time?

Is there anything else I should know before offering so-and-so the job?

Thank you so much for your time.

>

> Someone here, perhaps Alana, once shared a detailed list of duties. I cannot

> seem to find it now that I need it. I saw 's document in the Files area

> but that is more narrative. As always, any help is appreciated.

>

>

> Lori

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you. Had the interview yesterday aand it looks like we'll start next

week.

Lori

________________________________

From: charmedcripchic <charmedcripchic@...>

Sent: Fri, January 14, 2011 6:40:54 PM

Subject: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

An ad for initial recruiting, just needs a quick fact list of location,

position, pay, times, tasks, requirements, un-negotiables (ie non smokers)

requirements (ie ID, refs, drivers lic) and perks (ie flexible schedule, on

public transport route,)

My own ads go like this

" -[insert your location first]- Learn about Independent Living and Community

Inclusion while working in the relaxed environment of my own home. Active

assistant needed for young woman with physcial disabilities for daily living

needs- [insert $wage$, days, & hours here]- Driving my van, housework, personal

care, cooking, & more. Must be legal citizen, have drivers lic & CORI, refs.

Not an under table pay job. Smokers ok if outside. Do not bring your kids. I

have 2 cats, this job is not in a senior living, group home, or ARC facility, my

disabilities are physical only. No uniforms or degrees req. [insert times and

methods to contact you here]. "

It looks a little harsh but it's narrowed down the interview pool to quality

PCAs. Not illegal residents, or senior citizen companions who want to watch

soaps all day and pour me tea, and not a person who only wants to supervise

mentally or intellectually impaired individuals who can physically do their own

ADLs but are stuck in group homes

People needing work are usually scaning ads by location, pay, and hours, to

route out who they'll call back and go see first.

You can be flowery and divulge all your hobbies, life style philosophies, lifes

work, favorite foods and music, etc after you've established the basics.

Detailed lists of tasks and responsibilities are important but better left to

during the interview and repeat on first day of work.

> >

> > Someone here, perhaps Alana, once shared a detailed list of duties. I

cannot

>

> > seem to find it now that I need it. I saw 's document in the Files

>area

>

> > but that is more narrative. As always, any help is appreciated.

> >

> >

> > Lori

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Alana!

I hope you get approved soon! How many hours do you get a week now (if I may

ask)?

Lori

________________________________

From: althegrrl <alanarutht@...>

Sent: Sat, January 15, 2011 6:51:49 PM

Subject: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

Yay! That's great, Lori! I'm waiting to be accepted for a waiver program that

will give me additional hours. The needed hours will be a plus; the hiring of

more peeps will be less fun.

> > >

> > > Someone here, perhaps Alana, once shared a detailed list of duties. I

>cannot

>

> >

> > > seem to find it now that I need it. I saw 's document in the Files

> >area

> >

> > > but that is more narrative. As always, any help is appreciated.

> > >

> > >

> > > Lori

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Hope it goes well Lori. What sort of tasks/hours they doing?

Just a brief response to recruiting strategies. I have personally found

that sharing some of the more " flowery " stuff has resulted in me attracting

some of my best pas as it hooked them into applying for work they would

never normally consider applying for.

Sent from my iPhone

On 16 Jan 2011, at 01:37, Lori G <lorig713@...> wrote:

Thank you, Alana!

I hope you get approved soon! How many hours do you get a week now (if I may

ask)?

Lori

________________________________

From: althegrrl <alanarutht@... <alanarutht%40gmail.com>>

<%40>

Sent: Sat, January 15, 2011 6:51:49 PM

Subject: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

Yay! That's great, Lori! I'm waiting to be accepted for a waiver program

that

will give me additional hours. The needed hours will be a plus; the hiring

of

more peeps will be less fun.

> > >

> > > Someone here, perhaps Alana, once shared a detailed list of duties. I

>cannot

>

> >

> > > seem to find it now that I need it. I saw 's document in the

Files

> >area

> >

> > > but that is more narrative. As always, any help is appreciated.

> > >

> > >

> > > Lori

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I hate that these services are being cut!

Lori

________________________________

From: althegrrl <alanarutht@...>

Sent: Sat, January 15, 2011 7:50:24 PM

Subject: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

I receive the maximum allowed hours in California under the In-Home Supportive

Services (IHSS) Program - 283 hours per month, about 9 hours per day. Effective

on February 1st we're all being cut 3.6% and we have an additional 24% cut being

proposed for July 1st, but it's just the beginning ofthe budget debate.

> > > >

> > > > Someone here, perhaps Alana, once shared a detailed list of duties. I

> >cannot

> >

> > >

> > > > seem to find it now that I need it. I saw 's document in the

Files

>

> > >area

> > >

> > > > but that is more narrative. As always, any help is appreciated.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Lori

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

It's great that you get that many hours.

Lori

________________________________

From: charmedcripchic <charmedcripchic@...>

Sent: Sun, January 16, 2011 6:26:14 PM

Subject: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

Yes- the venues anyone is advertising through matters for the type and length of

your PCA ads.

As June Price wrote in her book " Avoiding Attendants From Hell " : " Independent

Living is not for the faint of heart " .

I'm interested in learning how the PCA program works in different states. Here

in Mass we have no health benifits and one crappy wage so whether a PCA has

worked 10 yrs or 10 hours they are all paid the same.

For PCA hours I have an average coverage of 22 hrs a Day.

90% of my family friends have all died in the past 5 yrs and I had to leave a

death trap apartment and relocate too far away from my former workers to help me

anymore.

For those with family and large social circles to send word of mouth by for

PCAs, be thankful for that blessing.

[Guest guest]

Hours: 4:30-8:30pm M-W-F (Fri. evening or Sat. morn-flexible)

Tasks to name a few: shower, hair care, toileting, getting ready for bed,

helping place medicine for me to take, arranging meds for the month, light

house-keeping, get clothes ready for the next day.

Lori

________________________________

From: Moss <lindajmoss@...>

" " < >

Sent: Sat, January 15, 2011 7:46:16 PM

Subject: Re: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

Hope it goes well Lori. What sort of tasks/hours they doing?

Just a brief response to recruiting strategies. I have personally found

that sharing some of the more " flowery " stuff has resulted in me attracting

some of my best pas as it hooked them into applying for work they would

never normally consider applying for.

Sent from my iPhone

On 16 Jan 2011, at 01:37, Lori G <lorig713@...> wrote:

Thank you, Alana!

I hope you get approved soon! How many hours do you get a week now (if I may

ask)?

Lori

________________________________

From: althegrrl <alanarutht@... <alanarutht%40gmail.com>>

<%40>

Sent: Sat, January 15, 2011 6:51:49 PM

Subject: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

Yay! That's great, Lori! I'm waiting to be accepted for a waiver program

that

will give me additional hours. The needed hours will be a plus; the hiring

of

more peeps will be less fun.

> > >

> > > Someone here, perhaps Alana, once shared a detailed list of duties. I

>cannot

>

> >

> > > seem to find it now that I need it. I saw 's document in the

Files

> >area

> >

> > > but that is more narrative. As always, any help is appreciated.

> > >

> > >

> > > Lori

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Thought you might have got them to do some driving to help shorten your

gruelling days!

Sent from my iPhone

On 18 Jan 2011, at 01:07, Lori G <lorig713@...> wrote:

Hours: 4:30-8:30pm M-W-F (Fri. evening or Sat. morn-flexible)

Tasks to name a few: shower, hair care, toileting, getting ready for bed,

helping place medicine for me to take, arranging meds for the month, light

house-keeping, get clothes ready for the next day.

Lori

________________________________

From: Moss <lindajmoss@... <lindajmoss%40gmail.com>>

" <%40> " <

<%40>>

Sent: Sat, January 15, 2011 7:46:16 PM

Subject: Re: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

Hope it goes well Lori. What sort of tasks/hours they doing?

Just a brief response to recruiting strategies. I have personally found

that sharing some of the more " flowery " stuff has resulted in me attracting

some of my best pas as it hooked them into applying for work they would

never normally consider applying for.

Sent from my iPhone

On 16 Jan 2011, at 01:37, Lori G <lorig713@... <lorig713%40>>

wrote:

Thank you, Alana!

I hope you get approved soon! How many hours do you get a week now (if I may

ask)?

Lori

________________________________

From: althegrrl <alanarutht@... <alanarutht%40gmail.com> <alanarutht%

40gmail.com>>

<%40> <%

40>

Sent: Sat, January 15, 2011 6:51:49 PM

Subject: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

Yay! That's great, Lori! I'm waiting to be accepted for a waiver program

that

will give me additional hours. The needed hours will be a plus; the hiring

of

more peeps will be less fun.

> > >

> > > Someone here, perhaps Alana, once shared a detailed list of duties. I

>cannot

>

> >

> > > seem to find it now that I need it. I saw 's document in the

Files

> >area

> >

> > > but that is more narrative. As always, any help is appreciated.

> > >

> > >

> > > Lori

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Well, that's an idea.

Lori

I am Bippy on Twitter.

________________________________

From: Moss <lindajmoss@...>

" " < >

Sent: Mon, January 17, 2011 7:37:24 PM

Subject: Re: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

Thought you might have got them to do some driving to help shorten your

gruelling days!

Sent from my iPhone

On 18 Jan 2011, at 01:07, Lori G <lorig713@...> wrote:

Hours: 4:30-8:30pm M-W-F (Fri. evening or Sat. morn-flexible)

Tasks to name a few: shower, hair care, toileting, getting ready for bed,

helping place medicine for me to take, arranging meds for the month, light

house-keeping, get clothes ready for the next day.

Lori

________________________________

From: Moss <lindajmoss@... <lindajmoss%40gmail.com>>

" <%40> " <

<%40>>

Sent: Sat, January 15, 2011 7:46:16 PM

Subject: Re: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

Hope it goes well Lori. What sort of tasks/hours they doing?

Just a brief response to recruiting strategies. I have personally found

that sharing some of the more " flowery " stuff has resulted in me attracting

some of my best pas as it hooked them into applying for work they would

never normally consider applying for.

Sent from my iPhone

On 16 Jan 2011, at 01:37, Lori G <lorig713@... <lorig713%40>>

wrote:

Thank you, Alana!

I hope you get approved soon! How many hours do you get a week now (if I may

ask)?

Lori

________________________________

From: althegrrl <alanarutht@... <alanarutht%40gmail.com> <alanarutht%

40gmail.com>>

<%40> <%

40>

Sent: Sat, January 15, 2011 6:51:49 PM

Subject: Re: Interviewing a PCA candidate on Friday

Yay! That's great, Lori! I'm waiting to be accepted for a waiver program

that

will give me additional hours. The needed hours will be a plus; the hiring

of

more peeps will be less fun.

> > >

> > > Someone here, perhaps Alana, once shared a detailed list of duties. I

>cannot

>

> >

> > > seem to find it now that I need it. I saw 's document in the

Files

> >area

> >

> > > but that is more narrative. As always, any help is appreciated.

> > >

> > >

> > > Lori

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >