Picture this - It’s another frantic morning in your care home. You’re juggling CQC compliance, a stack of paperwork, and a call from a worried family member, all while knowing you’re short of care staffs. Your inbox is flooded with CVs, but most candidates feel like they’re just ticking boxes—NVQs, DBS checks, a few years’ experience. You need more. You need someone who’ll walk into your care home, light up the room, and make every service user feel like family. Someone who’ll stay through the tough days, not bolt at the first sign of stress.
Having been in it for years, we know your struggle: ‘Carers who get it.’ ‘Finding the right fit’ With turnover rates soaring annually, finding that stand-out carer feels like searching for a needle in a haystack. But it’s not about qualifications alone - it’s about spotting the values, experience, and attitude that make a carer exceptional.
Let me walk you through how to find those game-changers, so you can build a team that’s as passionate about care as you are.
Do They Care as Deeply as You Do?
Candidates who talk a good game but treat care like just another job. Then there’s the carer who stays late to comfort a distressed resident, not because it’s in the job description, but because it’s who they are. That’s the one you want.
How to Find Them:
- Ask deep questions like ‘Why do you want to work in care?’ When Sarah, a carer we placed last month, answered this, she spoke about her gran’s smile during her final days in care - it drove her to make a difference. Look for that spark, that personal connection.
- Try a scenario: ‘A service user is upset and won’t eat. What do you do?’ A stand-out carer will talk about listening, offering comfort, maybe even sharing a story to ease their fears.
- Ask about diversity too: ‘How have you supported someone with different beliefs?’ Their answer should ooze respect and adaptability.
These carers don’t just deliver care - they create moments of joy for your service users. They’re the ones families thank, the ones who lower your complaint rates and make your care home feel like home.
Can They Handle the Real World of Care?
You know qualifications aren’t everything. That NVQ Level 3 doesn’t guarantee someone can calm a resident with dementia or juggle multiple care plans during a chaotic shift. You need carers whose experiences (formal or not) proves they can handle the job’s realities.
How to Find Them:
- Get them to tell their story. Ask questions (e.g ‘What’s the toughest moment you’ve faced in care, and how did you get through it?’). I recall from an interview where a candidate described de-escalating a heated situation with a resident who refused medication, using patience and a gentle joke.
- Don’t sleep on informal experience. Someone who’s cared for a parent with Alzheimer’s might bring more insight than a textbook. Inquire about what the fellow learnt when caring for a loved one.
- Test their instincts. Here’s a sample question: ‘Two service users need you at once. How do you prioritise?’ A stand-out carer thinks fast and puts safety first.
Carers with real-world chops hit the ground running. They keep your service users safe, reduce your training headaches, and free you up to focus on leading, not firefighting.
Will They Thrive When the Going Gets Tough?
Care work is no walk in the park - long shifts, emotional lows, and unexpected crises are part for the course. You need carers who don’t just survive but shine under pressure, lifting your team’s spirits along the way.
How to Find Them:
- Inquire about tough times and how it was handled (e.g ‘Tell me about a time you were overwhelmed in a care role. How did you cope?’).
- Look out for a growth mindset - How the candidate have you improved in caregiving over the years.
- Don’t ignore training, feedback, or self-reflection. And don’t forget teamwork - ask, ‘How do you support colleagues on a tough day?’ A stand-out carer shares the load, maybe even cracking a smile to keep the team going.
These carers are your rock. They stick around, boost morale, and keep your care home steady, even when the sector’s chaos threatens to pull you under.
Do They Connect Like a Pro?
You’ve seen the difference a carer with emotional intelligence makes. They’re the ones who turn a tense family meeting into a moment of trust or make a shy resident open up. That’s the magic of EQ, and you need it in spades.
How to Find Them:
- Ask emotion-dependent questions, an example could be ‘Tell me about a time you won over a difficult client.’ Listen to how the candidate respond as the response will tell you a lot about the person.
- Watch how candidates interact in interviews - do they listen closely, respond with warmth? This tells the possible outcome when dealing with care home residents and even colleagues. Stand-out carers stay calm, validate feelings, and focus on solutions.
Carers with high EQ build trust fast. They reduce conflicts, make service users feel valued, and create a workplace where everyone (staff and residents) feels heard.
Are They Here for the Long Haul?
You’re tired of the revolving door. Every carer who leaves after a month costs you time, money, and energy. You need someone who sees care as a career, not a pitstop.
How to Find Them:
- Ask future projection questions like ‘Where do you see yourself in care in three years?’. The response tells the whole story. Once had a candidate who talked about becoming a team leader and learning dementia specialisms - she was hooked.
- Check their work history: ‘What kept you in your longest role?’ Stability matters, unless they’ve got solid reasons for moving.
- Ensure they fit your culture: ‘What kind of workplace makes you thrive?’ Their answer should vibe with your values—compassion, teamwork.
Committed carers save you recruitment costs and build a team that grows stronger over time, delivering consistent care your service users can rely on.
What’s The Way To Go?
With Care Wizard, finding stand-out carers who light up care home gets easier. Care Wizard streamlines recruitment, from crafting job adverts that attract the right talent to screening for values, experience, and attitude.
You deserve more than ‘good enough.’ You deserve exceptional.
If you’re a care provider struggling to recruit, we see you. You’re not failing—you’re battling a system that doesn’t make it easy.
Let’s find your next stand-out carer together.