Imagine you’re a care manager, staring at a stack of CVs, each listing NVQs, DBS checks, and years of experience. Yet, your care home is struggling, service users feel like numbers, and your team’s morale is crumbling. You’ve hired ‘qualified’ carers who leave after a month, unable to handle the emotional weight of the job. Sound familiar? With so many vacant roles across the UK, the adult social care sector is screaming for a better way to hire.
We hear your pain every day: ‘I need carers who stay.’ ‘I want a team that truly cares.’ ‘How do I find the right fit?’ The answer isn’t more qualifications - it’s values-based recruitment. Hiring carers whose values align with your mission creates teams that last, care deeply, and transform lives.
Let me walk you through why values-based recruitment is the future of adult social care—and how it delivers better outcomes for everyone.
Tackling the Turnover Crisis with Values-Driven Hires
You’ve just lost another carer. They had the right certificates but lacked the heart to connect with service users who just wanted someone to listen. High turnover isn’t just a staffing issue—it’s a respect crisis, leaving your care home understaffed and your service users underserved. Values-based recruitment flips this by prioritising carers who share your commitment to dignity and empathy.
Why Values-Based Recruitment Works:
· Focus on Core Values: Look for candidates who prioritise person-centred care, compassion, and respect. Ask, ‘Why do you want to work in care?’ Stand-out answers reveal personal motivations—like caring for a loved one—or a belief in every person’s dignity.
· Screen for Emotional Fit: Use scenarios like, ‘A service user is upset and refuses help. What do you do?’ Carers who value empathy will focus on listening and building trust, not just completing tasks.
· Assess Cultural Alignment: Ask, ‘What kind of workplace makes you thrive?’ Their answer should match your organisation’s ethos—whether it’s teamwork, compassion, or innovation.
· Go Beyond Qualifications: NVQs don’t guarantee staying power. Values like resilience and kindness do. When we placed Sarah, her passion for supporting dementia patients kept her in the role for years, not months.
· Involve Your Team: Let trusted carers join interviews to spot candidates who share their values. They’ll see what you might miss under pressure.
Hiring carers who live your values reduces turnover by building a team that’s emotionally invested. They stay longer, lowering recruitment costs and ensuring consistent care that makes service users feel valued.
Building Stronger Teams Through Shared Purpose
Your team’s stretched thin, and the disconnect shows. Some carers rush through tasks, while others go the extra mile, like staying late to comfort a resident. The difference? A shared sense of purpose. Values-based recruitment creates teams united by a common mission, boosting morale and collaboration.
Why Values-Based Recruitment Works:
· Hire for Team Spirit: Ask, ‘How have you supported a colleague during a tough shift?’ Look for answers that show collaboration, like sharing tasks or offering emotional support.
· Test for Resilience: Care work is demanding. Ask, ‘Tell me about a time you faced a challenge in care. How did you cope?’ Carers who value perseverance will share stories of adapting or seeking help, not giving up.
· Emphasise Person-Centred Care: Use questions like, ‘How do you ensure a service user feels heard?’ Values-driven carers will describe building trust, like learning a resident’s favourite hobby to spark joy.
· Promote Growth Mindsets: Ask, ‘How have you improved your skills recently?’ Candidates who value learning—through training or feedback—strengthen your team’s ability to grow together.
· Reinforce Your Mission: Share your organisation’s values in job adverts and interviews. When we helped a care home hire Tom, his belief in dignity aligned with their ethos, making him a team anchor.
A team bonded by shared values works better together, reducing conflicts and boosting morale. This creates a positive workplace culture where carers support each other, leading to happier staff and better care for service users.
Delivering Exceptional Care with Values at the Core
You’ve seen the difference a truly caring team makes. When carers treat service users like family, complaints drop, families trust you, and CQC reports glow. Values-based recruitment ensures every hire prioritises the human side of care, delivering outcomes that matter.
Why Values-Based Recruitment Works:
· Prioritise Emotional Intelligence: Ask, ‘Tell me about a time you built trust with a difficult client.’ Carers who value connection will share stories of patience, like calming a resident with a favourite song.
· Focus on Dignity: Pose scenarios like, ‘A service user feels embarrassed about needing help. How do you respond?’ Look for answers that emphasize respect and empathy, ensuring dignity in every interaction.
· Screen for Long-Term Commitment: Ask, ‘Where do you see yourself in care in three years?’ Carers who value growth will talk about specialisms or leadership, showing they’re in it for the long haul.
· Engage Families: Values-driven carers build trust with families too. Ask, ‘How would you handle an upset family member?’ Look for solution-focused, empathetic responses that align with your care ethos.
· Measure Impact: Track outcomes like reduced complaints or improved resident satisfaction when hiring for values. We’ve seen care homes transform when they prioritize heart over just skills.
Carers who share your values deliver exceptional, person-centred care, leading to happier service users, fewer complaints, and stronger CQC compliance. Families trust your care home, and your reputation soars.
Why Care Wizard Champions Values-Based Recruitment
Care Wizard eliminates uncertainties during recruitment process. Helping care providers craft job adverts that attract carers with the right values, streamlines screening to find those who align with the mission, and connects with people who’ll transform your care home.
You don’t have to settle for ‘good enough.’ You deserve a team that lives and breathes your values, delivering care that changes lives.
The future of adult social care isn’t about filling roles—it’s about hiring carers who share your heart. Let’s make values-based recruitment the standard, not the exception.
If you’re a care provider struggling to build the right team, we see you and we are here to support you.
Connect with Care Wizard to start values-based recruitment and share your story. Let’s make adult social care better, together.