Recruiting, Selecting, and Retaining Direct Service Workers to Provide Self-Directed HCBS

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Determining the best wage for your DSWs means balancing their pay with the number of hours you need for all of your support needs to be met. Hourly rates and benefits affect the quality of staff you can hire and the number of service hours you will receive.

Things to Consider

1. Paying higher wages will help you attract and keep higher quality workers, but it may mean fewer hours of service. You will need to balance paying quality employees enough to keep them working for you long-term with having as many hours as you like, while staying in your budget.
2. Are you going to set aside money for future pay increases? Does this mean you use fewer support hours to make sure you have enough?
3. Will different DSWs be paid different wages? How will you determine that?