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

How Can You Provide a Good Orientation?

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Orientation lays the foundation for the skills, duties, and expectations required of DSWs. There are different ways that you can provide orientation for your new DSW.  Having them follow someone else or having checklists are two ways of helping them learn. Read about the different ways to do orientation below.

Job shadowing allows the new DSW to shadow an experienced DSW or a family member who provides supports. This will enable them to see first-hand how support should be provided.

Provide job aids to assist with learning new skills. Job aids can include checklists of daily tasks and routines or videos of skills, such as the proper way to help with transfers or positioning.

Frequently check in with the new DSW to see how things are going and ask if they have questions.

Be clear about duties and expectations. Do not expect that a DSW should automatically know how you want them to do their work.