HCBS Training

Celebrating diversity in the workplace and encouraging cultural responsiveness starts with staff recruitment and selection. It is important to be culturally responsive in your recruitment and selection strategies in order to attract and hire diverse people to provide services.  It helps to review how well your recruitment strategies match the organization’s desired outcomes. For instance, if the goal is to hire a diverse workforce, be intentional how you recruit staff. Your team may consider:

•  Where people are recruited from the community,
• What messages are used in targeted recruitment marketing,
• The extent to which there are messages inviting multiculturalism, and
• Adding images that represent a diverse workforce.

 Interviews are used in the selection process to learn more about each candidate.  These interviews are meant to be interactive so both the interviewer and the candidate can learn more about each other. This helps both the provider and the candidate assess how well a person will fits the job. Describing the provider's cultural values and the practices used helps the candidate understand what will be expected in the job.  Review and assess your interview process.  Consider the following :

•  Whether the interview itself communicates to people the value placed on person-centeredness,
• The extent to which the process is welcoming to the different cultural backgrounds of each candidate, and
• The use of language in the interview questions to make sure questions convey the value placed on multiculturalism. 

A culturally diverse workplace encourages everyone to examine the assumptions and biases held by each person. Developing and using inclusive practices during interviews and other everyday routines helps build trust and communicates that all people are valued. 

Visit the Module 6 Resource page for more information on recruitment and selection. 

Activity 

Please use the MN Team Checklist and the HCBS Planning Tool to complete the activity.

Checklist item 26: Training in cultural responsiveness is integrated into staff development efforts.

HCBS Tool Questions 26c

Consider the current strengths of the organizations hiring practices.

Module Tools

Minnesota Team Checklist

HCBS Planning Tool

If you haven't already done so please use these links to access the tools.