Attendant: What is the cost of hiring?

Why recruit for a beneficiary attendant role?

The knowledge and expertise of a beneficiary attendant are essential for patients who are living with reduced functionality, or even a loss of autonomy, for their feeling of safety and their wellbeing. A company employing someone for a beneficiary attendant job can optimize the smooth operation of daily routines and prevent incidents that might compromise the safety and integrity of patients.

What responsibilities are associated with a beneficiary attendant job?

• providing care that is appropriate for the patient’s physical and cognitive conditions
• helping patients eat properly at meals
• helping patients dress and undress themselves
• helping patients maintain their bodily hygiene
• helping patients get up and go to bed, and when moving around
• ensuring medications are taken properly

Choosing between a full-time and a self-employed beneficiary attendant

When recruiting a beneficiary attendant, you can:

• advertise the job to the general public and receive applications from beneficiary attendants who work as employees
• contact private employment agencies who will refer you to beneficiary attendants who offer their services on a self-employed basis

Recruiting a full-time employee has the following main advantages:

• It provides for a longer-lasting working relationship.
• It places you in the role of the employer, i.e. the person who makes the decisions relating to the conditions of employment offered and the availability required.
• It makes the services of a beneficiary attendant cheaper to obtain.

For the self-employed beneficiary attendant, the advantages include:

• recruiting a person who has a high degree of autonomy
• providing the option of recruiting beneficiary attendants for specific periods

What distinct types of beneficiary attendant roles are there?

Home care assistant, family assistant, nursing assistant, and health and social services assistant are all names that refer to the profession of beneficiary attendant. The duties performed by a beneficiary attendant are always primarily based on providing care for vulnerable people. However, depending on the working environment, some duties may vary.

A beneficiary attendant may work in the following workplaces:

• long-term care centre (CHSLD)
• hospital
• at the beneficiary’s home
• rehabilitation centres
• local community service centres (CLSCs)

Where can beneficiary attendants be found?

To find the person you need for a beneficiary attendant role, you can consider several hiring strategies:

• Indeed for Employers: The Indeed for Employers website, as the name suggests, is intended for employers. On this platform, you can search for candidates based on search terms you specify, such as “beneficiary attendant.” When you do that, the resumes of prospective candidates will appear on your screen and all you have to do is visit them.
• The Indeed Job Search page: The homepage of the Indeed website is the Job Search page. It displays a search box where job seekers enter the job title they are interested in, in this case, “beneficiary attendant.” When you submit your job listings to Indeed, they will appear among the results these potential candidates find.
• Your company’s values: This hiring strategy involves listing your company’s values in the job listing for beneficiary attendant positions that you post. This may motivate people who share the same values to apply. This improves your chances of hiring beneficiary attendants whose personalities will fit into your workplace well.
• Advertising: Paid advertising does allow you to reach qualified potential employees. In other words, using an advertising budget to post your job listings on search engines, websites, or social media can help you get the attention of internet users who match your selected targeting criteria.
• Referrals: You can choose referral as a hiring strategy. By implementing a referral reward program, such as bonuses or gifts, you can encourage your employees to make searches to help you with your recruitment.

Post your job listing online. By posting your job listing for a beneficiary attendant role on Indeed, you will be able to find and attract the most qualified people for that role.

Skills to look for in an effective beneficiary attendant

The best person for the role will have skills, attributes, and work experience that fit the following criteria:

• good physical condition
• patience
• empathy
• ability to listen and communicate
• sense of responsibility
• experience in care work

Writing a job description for a beneficiary attendant role

To find qualified candidates, particular attention should be paid to the job description for a beneficiary attendant role. It should contain a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of tasks and duties, and the skills that are required and desirable for the role.

When you are writing your beneficiary attendant job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve your job listing’s visibility. According to Indeed’s data, the most-searched terms that generate clicks on beneficiary attendant job listings are as follows:

• beneficiary attendant
• beneficiary attendant
• BA
• caregiver
• caregiver
• full-time
• beneficiary attendant
• beneficiary attendant

Interviewing people selected for a beneficiary attendant role

Qualified candidates for beneficiary attendant roles should respond confidently to questions about:

• the fundamental values (e.g. empathy, respect, dedication) that are prerequisites for the job of beneficiary attendant
• the specific needs that people experiencing a loss of autonomy have
• patients’ routines

Need help preparing questions to ask at the interview? Please consult our example questions for beneficiary attendants (with typical responses).