Using an Application
If you use an application it gives you a chance to get on paper information to look at
later. This will allow you to spend more time talking with them in person and getting a a
feel for their personality.
Also, it gives the potential PA the idea that this really is a job and it needs to be
taken seriously. It may assist in screening out applicants by educating the the applicant
to the details that go into this kind of employment that they may not realize.
It may discourage those with questionable motives when they realize you have some
standards and expectations that need to be met. It can prevent abuse from the beginning by
letting the applicant know you are aware of the potential for that type of situation; that
you are on the look out for it and won't tolerate it.
Obtaining References
Be specific about the kinds of references you want. Getting references from someone's
spouse who is on their case to get a job is not appropriate. Some appropriate references:
- Employer, current or former
- Supervisor
- Teachers
- Co-Workers
Criminal Background Checks
Get a Background Check. Your local Independent Living Center could help with this, a
non-profit social services agency, the police station or state patrol. You could discover
that some very convincing people have things going on in their life that
you don't want in yours.
Let the applicant know that if they start working for you and their background comes back
with criminal activity, employment with you will be terminated immediately.
The Background
Inquiry
Criminal History Information
The Independent Living Center in Washington State has the capacity to submit a Background
Inquiry for persons with disabilities needing the information to hire a Personal
Assistant.
We find that the request to complete this form weeds some people out of the hiring
process. They, for some reason, decline to fill this out. We can only reason they may have
something they don't want to surface.
We suggest contacting a non-profit social service agency to establish a relationship to
get the Background processed so you or the potential provider doesn't have to pay for it.
This may seem time consuming but may end up saving you from some potentially unsafe and/or
dangerous situations.
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