Hiring for Trauma Informed Care and a Prize

Agencies have discovered ways to determine whether a candidate is comfortable working in a relationship-based approach.  In some cases agencies have developed a statement that describes their treatment approach and asked candidates to read and decide if they can work that way, and return it signed if they want to proceed with the hiring process. It is useful to ask candidates how they deal with stress and what self care practices they find helpful. Another way is through the use of scenarios.Other options include:

• Ask a candidate about a time when he or she was successful in making a change and what helped him or her
• Ask a candidate with prior work experience to describe a client that they felt especially connected to, and one they found it difficult to connect with, and why. This question looks for self awareness of differing response to different clients
• Ask a candidate about a time when someone helped him or her, a teacher or a mentor or anyone significant in their life. What did that person do that was helpful?
• Ask what do you think might be the most difficult time of day for clients
• Ask what can staff do to make clients feel safer/ more comfortable around bedtime and/or shower

Offering the candidate an opportunity to observe in the milieu can clarify both for the candidate and for the employer whether or not there is a fit.

What have you discovered that is helpful? Press comment and enter questions and scenarios you use. I will offer a free copy of my book "A Child's View of Trauma" to one of the entries that includes their email (so I can contact you). This book is for clinicians to teach kids about trauma. Please join in- I will share the ideas in this blog. Click COMMENT.