Caregiver: What is the cost of hiring?

Why recruit a caregiver?

Working in care homes, patients’ houses and assisted living facilities, caregivers support individuals who need additional help due to physical, mental or emotional challenges. They help preserve quality of life, dignity and wellbeing through practical and emotional support.

Contributions of a great caregiver:

• Providing companionship, supporting individuals with social activities and events
• Helping people maintain as much independence as possible
• If qualified, delivering medical support such as first aid, dressing wounds, administering injections or monitoring health conditions

What are the types of caregiver?

Different types of caregivers are responsible for specific patient needs. They might have some medical training which enables them to assist patients with their mental health or palliative care. Some caregiver roles can include:

• Dementia caregiver: supports individuals living with dementia, helping with daily tasks such as bathing, meal preparation, emotional support and social activities. They play a vital role in maintaining structure and comfort for those whose memory, decision-making and emotional regulation may be affected.
• Palliative caregiver: provides comfort and support for individuals with life-limiting illnesses such as cancer. Responsibilities often include symptom relief, emotional support and assistance for both patients and their families.
• Mental health caregiver: assists individuals living with mental health conditions by providing daily support with physical care and emotional wellbeing, helping them manage daily routines and access appropriate treatment or community resources.
• Informal caregiver: typically a friend or family member, informal caregivers provide nonmedical assistance such as companionship, household help and basic care needs for someone they know personally.
• Formal caregiver: a trained professional who may hold relevant care or medical qualifications. Formal caregivers are typically employed by care agencies or institutions and may assist with medication, mobility, hygiene and routine health monitoring.

When writing your caregiver job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on caregiver jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Care assistant
• Live in carer
• Live in
• Caregiver
• Live carer
• Healthcare assistant
• Carer
• Care home
• Tier 2 sponsorship live in care

Want more recruitment insights for your caregiver? Sign in or create your free Indeed account.

Where to find caregivers

To find the right caregiver for your business, consider trying out a few different recruitment strategies:

• Advertising on a local community board: posting a short job ad with contact details at libraries, community centres or local shops may help attract candidates in the area
• Word of mouth: friends or family may be able to recommend someone with informal caregiving experience
• Reaching out to your network: if recruiting for a care home or healthcare facility, colleagues or contacts in the healthcare sector may be able to refer trusted candidates
• Consulting with a GP or healthcare provider: these professionals may have connections with experienced caregivers or be able to suggest reputable local agencies

Post your job online: Try posting your caregiver job on Indeed to find and attract quality caregiver candidates.

Skills to look for in a caregiver

A successful caregiver candidate will typically have the following skills and competencies, which may be gained through a variety of experiences, training or education:

• Attentive listening skills to fully understand the needs of individuals and their families
• Flexibility to adapt to changing care routines and daily schedules
• Ability to maintain a clean, safe and comfortable home environment, particularly in live-in jobs
• Strong communication skills to build trusted relationships and provide emotional support
• Organisational skills for managing tasks such as medication schedules, meal preparation and bathing
• Observational skills to identify changes in physical or mental wellbeing
• Problem-solving ability to respond calmly to unexpected care challenges

Writing a caregiver job description

Now that you know the key skills, salary expectations, popular jobseeker search terms and recruitment insights for a caregiver, you’re ready to write a job description.

A caregiver job description typically includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position. You may also want to include information about your company culture, benefits and perks to attract candidates to your open role.

Ready to get started? See our full guide for writing caregiver job descriptions.

Interviewing caregiver candidates

Strong candidates for caregiver positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• The practical steps they would take to conduct a health check (if medically trained)
• How they would communicate a care plan to a patient and their family
• How they would handle an individual who is experiencing significant emotional distress
• The personal and professional motivations for their interest in the caregiver profession
• How they would maintain an inclusive environment in a care home or assisted living facility
• Steps they would take to assist an individual experiencing an acute medical crisis

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of caregiver interview questions for examples (with sample answers).