Retaining the right staff has never been more important for care providers. 

With growing demands for care, a high staff turnover and an abundance of unfilled job vacancies, employers need to take action now to ensure that they have the right skilled workers to provide the best quality care possible.

There is no simple solution, but here are six top tips to retaining your key talent:

Review your induction process

An induction should not just be a formality or tick box exercise. You should use this opportunity to make new recruits feel part of the organisation and help them settle into their new role. Make sure you share your values and goals so they can hit the ground running.

Review performance regularly   

You should have frequent meetings with employees to see whether they are coping with their workload, have any workplace issues, what personal goals can be set and if there are any training or development opportunities. This helps keep engagement levels up and avoids them feeling unsatisfied in their role.

Give praise and feedback

If an employee is doing good work, give them praise. If they are struggling, give them constructive feedback and help them perform to the required standard.  All of these things help employees feel motivated, which will ultimately help retention.

Support development of colleagues at all levels

Consider completing a workforce audit to assess overall learning needs and provide suitable support to help employees with their professional development. This could involve coaching, team development days, e-learning and attendance at seminars. Giving employees a clear path for progression is key to them staying in the long-term and not seeking opportunities elsewhere.

Understand why people leave  

An exit interview is a good opportunity to understand why someone is leaving. Other ways to find out how people are feeling is through individual appraisals, group meetings and employee surveys or questionnaires. These can all help you pinpoint any problematic areas and take the appropriate action.

Create an environment where people want to stay 

If you want people to stay, think about your management style, culture and values.

Are grievances being taken seriously? Is there conduct that is tolerated which shouldn’t be? Are steps being taken to reduce stress? Is there a good work-life balance? Are you as an organisation open to flexible working? Do you consult and communicate with employees about change and involve them in the decision making process? Do you celebrate achievements?

If you realise that there are problems within the workplace culture, address them to ensure people don’t leave for this reason.

If you wish to explore this topic further, our Care Team can give you bespoke advice and help you adopt an effective retention strategy.