As a successful owner of a Long Term Care consulting company, William “Avi” Rothner shares his views on what it takes to attract the best administrators.
Long-term care (LTC) administrators are highly qualified individuals, responsible for the day-to-day operation of a long-term care facility. Their role is multifaceted, involving a range of key tasks from overseeing staff and infection control, to managing finances and negotiating contracts with suppliers and physicians.
Quality care cannot be achieved without an exceptional management team to lead the way, and LTC administrators provide the foundations for success. Therefore, attracting and retaining the best administrators should be a key priority for all nursing home facility owners. If you’re wondering how to attract the best talent, here are some tips that can help.
#1. Qualifications and Experience
Do you know the minimum required qualifications and experience your long-term care administrators need? The best LTC administrators will hold a bachelor’s degree, in addition to a master’s degree in health administration and other relevant fields. In the United States, long-term care administrators are required to complete a state-approved training program, as well as pass a licensing exam and internship.
While their backgrounds may vary, most administrators will possess at least five to ten years of experience working full-time in a nursing facility, including several years in a supervisory or managerial position. Applicants should hold a current registered nursing license or a valid physicians license.
To hire the best, you need to understand the position and know what is involved. Create a well-rounded job description that encompasses all responsibilities and tasks that your administrator will do. Take the time to produce this, and you will ensure qualified candidates can find you!
#2. Ensure the Resources are Available
A long-term care administrator has a busy and often stressful work environment. Many different problems need attention on a daily basis, from resident illness to staff absence, administration issues, and budget concerns. Long-term care administrators are the glue that holds your facility together and keeps it running.
It’s therefore essential that you have the appropriate resources available to assist administrators. A strong team of support staff, well-documented processes and procedures and the right tools and technology to operate efficiently and provide a high-level of care to all residents is essential. The best LTC administrators will look at what resources are available to them and how you currently operate.
#3. Offer Attractive Benefits
Do you offer an attractive salary with benefits? If you’re looking for a senior LTC administrator with 10+ years experience, expect to pay them appropriately! According to the Nursing Home Salary & Benefits Report 2017-2018, administrators earned an average of $97,401 in 2017. This was an increase of 2.98% from 2016. If you’re looking for the best, make sure you offer a competitive salary in-line with market rates.
Also, providing a well-rounded employee benefits package can help your facility stand out in a crowded marketplace. Make sure your package includes medical/dental insurance, life insurance, 401K retirement plan, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, and other employee benefits.
#4. Provide Professional Development:
Plan for professional development and mentoring, and showcase how your facility values and supports continued learning.
Ongoing training and professional development will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of your administration team, and ultimately enhance the quality of care your residents receive. Staff training and mentoring programs also have a tremendous influence on employee satisfaction and turnover rates. Staff loyalty rates are at a significant low, and the cost of replacing your best administrators is steep. So, invest in the development of your administration team and show your employees how much you value them. After all, they are the people who keep your facility running and thriving!
Potential hires will look towards your training and development program to determine their progression in your facility.
#5. Showcase Your Ethics and Values
Invest in an effective marketing team who can proudly showcase the successes and achievements your LTC facility and clearly demonstrate how you uphold a clear set of values and ethics.
Like any healthcare provider, long-term care facilities build a reputation based on the quality of services they deliver, and prospective employees will heavily consider your organization’s public image when applying for positions.
Attract the best qualified and experienced LTC administrators in the industry by paying special attention to your public image and making sure your achievements known to prospective employees. Do you have non-confidential data to demonstrate a high-quality of care, such as exceptional clinical outcomes and excellent resident satisfaction reports? Or, have you recently implemented an outstanding health initiative? Share your successes, and the right people will want to work for you.
Owners can also position their facility as a desirable workplace by showcasing their strong values and upstanding ethics. While employees still view salary as an important factor when accepting a job, 50% of millennials in the U.S. would take a pay cut for an employer that reflects their own values. This means being transparent in all aspects of how you conduct business and how your facility operates.
Focus on Attracting the Best Talent
Hiring the best long-term care administrators can make a huge difference to your facility. From reducing costs to improving quality, and enhancing overall resident satisfaction, investing in the best administrators for your facility should be a priority. Focus on the above tips, and you should have a pool of qualified andidates eager to work for you. Your residents will thank you for it!