Super Bowl, the world’s most-watched single sporting event, is a battle of champions. While I am bitter about the Lions’ missed opportunity, the point is still accurate. Super Bowl is a contest of two winning teams that consistently show up and deliver to see who is the best.

So how does that relate to an AFC? How do you create a winning team at your residential assisted living that consistently shows up and delivers?

Four things to create a winning team

#1 Core Values

Core values…..what’s the big deal? Motivational speakers and business leaders in all industries speak of its importance, but how does it REALLY make a difference? You can stop the frustration with a high AFC Home turnover rate and poor work ethic. You can stop the cycle of hiring out of desperation at your senior care or adult foster care community by creating core values.

Write down the values that drive the type of people that fit your culture. Structure the job ad, and interview questions around those core values to hire right. Use the core values to support job performance reviews. Also, use them for shout-outs to the team members who demonstrate them well to increase retention. 

#2 Create a job mission, the KRA

Decrease staff confusion, reduce fingerpointing and excuses like “it’s not my job”. Unlike a job description describing how to do the job, the KRA or job mission describes what is expected to excel in a position.  Create 4 to 5 headings defining the most important outcomes of the role with up to 5 subheadings describing the competency required such as:

• Exceed expectations for the resident through care provided
  • Ensure activities of daily living including personal care are completed daily as detailed in each resident’s assessment plan.
  • Medications are dispensed within a 1 hour window before or after the prescribed time. PRNs medications are dispensed and recorded properly.
• Communicate effectively
  • Professionally communicate resident information provided from guardians, doctors, case managers or pharmacy to staff by phone or written correspondence.
  • Chart note thoroughly and daily the health, behavior and wellness of each resident.

#3 Onboarding

A study by Bamboo HR shows that when onboarding new employees, you have just 44 days on average to influence staff’s decision to stay long-term. 

The quality of your onboarding process will determine if you send staff running or turn them into dependable, dedicated winning team members. Create a comprehensive and structured process starting with the job offer, the new hire orientation and training as well as ongoing support information to reduce employee turnover and increase retention. 

#4 Retention

Keeping staff isn’t always about paying more money. It’s the little things that can make the difference such as:

• Schedule weekly 30 minute 1:1 weekly with your direct reports to review successes and where support is needed to succeed in their role. Use the KRA as your guide. 
• Find out what motivates your winning team in a way that matters to them through Getting To Know You.

More tips for successful AFC owners

Is it time to start creating new processes to create a winning team at your organization to lower staff turnover and increase retention? Do you like the thought of sleeping better at night because you can count on your staff? Care Provider Solutions’, How to Hire and Keep the Best Employees at Your AFC is your answer to help make that wish to come true. 

You don’t have to figure it out on your own. Care Provider Solutions, an adult foster care system specialist, can provide your AFC with the support and expertise you need to save money and reduce the stress associated with hiring right and retaining staff.