Sample of Screening Questions For Care Giver

This is the document that I would email to potential care givers before I would set them up with an interview. 

Thank you for your interest in watching my eleven year old son with Aspergers.  I am looking for someone who is a caring, loving and compassionate person.  Someone with an open mind who realizes that we are not all the same and also realizes that others may have very different viewpoints of the world.  If this sounds like you, would you please take the time to read the following information and answer a few questions to help determine if you are a good fit for the job? 

My son is a wonderful child, but he takes a while to get to know someone.  He may not say more than one or two words to someone the first time that he meets them.  The longer he is with someone, the more open he becomes, and a healthy, positive relationship will begin to develop.   This is the reason that I am asking you to take the time to answer these questions:  I am hoping to find someone that will be a good match for my son for a couple of years.

How long are you looking for this position to continue? 

How long were you at your last couple places of work?

Shifts are typically 2 to 5 hours long. 

Where do you live? 

How long will the commute to Barrington be for you?

 Is this commute too long to justify working for 2 hours?

Many of the hours that you work would qualify to be paid by the State under the PASS program or Respite program.  Depending on your experience, they pay between $11 to $14 per hour.  They take into consideration your experience in the health care industry and time spent dealing with children with special needs children.  They also consider your educational background.

Do you have a problem receiving a check and having income taxes taken out? 

Would you pass a criminal background check?

What was your last hourly rate?

What hourly rate are you looking for?

What experience do you have working with children with autism?

What was the highest level of education you received and what was the name of the degree/ diploma?

And what school was this at?

The times that I may need someone to watch my son are Monday to Friday, after school from about 3:30pm until 6:00 pm.  Additionally, there are sometimes I may need someone on Friday night, Saturday afternoon, or Saturday night.

What hours are you available?

Are you always available at these times, or do you have other work/ family commitments?

How many hours per week are you looking for?

Is there a time that you would prefer to be home by on a Friday or Saturday night?

Because it takes my son a while to get to know someone, I was hoping that the three of us would be able to spend a few Saturday afternoons together before you watched him on your own.  

Are you able to start off with only a few hours a week and then gradually increase the number of hours per week as you get to know him?

Are there any questions you have about the position?  Is there anything else that you would like to say about yourself?

I really appreciate and respect the time you took in answering these questions!   I will be getting back to you a couple days after  you respond to try to set up a time to meet with you.

Thank you again!!