Choosing the Best Service Provider
Training for Individuals and Families: How to Choose the Best Service Provider for Me
PCG is committed to connecting individuals and families to resources that can make the process of recruiting and choosing providers easier. We understand that finding a provider that fits the needs of both the individual receiving in-home care services and their families is of upmost importance.
PCG knows how important it is to find a long-term service provider you can trust. Whether you are starting your provider search or looking for tips to make this process easier and more successful, we invite you to watch this training series How to Choose the Best Service Provider for Me!
This three-part, self-paced video training series contains helpful guidance and useful tools to help individuals and their families:
Clearly identify support needs
Conduct interviews with providers
Make choices that support their care needs and preferences
You may watch all or any combination of the modules depending on where you are in your provider search!
Learn more about each training in this series below. Click on the links to watch the training videos or download the forms to use as you wish. You may also download the How to Choose the Best Service Provider for Me: Quick Reference Guide for an overview of this training to refer to now or in the future.
How to Choose the Best Service Provider for Me
Module 1: What Should My Provider Do?
The first step in your search for a service provider is determining what you need them to do. This is one of the most important parts of choosing the best service provider for you. In this training, you will learn how to identify your service needs and preferences. Once you know these things, it will be easier to find providers who may be a good fit.
We invite you to use the following tool as you determine what your provider should do:
Service Needs Checklist – This form can be used to help you record your needs based on your service plan.
Module 2: How Do I Choose a Provider?
Interviews offer an opportunity to better understand those who may be able to provide support to you. In this lesson you will learn about screening and interviewing techniques, such as knowing which questions to ask and how to take good interview notes. This will help you and your family determine if a provider is a good match for you.
We invite you to use the following tools as you interview providers:
Example Interview Questions: This document has questions you can use to interview agency and independent providers.
Unacceptable Interview Questions: This document has questions you should not ask when interviewing providers.
Interview Notes: This form can be used to help you take notes during interviews, rate providers, and summarize your thoughts after the interview.
Module 3: Who Will Be My Provider?
After conducting interviews, you can decide who will become your provider. In this lesson, you will learn how to use the information you collected during the screening and interviewing process to choose the best provider for you! You will also find out how to identify a backup provider so you will always have the care you need.