Ohmygod! What do I do now?
I hate to be the one to tell you, but this is not the fun part. Recruiting people is a pain, training them is time consuming and expensive and then they will leave you when you least expect it. Get used to it!
Keep it fun
It may be a stressful experience, but there are ways to minimize the damage. Firstly, try to create a positive environment for your team. I realize you are experiencing great stress, but it won't help matters to pass this onto them.
There are many ways of creating a positive and fun work experience:
- Try to keep the therapy zone clean and organized.
- Have a supply of tea or pop for the team to grab whenever they wish. Make them feel at home.
- The team meetings should be an event that everyone looks forward to. If it is in the morning, then supply coffee, tea and breakfast nibbles. Dinner time should include some type of finger food like pizza or sandwiches.
- Be inventive! Try to think of ways to acknowledge your team's efforts without breaking the bank.
I am not suggesting that you let your team walk all over you. You need to be in control. Be ready to fire anyone who is not fitting in. Your child does not need someone with a bad attitude.
Do I have to spend my meagre funds, just to keep them happy?
I can hear the howls of protest already. You have to pay exorbitant amounts of money for ABA therapy and now I'm suggesting you pay even more. Look at it this way; is it cheaper to keep people happy or to have them leave and pay to train new people?
Don't forget to factor in the 2 to 3 months of training by your Consultant or Lead Therapist. Do the math and I think you will see my point.
Do I really have to hire an entire team?
Not necessarily. There is another model whereby an agency provides all aspects of the team. They provide the consultant, therapist and administration. It sounds attractive to parents who are overwhelmed, but there are significant drawbacks. There may be some quality agencies out there. I just haven't encountered them.
Things to consider include:
- The quality of therapy.
- Administration costs. These fees often take up a larger percentage of the monthly bill.
- Loss of control. Parents no longer have the ability to hire and fire as they see fit.
If you do go down this road, you must investigate the consultant's resume very carefully. They should have experience with a lovaas ABA program and provide good references. Believe nothing you are told, until you follow up very carefully.