Transforming Onboarding For A Unique Non-Profit Model at Coast Mental Health

Welcome to Episode #8 of the All Onboard Podcast! In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative employee onboarding journey at Coast Mental Health, where Deborah Maynard, the Chief Human Resources Officer, shares her insights on building a world-class onboarding experience. Coast Mental Health's unique non-profit model presents a distinctive set of challenges and opportunities, particularly in how onboarding is related to employee retention, and how they’ve managed to streamline the onboarding process in a complex work environment.

Deborah opens up about the employee onboarding challenges that arise when you’re onboarding staff for a 24/7 operation, where employees work directly in the homes of clients. We explore how Coast Mental Health has developed a tailored onboarding playbook to meet the diverse needs of its workforce, including night shift workers, casual employees, and those in remote locations. This episode offers a rare glimpse into how to reduce attrition of employees through a consistent, mission-driven onboarding program.

We also discuss the importance of continuous feedback and how new hire onboarding surveys are utilized to refine and enhance the onboarding experience. Deborah shares her experience with implementing both in-person and digital employee onboarding solutions, which have been instrumental in maintaining consistency across 52 locations. By automating parts of the onboarding process, Coast Mental Health has been able to provide a seamless experience for all new hires, regardless of their role or location.

This episode is a must-listen for HR professionals and anyone involved in employee onboarding, particularly those in non-profit sectors or complex organizational structures. Whether you’re looking for best practices on how to onboard a new employee or seeking inspiration to revamp your onboarding documents for new hires, Deborah’s insights will provide you with practical ideas and strategies that can be applied to any organization.