i put an ad in local post office window for a "helper" . that got me a lad of 22 . all i asked was for him to do downstairs work to start with + leafletting on quiet days .after 3 months he was on a ladder (get employee insurance at that point ) once i knew he was staying.
month later he started not turning up ,doh,, and various lame excuses so he had to go! after that i went thru 4 or 5 who after a week or 2 started to let me down etc
but i have never regretted employing and now hav got 3 who have been reliable for over a yr so all is good . i dont let anybody use a ladder until at least 2 months of only doing downstairs work, my current main lad took 6 months before i let him carry a ladder cos he was slow but is very good now !
i find if you give a new worker a few days of leafletting ,this sorts out the worker from the shirker ( be sure to keep an eye on them)
also tell anybody new they are on 3months trial period ,make that clear