Pros
You are offered a $500 hiring bonus to compensate the low pay for the high stress, but are required to pay it all back if you can't accept ALL conditions of employment. Floor staff are exceptionally hard workers dedicated to the children served, more so than the owners and management. The agency is only open Monday through Friday 6am-6pm. You are expected to complete all documentation at the office. They accept graduate students without a provisional status, but you will pay the application fee.
Cons
You are told you make your own schedule, but that is based on when parents are available to meet. You start out on the floor with minimal training in how to assist children with intensive behaviors and are hit, bit, slapped, kicked, spit on, etc. and left alone in a time out room by yourself with up to four children for hours on end, until there are enough staff to relieve you. You are expected to meet their 25 direct billing hours/week quota and fill in for the receptionist during his/her lunch break and floor staff's lunch breaks, in addition to your high caseload administrative tasks. Therapeutic groups consist of 8-10 kids ages 4 to 10 with intense violent conduct. Children ages 2-10 share same eating, playtime, learning areas in which older children physically abuse younger children who are unable to defend themselves. If your child did not have a traumatic brain injury before entering this facility, they may leave with one. Parents are upset their children are not cared for properly and management will give you no notification of prior complaints/circumstances and expect you to conduct damage control and lie to make them look good. You will complete documentation at home in order to meet all demands and your home/work life balance is negatively impacted.
