Pros
Comprehensive training package available, being plunged into the deep end gave huge scope for learning.
Cons
Working for Creative Support invariably makes for an uncomfortable experience. Firstly the corruption. I have personally witnessed abuse and cover ups at senior manager and director level. I have personally witnessed the falsification of evidence for CQC and SP inspections. Dare to raise either of these and you are threatened with your job and cast as a scapegoat to absorb the blame for their many malpractices. Secondly, the work life balance. Creative Support will shamelessly apply pressure for staff to work extensive hours that go way beyond what is ethical or legal. Frequently working in excess of 100 hours per week with absolutely no choice not to. Other than training, staff are not invested in at all. Creative Support are successful as they have kept their base rate at a low by expanding the organisation at operational level but not the core, meaning they can spread the cost of their overheads. In reality this means that they have only a handful of staff dealing with payroll, HR etc for nearly 5000 employees. Pay is very rarely correct. HR issues fall by the wayside. As pay is so poor, Creative Support have to constantly recruit and rely on agency staff who are typically less invested in their job which contributes to a very poor level of service.