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Grafton Integrated Health Network

Engaged employer

Long time for nothing - Program Support Grafton Integrated Health Network Employee Review

2.0
Feb 7, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Earned Time off is a good amount

Cons

This place was my HOME for 24 years and I planned on retiring there. However, The Group that runs the show, sits upstairs in their offices at the Corporate Building and have no idea how to run day to day operations. They are constantly changing things. Working in human services is tough enough, then add the constant politics into the mix and you have a nightmare, Never any positive things coming from managers, as all they do is focus on negative things, Mind you, this is coming from Managers who rarely even go to the Group Homes. The House Managers with the exception of 1, lock themselves in their offices all day and hide, then expect others to pick up their slack. This goes from scheduling, to daily paperwork. Staff never see their managers as they stay hidden. On Weekends when staffing is at its worst, nobody will call and check in or offer solutions to the problem. They just assume others will do their jobs for them. Yup, you read that correctly. The managers that supervise these homes go home on Friday and just let the weekend explode. Then on Monday morning, they all come back to work and act like they care, yet on Sat and Sun, they are obsolete, They also have this idea that people can float back and forth between the Richmond Region and the Winchester Region to manage things, This has been a complete disaster, They think if someone has all the ABA credentials that they can run day to day operations. Hardly the way it should be. The place is all about who you are and if you are in the clique or not. DSP workers there have it the worst, With the kinds of clients they take in now, its impossible to go to work without getting bitten or aggressed upon. They expect a pillow to stop this. Everyone in the org knows that Ukeru, is a joke and doesn't work. Poor Ruth Birch, (founder) is probably looking down from heaven shrugging her shoulders, as this current Leadership team is worried with only one thing..... Making money!!! If it means placing kids in hones that doesn't fit, so be it, As long as they have the census up and beds filled, they could care less. I hope for the sake of the clients, that the Leadership Team can get their acts together, or the place will close up. Nobody will want to come to work for 13 bucks an hour to get beaten up. Also, vacation time used to be a huge perk, but even trying to take time off now, is like pulling teeth. This is all honest info, not trying to slander anyone. But as a Company that claims to be the Employer of Choice, I'd say go back to the drawing board.

Explore other reviews about Grafton Integrated Health Network

5.0
Jun 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

This is a rewarding job. My supervisor is supportive and there are opportunities for growth within the company. The individuals served and the team that I work with is what keeps me coming back. The collaboration and care for the individuals can be seen by the staff that work with the individuals.

Cons

Some days can be challenging due to the high level of individual needs for the individuals that are served but if staff remain positive, collaborate, and work as a team this can be turned into a positive.

1.0
Jun 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There were always opportunities for overtime & advancement. Helping individuals with disabilities can be very uplifting. There were usually opportunities to work at the school, as well as the group homes. You can make a true difference in someone's life.

Cons

The group homes were constantly understaffed. Unfortunately, in addition to their developmental disabilities, many of the clients at Grafton were aggressive and violent! A very disturbed young man placed his hands around my neck and attempted to strangle me. I was reassigned to another home. Unbeknownst to me, this location housed the most hostile and violent clients. I was routinely bitten, attacked, etc. My termination resulted from an episode where a client attacked me, my co-worker and the other clients. During the struggle, the aggressor was smacked a few times. The incident resulted in me having to go court. The Chesterfield District Attorney made every attempt to have me jailed. I know have a Misdemeanor Assault & Battery charge on my record (my only offense) and cannot work in healthcare or caregiving related fields. I have a background in education and sales, prior to working at Grafton. The Misdemeanor now flags my criminal background checks and has prevented me from receiving employment is fields that have nothing to do with Mental Health, Caregiving etc. This one incident has changed the trajectory of my ability to land a well paying job.

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