Unsafe, inappropriate expectations, money driven
Pros
- Most of the care team (BHTs, nursing staff and therapists) truly want to help the clients and make a difference. - When you see clients truly make a change and turn their life around, the job is very rewarding.
Cons
- Administration has zero background in medicine and at times overrules medical decisions made by the medical director (an MD). - Bringing up concerns about client and staff safety falls on deaf ears, or gets you in hot water. - Expectations for staff are unrealistic and cause not only safety issues for staff but also clients. - Inappropriate clients are brought into the facility because they are able to pay for services, not because they meet appropriate criteria (i.e - a client who needs mental health crisis care (in hospital) is deemed “appropriate” to stay at the facility when it is not safe for them. As well, they are housed with actively detoxing clients who can be very disruptive and cause further issues with those in a mental health crisis). -Many staff work in fear of losing their jobs at any moment for doing the right thing for clients, but the right thing for clients isn’t what’s “best” for the company. - Benefits are unbelievably expensive and the coverage is not great. - Expectations and accountability are not the same across the board. It depends on how close you are with administration and how willing you are to be a “yes man.” - Focus is very high on bringing in money, instead of client focused. - No work/life balance. Expected to always be available by phone/text. - Staffing ratios are unsafe and unrealistic. Also always understaffed, so staff are overworked and burnt out.