Good place to gain experience, but no opportunity for growth
Pros
It has been a good experience, coming straight out of college. It has definitely helped strengthen myself and my knowledge in the field. They do promote within and a ton of overtime possibilities. The bonus was great!
Cons
Sometimes you're left alone with 3+ residents, if you're working in a group home. Which is fine...after you've been working there a while or if you came in with experience. Supervisors aren't always aware of everything going on. One staff member was left working by herself in a group home, her first job out of college and in the field, for almost three months, until the Director caught wind of it and insisted other supervisors send in their extra staff to help out. Counselors are told that since they're with the residents 24/7, they are the most important when it comes to discussing their progress. But it's very seldom that you actually feel heard. Nothing is really done when residents do not follow through with their responsibilities, they rely on "natural consequences." Staff is expected to clean the house when the residents do not. Sometimes it feels like you're providing more cleaning services then actual counseling. Finally, and probably the most important factor at SERV, there are no such things as "raises." So your pay stays the same regardless of seniority, which to my knowledge only began a few years ago, as there are some counselors who have been there for 5+ years and use to receive raises.
