Pros
Even as an employee working on professional licensure I always felt respected and valued. I was given many opportunities to expand my skills beyond my immediate department. I learned how to fill out all kinds of government paperwork and was shocked moving on to a hospital setting that so many professionals don’t know how to advocate for clients this way. I was sincerely thanked for any volunteer projects. When I obtained full licensure I was congratulated by the COO and saw a pay rise in my next check. I assume my direct supervisor shared the good news. I absolutely had no expectation of that raise.
Cons
The company is a nonprofit; the pay is a bit below average. Clients have very high acuity so taking breaks and excellent self-care is critical. This job is not for someone who thrives on consistency. De-escalation training is provided - putting this into practice is the reason I haven’t been assaulted working 20 years in healthcare. I saw a couple colleagues fail at de-escalation, (meaning they didn’t follow the training recommendations) and get hit.