Pros
ETHOS Therapeutics provides a community-based integration program for adults with severe developmental disabilities. The goal is simple: reintroduce group home clients to the community through education and action. A base curriculum is provided to outline daily activities for the clients to accomplish. However, because of the community-based approach and fluidity of the program, these goals are more of a guideline than a set of boxes to check. Each client’s needs are taken into consideration, and if a client doesn’t wish to participate in the activity, they are not forced or coerced to do so. The selling point of a fluid teaching model and of empowering clients to make their own decisions and learn from the consequences of their actions or inactions is what attracted me to this assignment.
Cons
The initial training program was reluctantly optimistic and did not fully prepare you for the rigors of the job ahead. Note-taking, problem-solving, and other administrative functions were learned or “picked up” without any real formal training. I finally got some one-on-one data tracking and note-taking classes from one of my supervisors two months into the job. The transition from mentored and supervised training to solo in-the-field care is woefully inadequate and fails to prepare the employees for the many scenarios they will face. This “learn as you go” leaves many employees feeling lost and abandoned, which in turn leads to a high rate of frustration and turnover in the ranks.
