shelter worker

support worker

mental health technician

employment counselor

youth worker

Options Community Services

Worked in program management in AL/SL program for adults with MHSU disorders. The organization is a good first step, experience wise, to learn about working in non profit/social services sector. MH/Support Staff that I had the privilege to work along side as their manager/leader were genuinely very compassionate and empathetic. They worked incredibly hard through out the pandemic and went above and beyond to ensure the individuals we supported continued to receive services that were essential to maintain their recovery. Consistently understaffed in most programs and high turn over rate which was frustrating. As a “Manager” you are expected to be on call 24/7 which affected a healthy work/life balance. My experience with the Senior Level Management team was not great or good to put it mildly, they were not approachable, personable, and the support and guidance I needed just wasn’t there which was very disappointing to say the least. Long time staff were also very unhappy with the organizations negative/toxic work culture resulting in really great staff leaving/quitting due to high stress impacting their mental health. OCS has great potential to be a great place to work long term but unfortunately the CEO/ED have turned a blind eye and are not willing or capable of doing a complete organizational re-structuring  as well as refusing to take any action when/if  serious concerns regarding incompetent/inexperienced  Senior Managers/Executive Directors were brought to their attention. I really would have loved to continue working here long term however not at the cost of sacrificing my own mental/emotional well-being.

Typical day at work:
A typical day runs from 9 to 5 and involves meeting with clients, providing support, documenting progress notes, and coordinating with team members and community partners.

What I learned:
This role strengthened my ability to approach people with empathy and remain non-judgmental while supporting individuals with diverse needs.

Management:
Management is supportive and approachable, and they provide guidance when needed.

Workplace culture:
The workplace culture is inclusive and respectful. I personally never felt treated differently because of my race.

Hardest part of the job:
Self-scheduling can sometimes be challenging when coordinating appointments, but it becomes manageable with good planning.

Most enjoyable part of the job:
The flexibility of self-scheduling allows me to manage my workload efficiently and work at a pace that supports quality client care.

I really enjoyed my time at options, I was treated really well through my 4/1/2 years of employment with this organization from start to finish. I got nothing but good things to say about this organization they have great upper management who really thrive on helping others including there employees. If your looking for a rewarding opportunity I would highly suggest you apply here they offer excellent benefits and flexible hours they provide great support on employee’s mental health they really seem to care about their employees. I learned so much with options and I’m truly grateful for this organization and what they do for others there organization should be called giving back because they are always helping others. Thank you to everyone who made this possible during my time there   I’ll never forget the gifts I learned at options.

Nobody really seems to know the *exact* reason why shelters tend to be perpetually underfunded and understaffed, but if you've spent time in the industry, you'll have some ideas. Whatever the answer may be, the reality is that many of the companies that run shelters often struggle to retain capable workers, and never really seem to find a solution for that problem. 

As far as shelter-work at OCS goes, relative to other organizations in the GVA, I would say that it's one of the better places to work. People are aware that it's not an easy job, and they'll do their part to be accommodating. A lot of people (and recent health care polls) will tell you that your co-workers make or break a job like this, and my experience with the people here has been really positive. Having said that, there's still a lot of ongoing issues, and it'd be easy to point the finger at one person or the next, but the reality is, 

This company has great potential to cultivate a positive work culture however like many companies, they don't practice what they preach. Their mission statement is fantastic however the reality for working there is the complete opposiite. There has been ALOT of staff turnover because of terrible mangement (or managers) very few programs are lucky to have supportive" Leaders" not someone inexperienced on a power trip which cultivated a very negative work culture. Again, really enjoyed working in the program helping clients integrate into the community. Big changes need to happen if this company wants their staff to stay long term, turning a blind eye won't help for much longer. Pay and benefits were great. Thats about it!

After going through detailed and extensive training on the crisis intervention model, you are mentored and reviewed in the phone room before you are able to become a regular call-taker. 

The crisis line is very well run. The program is very organized. Communication between co-workers and staff is excellent and encouraged. A lot of support is available to the call takers at all times. 

The hardest part of the job is mastering the crisis intervention model and trusting yourself to know how to handle any call that comes your way. The job is enjoyable because it is very rewarding to help people in crisis and help people develop their coping skills and resourcefulness.

There is always someone there to help out in any situation.  If they can't answer your question, they will find someone who can and get back to you ASAP.

Management has many years of experience and is hands on, which is helpful should a situation take a turn for the worst.

Workplace culture is diverse.  You can learn so much from each other and help out where you know it is needed most.  You can also ask for help and know you will get it.

Knowing that at anytime you could be out of a job no matter what.  

Working with some of the most amazing individuals in this city!!

What is the best part of working at the company?
They are nice people to work with and they put in their best to make you get what you need to get in their ofice.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Sometimes their staff can be so lazy to work at a particular time but they are always upright to work anytime.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Great with respect to all the staff


What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Coming to work that early when your time for work his in the morning for my work time.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Multicultural and understanding environment 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
As was a front desk admin in an office of 3 programs, there is a high volume of walk ins and sometimes people is rude demanding quick response for difficult taks

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very comprehensive and with patient to teach any task, even if you are a person without experience 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Lots of calls, walk-ins and scheduled appointments

Amazing people. Very hard working staff. Very kind hearted coworkers. Effective problem solvers, and open to thinking outside the box. 

Disunity between departments, Physical separation of staff, Communication challenges, Sometimes intense and stressful  situations.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Shelter worker 5 salaries reported	$26.47 per hour
Support worker 1 salary reported	$26.12 per hour
Mental health technician 1 salary reported	$23.00 per hour
Employment counselor 2 salaries reported	$28.80 per hour
Youth worker 1 salary reported	$23.00 per hour

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