youth worker

youth counselor

client services

office assistant

wm+a

I am grateful for the opportunity to work at Williams Marijan & Associates. In my few months as an employee I have been in growing in a number of skills such as communication (verbal and written), multi-tasking, time management, ability to prioritize, attention to details and collaborating with others. As a scheduler my time is spent mostly working independently in a shared office space. Working in a team
environment has allowed my transition into this work space to be supported with insight from colleagues with more experience. The training process was very straight forward and I think was the best training experience I have ever gone through. I felt adequately prepared and eased into actually scheduling. Every day I get the opportunity to connect and build relationships with various associates, families, clients, and social service providers. As someone coming from a Child and Youth Care background the role of a scheduler allows me to utilize my knowledge of the field and expand on it by learning more about the needs and gaps that exist in social services. As a scheduler I have observed that the associate position allows associates opportunities to grow their skill set, challenge themselves, and work their own schedule. In my role I have encountered dedicated associates who have pushed their comfort zones and capacity in order to deliver the best possible support to our clients. I have witnessed members of scheduling, service coordinators, and other members of management support associates in navigating tough situations whether it be personal or professionally related. WM&A has demonstrated to me time and time again how supportive it is to  staff in the office and associates in the field. I would recommend anyone offered the opportunity to work at WM&A to highly consider doing so! It takes commitment but the impact that is made on others is worth it! 

Pro's:
-Set your own schedule
- Flexible: You don't have to take shifts that are offered to you, and you only need to be available to work one shift per month if you have too
-Offers a lot of trainings and workshops at a reduced cost (CPI, SMG, ABA workshops, etc)
-Scheduling and management are supportive and put in effort to help you learn and figure out how to work best with a client
-Alot of clients are great to work with, some shifts are actually very easy
-You can get supply shifts, one off shifts, short term contracts or long term, which is great! So much variation!

Con's
-Many client's are aggressive
-I personally don't get alot of shifts, HOWEVER, I think this is just because I have told them I don't want to take very aggressive clients (which they have many of) so if your ok with aggression, you should get lots
-you are an independent contractor, which makes taxes a bit more difficult
-Schedulers can be VERY rude when you have to cancel a shift due to sickness
-Sometimes the information you are given about a shift/ client is inaccurate (However, I just deal with this by asking them a lot of questions about the shift when I get it, so for me it's not really a problem)
-The main person you ask for advice (like your supervisor, but not technically) about clients communicates in a confusing way and I often don't understand him (but this might just be me)

I have been working at WM&A for almost 2 years now and it was been a very positive experience. The company has a wide array of contracts ranging from 1-1 home support, school based, mental health, hospital and residential treatment settings. The breadth of opportunities available allows me to find the right fit for my skill-set and the volume of work which is available is quite impressive. 

The company has a tier one online scheduling system enabling me to book my availability and clearly manage my work load. The trainers are engaging and helpful and they make mandatory training classes as fun and informative as possible.   Furthermore, the wide array of short seminars and training modules ranging from FASD to ABA illustrate the company's dedication in ensuring associates have exposure to evidenced based approaches required to succeed in their potential placements. 

The management team is pleasant and respectful and will have open and honest conversations with you when any potential issues occur, leaving you with a clear idea on how to prepare for situations in the future. In addition, the management team is forthcoming in sharing feedback from their customers and it is appreciated when you are validated for your work and efforts.

I have been an associate with WM+A for approx 3 years and have never looked back in regret on my decision to work as part of this amazing team. 
Nothing is perfect, but WM+A has always looked out for me and my interests - even in situations of disagreement, WM+A always sought resolution. 
The teams I worked on in the field varied, but I have build so many connections and learnt so much from my experiences working alongside them. The training you receive stepping on board is bar none and the experience is what you make it. 
Some of the most passionate people I have found in this field are were through WM+A and the flexibility they offer is phenomenal. You wish to work a simple 40 hour work week? Or perhaps your pushing your limits and trying to best 110 hours weekly? Maybe your even taking a break because you have a personal issue or covid is preventing you from working temporarily? Either way, WMA has adapted to my needs in every one of those situations as I experienced them over the last 3 years without question or hesitation,

My passion is working with children and families facing high needs
and multiple stressors in various settings, including schools, hospitals and community settings. wm and a provided me with these opportunities. wm and a provided me with excellent opportunities to grow as a person and build experience and develop my skills. Through the experience I gained I was accepted to do my MSW from which I recently graduated. If you already have a job, working for wm and a will provide you with flexible opportunities to add to and build on your current knowledge and skills. When I faced challenges (what  job does not have its  challenge-challenging clients, challenging environments etc?)   office staff were always around if I needed to debrief. The opportunities for additional training and workshops were very welcome and excellent! Although I no longer work with them, I remain grateful that they helped me get where I am today. The experience certainly contributed to me getting into the TDSB first as an EA, then as a teacher, and also as already mentioned, into Social Work School.

The work environment is extremely high-pressure, with an intense focus on productivity and very close supervision, which can feel like micromanagement. Breaks are limited to just 30 minutes, and the atmosphere is often loud and overstimulating—something not disclosed in the job posting.

If you’re someone who thrives in calm, structured environments or are sensitive to noise, this may not be the right fit. It’s worth noting the irony: while the organization provides support to clients with mental health challenges, there seems to be little acknowledgment of the needs of neurodivergent employees within the admin team.

This role may be difficult for individuals with ADHD or other focus-related conditions, as accommodations or inclusive practices for diverse working styles weren’t evident in my experience. If you’re seeking a supportive and peaceful work setting, I would recommend exploring other opportunities.

WM+A has the most understanding and supportive management and team I have ever worked for or with. They are always willing to give advice or listen. You are able to build your own schedule and can work as much as you feel like you can handle. All they ask is that you keep your schedule up to date and work minimum one shift a month. If you need a mental health day, they encourage it because you can't help others if you aren't taken care of.
The only down fall is that you don't get benefits but between the pay, team, and clients it is made up for!
I love what I do and wish it was closer to where I live, but I have never been happier with my place of employment which makes my drive each day worth it.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Flexibility as you can take shifts when it is convenient. Also exposure to different work environments.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
When there is little work available and minimal shifts. Some months work is very sparse which makes it difficult to plan financially.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Stressful. There is little support from the company, very cliquish.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Extremely varied dependent upon where you are sent to work.

The company is very challenging due to a highly micromanaged work environment. There was a strong expectation to focus solely on work at all times, which made it difficult to maintain any sense of balance and led to frequent mental exhaustion.

Leadership, particularly at the supervisory level, could benefit from improved communication and a more supportive, respectful approach to employees. A healthier workplace culture and greater trust in staff would make a significant difference.

I been working at WM+A for many years as Child and Youth Worker, providing service for children, youth and families with complex needs. Usually, we work  in a variety of settings such as group homes, hospitals,  school and community-based programs etc. WM+A became one of the best companies in Canada providing professional help to individuals  who have social, emotional or behavioral issues.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Youth worker 32 salaries reported	$28.71 per hour
Youth counselor 7 salaries reported	$27.50 per hour
Client services 3 salaries reported	$49,000 per year
Office assistant 1 salary reported	$19.00 per hour

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