auxiliaire de puericulture

youth worker

Blue sky Family Care

Typical day at work- Walk into work not knowing if you will get to go home that night. I am a current employee and there is a MAJOR STAFFING CRISIS at Blue Sky. I can't even begin to count the amount of 24 hour shifts that take place at this company. An email from management  saying "thanks" and "T E A M", does not justify the amount of times people are stuck on 24 hour shifts. 

What you learned-  USE YOUR RESOURCES. Avail of the EAP. It's free and its a great way to blow off steam you will build up at work. Call all levels of management and MAKE NOISE when there is a problem. Do not be afraid to go up the chain to make a complaint. Also, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO CALL THE UNION. They are there to help us and will get you out of sticky situations.  

Workplace culture-  Child youth care workers are over worked, and burning out at an alarming rate due to: 24 hour shifts, programming that does not implement discipline, accountability and liability issues, intimidation from management and other workers and lack of support. We know this job is though, we do it out of love for the children, but when we look at other agencies such as Key Assets, who put a huge focus on CYCW well-being, it is embarrassing that Blue Sky does not instil such practices in their company. 

Hardest part of the job- going into work, and getting a sick call, knowing you will be stuck on a 24 hour shift. Another point to add regarding 24 hour shifts- you have to figure it out with the other employee who has to stay on shift. This causes unnecessary workplace tension and drama. The job is already stressful enough! 

Most enjoyable part of the job- Seeing children's progress- knowing that you made a small (or large)  impact on a child's life is forever rewarding. I bow to the CYCW's who show up to work day in and day out with a smile on their face, making a huge different in these kids lives.

The job itself can be amazing and I loved it. However, the company itself aren’t the greatest. There are constantly staffing shortages causing workers to be stuck on shift and nobody tells you this when you are hired on. They will say “in the event of an emergency will you stay if needed” you say yes thinking they actually mean emergency but they really mean is when someone calls in sick. I’ve been personally stuck for over 2 days and when I called for help not a soul answered my calls. There was no bed for staff so only choice was to try to sleep on a couch while and if the youth slept that night. The youth have the run of the homes, there are no consequences for anything so they know they can do whatever they please. Some of the situations I have witnessed were unbelievable. Smoking in the home in front of staff but still brought to get McDonald’s. A lot of managers (not all) do not have your back and workers are often scapegoated. Burn out is absolutely inevitable which leads to a lot of mental health issues. I’ve personally heard managers call staff weak for breaking down when faced with having to stay 24 plus hours. With that being said there are some good things. The team do become very close and I have made some really amazing friends so I can’t say I regret working at blue sky. I’ve gained a lot of experience in this field and had great relationships with some young people. Knowing you helped them in any way no matter how big or small is very rewarding. I love this line of work but I would really consider these things before applying. 

I have worked here for 12 hrs in many positions from frontline to management back to frontline. I enjoy frontline the most . There have been days I’ve cried with kids and laughed with kids . There are days I get home and what to quit because it’s been a challenge . Then there are days I get home and cry because I’ve seen a child’s heart break. 

There posts on here about staffing shortages and I can tell you I’ve only experienced one in my 12 years. 

If you read the negative reviews you will see mostly complaints former employees have towards the employer. What you aren’t getting to see is how rewarding it can be to work in this field . 

You get to work as part of a team - I have met some of my best friends since starting here . 

You get a rotational schedule - I know I’m off on August 23,2019! How many jobs can provide you with that !  You work 14 days out of the month . This week I’m off Monday , Tuesday , Friday, Saturday AND Sunday !!! Lots of time for self care and napping 

You also switch between nights and days . So you can finish that book that’s been on your bedside table all winter . 


There are so many opportunities for training . 


Most importantly you get to be apart of some pretty great kids lives. You get to teach them they are loved and cared for. Some days may be challenging while others may be filled with tea parties, movies or board games. I hope you know the words to baby shark or how to play Fortnite ! 

I’ll never work at another youth care agency.

This place is AWFUL. As a child and youth care worker it absolutely broke my heart to work for the blue sky. You want to help the kids the best way you can but honestly this company does not care about the kids, they do not have any supports for the children or the staff. They do not care about you because you are replaceable to them. My mother passed away when working for them and I took the week off and they threatened to fire me if I didn’t go back to work ASAP. They are absolutely horrible, I would write up daily reports and incidents and if they like that the reports didn’t show them as successful they would get the managers to re write them before sending them to the social workers.  Please please do not work here, apply to key assets, way points, choices for youths, shalom, any where but here if you truly want to work with youth in a positive environment. They do not care about the overall care of the kids, if they can cut corners and save money they will, if they can give the bare minimum and get away with it they will. THEY DO NOT CARE.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Nothing is good about this company. The best part was the youth that I bonded with but company was not great. Run far away from this company they will talk and gossip about you and they never have your back. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The management was never there for you, they gossip about you and you cannot talk to them in confudent cuz every employee will hear about it. They are never there for you and the pay sucks 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very very bad management never got anything done and they treated the youth pathetic like they didn't matter 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Go there hear 20 mins of the team lead talking bad about other employees but I just did my routine and spent time with the youth

Came to work with this company in hopes of making a difference in the community around me. The work hours are long and stressful which is OK if you had the luxury to go home after your 12 hour shift. You are stuck at work for 24 hours and in some cases even 36 hours if they could not find a replacement worker to cover the sick call, the management expects you to stay put at work even if it means leaving your own child without care at your own home. 
There is no benefit package for child and youth care workers which says a lot about the priorities of the employer for its own employees. The top management and managers meanwhile can enjoy fewer hours, better wages and benefits while the workers are forgotten. Most people I know cling on to their jobs due to the lack of good jobs on the island.

They'll hire anyone, experienced or inexperienced. The workers are thrown into a home with no prior training before starting the job. You usually have to wait a couple of months before you even get any training. The training isn't even close to preparing you for half of the situations you'll face while on the job. If you apply for this job make sure you have your own health insurance/benefits because this company doesn't have benefits. Poor management, poor training, and poor work environment overall. Worst job I've ever had. This company is for profit, and it clearly shows. Don't get your hopes up if you think being a worker at this company changes lives, because really you're just paid to be a babysitter and the youth run the show!

Pay is well below other CYCW positions in area.  No benefits.  No proper programming for youth - very worried for their futures if they remain there. They are given their meds and left to their own devices.  Seems like a glorifed baby sitting job where you are unable to say anything to the youth as they are the ones in charge.  No discipline, no rules and way too many rewards for every little thing.  It's not how real life works and we are setting theae youth up for failure if we teach them they get rewarded for things such as brushing teeth or eating.

This company is suppose to be helping youth get adequate care and build positive relationships with them. HA! You go from house to to house meeting new kids all the time and as soon as you start to build a positive relationship with them, they move you to another house. How are the youth suppose to feel safe when there’s a constant turnover in staff due to scheduling and management who do not care for its own employees. Constant 24 hour shifts most of the time mandatory. Good luck to who ever applies to this company. 

I have no idea how this company is still allowed to operate! Management is deplorable and operate on a favouritism basis; majority of workers are plucked off the street with NO background in the field; organization is inadequate at best; workers turn on each other constantly and then expect the clients to be respectful; clients are permitted to do basically anything they wish including abusing workers. CSSD really turned a blind eye to this organization.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Auxiliaire de puericulture 72 salaries reported	$21.05 per hour
Youth worker 3 salaries reported	$19.49 per hour

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