MENCAP

I don't want to criticize this company too much because they gave me the opportunity to work in social care and it was a privilege to support the tenants.

However, I gave myself enough flexibility within the organization to experience the varied services and jobs within the company during my 2 years.

The residential settings I experienced on the whole accommodated a handful of tenants and 15+ plus staff. Despite, the modern day acceptance that old fashioned institutions could have been better, and buzz words like person centered approaches being the way forward, I did find these services to be quite institutional on the whole.

Staff teams vary - if you've got a good, friendly mix, the job can be highly rewarding, but I also experienced fragmented staff teams consisting of different ages, personalities, values and disruptive staff which did make the job unpleasant at times.

The paperwork seemed a bit like overkill, and I often wondered how Manager's had time to read it all - assuming they do. I couldn't help feeling towards the end of my time working for the organization that as a national provider and the 'voice of learning disability' that it is a company who is almost too big and uses a one size fits all approach to accommodate many different types of tenant, some of whom I did question whether it was an appropriate setting for their personal needs.

I also felt there was a bit of an 'old pals network' amongst a few of the service managers, many of whom have worked had known each other for years. I must admit, the caliber of managers fluctuates and I did sense apathy/resignation amongst several intelligent, educated support workers about their prospects of promotion in the future.

To summise, at the end of my training, I was told by another member of staff that if you wanted a job for life for this company, then within reason you could have a job for life. I decided to leave the company because I felt my skill-set could be utilized better in a different company.

When I go into work, I know that I will be supporting someone, ensuring they are able to live the life you choose to live - something that gives you a feeling of immense pride and satisfaction. While the work may be challenging, my patience may be tested and I may go home tired - you can't put a price on improving someone's life. 

Throughout my time at Mencap - I have learned a wide range of skills and processes that will continue to support me in later life. In particular, the training was outstanding - completely informing me of the processes and skills within social care. This in depth training particularly impressed me, as coming from a retail background, I had a very minimal understanding of the precise skills of a support worker.

The management I have received has been outstanding. My service manager has been truly supportive of both myself and my team, often offering to support me with any issues I had. This "outstanding" tag also covers the team - who truly showed the Mencap values in their way of working. The inclusive nature of my colleagues was on full display when I first joined - everyone really tried to include me in everything they did - I truly felt welcome. 

The most challenging part of the job was the initial adjustment from retail to social care hours. The hours of work can be unsociable and do require commitment (such as the commitment of sleeping-in). Furthermore, the care can sometimes be challenging - as just like myself, the people we support can have days when they're simply not in the mood. 

As stated previously, you can't put a price on what Mencap do. While the pay may not be the best, the service locations not ideal and the hours demanding - Mencap is truly a great employer and I am proud to work for this wonderful charity.

This should be a nice little job, unfortunately if you don't have a supportive manager or a good team, which is so often the case with these roles then it's going to be a horrible one instead. Rather than be thanked or appreciated for going the extra mile, you'll be expected to take on more hours and spend longer away from home and your family/social life. If you speak up, you'll be seen as someone who makes trouble. If you care about what you do, you'll be seen as a do-gooder. If you're good at your job, expect the backlash from others who are less so bringing you down to take the spotlight off their incompetence and make you look bad. If you're the support worker with extra responsibilities and doing the rota then you'll be fine as you can sweep up as many shifts as you like and be allowed to take shifts off of others without asking at the detrement to others pay, or make sackable offences and be forgiven because you're doing the one evil that management don't have to which is the rota.  Spent the pandemic working shift after shift, in some instances not going home for days on end due to a lack of staff as they have an immoral "stay put" policy in place to save management from actually managing the situation. Say goodnight to your own bed/children/partner and get ready to move in and be miserable should actually be the company's slogan. So, stay away if you're decent and put your mental health first. 

I didn't come from a care background when they took me on for this job. There were two types of training, informative (out-house) and practical (in-house/on the job). The on the job training was terrible and I got no support in the house. One of my managers had signed off my paperwork to say he had witnessed me carry out all practical tasks even though on some he showed me once then I was left to do it without aid. I was also left on my own on many occasions with a client that had very complex health issues that I wasn't trained for and the training was life saving. I never felt secure or confident in this job through lack of support and practical training. It was also a very gossip central house, which would often discuss others private life out loud and in front of clients which always made me feel uncomfortable as I felt it was unprofessional and unfair on the person being spoken about as they were often not in the room. Team leaders and management were often the ones starting such conversations. I also raised concerns about a clients safety twice, which were ignored and I was just told it didn't know what I was talking  about as I was new. I heard many stories about other houses being similar and that in fact I was in one of the better houses, which always shocked me. 

I had a relatively long career with Mencap. I worked hard and was entirely flexible as well as going above and beyond my actual duties. I made a lot of friends and there were lots of good times. The pay was pretty poor for a lot of years but improved slightly over the last few. You are still underpaid for some of the responsibilities you can have. 

As usual with support/care jobs what ended my time with Mencap was bad management. The manager was reported by almost all staff in the team for some situations that occurred. Mencap did virtually nothing about the complaints and carried out an 'investigation' that was at best, farcical and not really an investigation at all. I was disgusted by the whole situation and couldn't morally stay working for them.

Mencap also failed to protect it's Support Workers during the so called investigation and while reports about management were made. Multiple members of the team left.

Management on the whole were too much of a clique. There were good ones but there's too much inconsistency in management quality.

I felt insulted, let down, disappointed and ill-treated by Mencap. Its overall values and aims for the people that are supported are great. They do not apply the same values to the frontline of its workforce.

When i started this job 20 yrs ago i found the atmosphere generally good fun with a good well gelled team however the pay just did not keep up with the times . The quality staff left and were replaced by lazy bullies. The management were stretched as they axed half the management roles meaning they had to cover other houses which in turn led to them becoming over stretched unable to fully focus on the issues presented.. The pay is the worse in this sector with no enhanced rates for late , bank holidays, week end work. the bullies have now completely taken over and management are not dealing with the issues which are making staff ill with stress and worry. I have stayed with this company in the hope that these issues would be ironed out however after years of wishful thinking and waiting ive come to the conclusion that those days are gone . If it wasn't for the wonderful residents whom i feel so sorry having to live with this atmosphere i would of gone long ago.

Not a good experience. Some staff work their hearts out and get no more pay than those who do nothing or are always off sick or spend their entire shift on iphones or cigarette breaks. Management are only interested in themselves and senior management will not accept any bad news.Some staff are bullies and through their own stupidity will make life unbearable for you. I had enough and left after a year and am so glad I did. The hardest thing was leaving the PWS but I now work for a much more professional body than Mencap where safeguarding is taken seriously, where career development is a possibility and with pleasant colleagues who pull their own weight..

If you want to be ignored, humiliated, bullied, worked to death and have your home life suffer then work for Mencap. If that doesn't appeal then there are plenty of other service providers out there who need caring people like me and you.

Just left Mencap after 9+ years. Previous managers very supportive and helpfull but its not what Mencap wants so got forced out. Replaced by pen pushers and bullies. PWS can be challenging at times like we all do. Very rewarding to see smiles on their faces and they are the only reason why I sticked so long. Managers change paperwork constantly. If something goes wrong you will be a scape goat. You will be a Minion and payroll number. They will use you as much as they can and give nothing in return. You are there to jump the hoops and shut up. If you speak up you will be punished for it and bullied. They make rules as it suits them. One day something is not allowed but if they can benefit from it another day, then no problem. One rules for them one rules for us. And please dont reply about communication channels and complains procedures. Been there and have a sticker. Got bullied out by my manager for speaking out.

If only I could give 0 stars!

Management are absolutely disgusting. My brother passed away and I wasn't offered any time off, not even the day of his funeral. Management told me "to arrange my own cover if needed." We are already losing staff at my service because of poor management. Staff are expected to stay on shift alone working when our client is 2 - 1 care. If no cover is available, you'd have to then stay on for a nightshift. 

Management favour certain members of staff, which leaves others feeling the strain and being left on shift for ridiculous amount of hours. 

Management expect you to sort Rotas and arrange cover, which takes away care from service user. 

In the service, there are no current up to date support plans or risk assessments. When having an audit staff are left to sort this paperwork! 

Absolutely horrible place to work.

So despondent, its hard to know where to begin. Poor management, closing ranks if any complaint is made. Obsessed with their presentation in the public eye, but far less concerned with actually looking after staff and workers. Bad pay, no incentives, back stabbing and politics amongst the staff,  staff members often assaulted by violent service users, which seems to concern management not at all. Some staff have been there 20 odd years, still on terrible pay, and treated badly by management. No loyalty to staff at all, no matter how good they are, or how many years service they have given. Nothing to recommend, plenty to condemn. Don't make the same mistake I did, DONT WORK FOR THIS COMPANY.

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