program facilitator

specialist

retention specialist

learning and development facilitator

employment advisor

PORT CARES

TLDR: Pay was NOT worth it.

This job was an amazing opportunity for me to get on my feet and work in a field I absolutely love to work in. The front line workers and some managers in different departments from mine were absolutely supportive and amazing when I filled in positions that were needed. The frontline staff in my department were absolute gems and very passionate people who have shown me nothing but support and kindness as well as wisdom to further my own career goals. Management at the time of my employment was very supportive and were beacons of wisdom that I could learn from.

That said, the pandemic hit and management changed. Granted times were tough, new management made it extremely difficult to work with them. They were condescending, inappropriate, unprofessional, and downright unknowledgeable in the field they took over and refused to learn from employees who have the education, background, and experience in their field of work. They put unrealistically high expectations and when you failed they came down on you for it and refused to work with you. Anything perceived as a slight or considered "talking back" towards management became personal and they acted like it was a personal attack on them, making it even harder to work with them.

While I can understand the drive to make our department the best in the “business” in the region, their lack of care towards their employees is downright sad and has caused a high turnover rate for the department. Not only that, they hold too many hats and drop the ball on every single one of them because they refuse to listen to frontline employees and what they can offer as solutions due to micro-management. In fact, any solution you try to give they do the exact opposite because you tried to “tell them what to do”. It felt as if they were actively trying to do the bare minimum while singing praises about how they are the best.

Pay and benefits are amazing, but it's not enough when they make the workplace extremely toxic.
There is also no up-ward advancement for the department I was in and if you were to get into a higher spot by chance, be prepared to act like a punching bag for anything that goes wrong. They want people of similar nature in top roles, not people who actually care and work hard for the community.

Take the pros and cons for what they are and make your own informed decision about applying for this position. While I, personally, did experience a lot of negatives, the only positive thing I will say about the current management is that they fought for better quality items for the program and has improved a small amount over the few years they've taken over. Just stay on their good side and you'll have no problems.

I worked in the employment division of Port Cares. Port Cares is a good entry level opportunity for someone that is looking to break into the social service industry. In terms of work life balance, as a new employee, you are not entitled to any vacation until after your first year of work. Standard Monday - Friday work hours with very little flexibility for time off if needed.    The salary is just above living wage...which is presently $17.99/hour for Niagara. New employee's typically start at $18.00/hr with either a 3 or 6 month probation period. New employee's are not entitled to benefits until after their probation...the benefits are not great, just standard. Very little job security; they are known to not renew employment contracts, even though they continue to receive funding from the government. There is no room or opportunity for advancement at this company. Senior management has very little presence and the department manager likes to micro-manage, but is so scattered that they are not effective or efficient in providing service. Culture is ok. The front end staff is amazing and are not compensated well enough for the work that they do.

If you have a passion to help others and enjoy working in a collaborative team then Port Cares is a place for you! The staff and management team are driven to ensure the members of our community are supported and empowered. We strive everyday to offer Help, Hope and Opportunity to the clients we serve. It is a pleasure to come to work everyday and be surrounded by such an amazing team of compassionate professional who support each other. We work hard and have fun doing it. Like every work environment, we have our challenges. The non-profit sector is changing and evolving and we are responding to that challenge in a community minded way. Our team has a Can-Do attitude, exceptional customer service skills and a passion to deliver outstanding client-centred services. It is so rewarding to be a part of such an amazing team and organization!

I am fairly new to Port Cares and I have had the opportunity to meet the most hard working and compassionate people ever.  The employees are there because they love what they do and everyone I have been introduced to is so passionate about the work and the organization they work for.  And what they do is not always easy.  I am new to this world and it is so driven by numbers and funding which can be stressful and everyone I have met handles it with strength and character from the top down. There are no egos and no job is too small, we all pitch in and paint, volunteer for events and take care of our community to the best of our ability.  Right from the ED giving up her lunch so someone could have breakfast to the staff that will work a 13 hour day to put on an event  to raise money.  What a crew!  I hope they will let me hang around for a long while.

I enjoyed my volunteer experience at this facility, a charitable organization, and I will be volunteering there again. I've been asked to give a teaching lecture to the clients. The clients are those on assisted living, or the working poor, who often need a boost in their Life Skills area.
As I was given a choice of what to speak about, that is what I decided - "Life Skills"...namely, initially centering around the kitchen - safety, hygeine and cooking tips for the kitchen, inexpensive recipes to make with only a few ingredients that are not only nutritious but delcious also.
I am excited about this opportunity and am looking forward to it.

I worked in the Housing and Homelessness division at Port Cares, and found management to be supportive, kind, and motivating. The housing manager makes the job worth it as she puts so much effort in connecting with her staff as well as doing whatever she can for our clients. Feeling the level of dedication she has, pushed me to want to work hard and do well. The team actively works together as well offering assistance whenever needed, which is refreshing. 

The housing piece was as to be expected, challenging in this market and especially in south Niagara. However, Port Cares and their team advocates strongly and does whatever they can to support the individuals in port and fort Erie. 

Port Cares is a social services agency that provides many exceptional programs to the community it serves.  Front line staff work diligently to assist all clients to achieve their goals and improve quality of life.  Management leads with an open style of communication - always keeping staff informed of initiatives and the direction of Port Cares.  The Management team is extremely approachable, and is never above pitching in on the front lines.  Our Executive Director works tirelessly to keep Port Cares sustainable and ensure this Agency can continue to deliver on it's mandate, now and in to the future.
I am proud to work at Port Cares and look forward to many more years of commitment and dedication to the communities of Port Colborne and surrounding area.

I started working at Port Cares knowing very little about the agency. The agency as a whole does great things for the Port Colborne community but the way it is run, the way staff are treated and the uneasy workplace culture makes it uncomfortable, to say the least. It consistently seems as though management thinks that they can do no wrong. Staff members are talked down to, manipulated and taken advantage of. New ideas are "welcomed" but shut down the moment they are proposed. Lots of opportunity to learn and grow but staff are limited and micromanaged. Very self involved management for an agency dedicated to helping others. Extremely disappointing experience.

I will be honest avoid this workplace at ALL costs, the staff is amazing but I have never in my life seen a more toxic management. Consistently spreading lies, starting drama, and micromanaging. VERY insecure to the point staff leave. I witnessed a lot of staff leave this place during my time here.  When you bring up concerns about management HR twists it to blame you, and it goes in one ear and out the other. It really is a shame, this place has great potential to be great unfortunately with the management that is in place this will never be a healthy environment.

The job itself was decent and enjoyable and good for entry level work however there is no room for upward movement. I enjoyed working with the families and their children however as many other reviewers have stated, I found management to be a huge problem. Management can be very condescending, belittling,  and has very unrealistic expectations with little regard for the frontline staff. Overall felt like a toxic environment, heavily micromanaged and dreaded going into work daily. Extremely unfortunate as the agency and job has great potential and is an asset to the community. 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Program facilitator 1 salary reported	$21.77 per hour
Specialist 2 salaries reported	$39,000 per year
Retention specialist 2 salaries reported	$22.00 per hour
Learning and development facilitator 2 salaries reported	$22.92 per hour
Employment advisor 2 salaries reported	$39,000 per year

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