home care worker

mill worker

youth worker

travailleur social

support worker

IDM Youth Services

Not sure why disgrunted employees feel the need to give such biased and unclear reviews. I am curently an employee in a Senior Staff (not management capacity) and find the review that was posted on March. 19th to be extremely inacurate and offensive. Everyone at this agency works tirelessly to provide care for the youth in our community that have no where to go (dont qualify for specialized treatment centers but are too behaviourly challenging to be placed in traditional foster homes). 

Yes, the work is difficult and stressfull and the wages arent the most lucrative but they are very up front about this at the interview  (and this is the social service industry...come on). 
Yes, there are alot of employees in their 20's. This is an entry level opportunity for alot of people and allows for lots of networking and interaction with other involved professionals. 
Yes, the company paid to have two members of management get certified to teach a non violent crisis intervention and practices course...and yes, that makes it cheaper for them to train employees (so?). Though it is a requirement to get their training, employees are provided with the training/certification at NO cost.
There is a benefit package through Manulife that is offerened to employees. 

It is true that at this time there is no HR department and they could benefit from this. The company has only been in operation for 7 years  though and is funded as a "foster home" (so there isnt alot of funding to allocate to this type of thing). From what I understanding this is something that the agency is prioritizing and working on finding a solution for. 

People should know that respect and support is prominent in this agency. Perhaps these disgrunted employees arent clear on the limitatons, processes and focus. For example...yes, sometimes IDM grows unexpectedly- but usually that is because MCFD calls them with news of a yong person in dire straights who literally has no where to go...then IDM does their best to find a space for him/her, often opening up a new location to ensure that the specific needs of the youth can be adequately met. It has been my experience that when the "big picture" is considered the agency does everything they can to prioritize and balance the needs of the youth/community and the fucntioning of the agency/staff.

Sorry for the long winded review! I feel like often people only think to write reviews when they have something negative to say. I have had an excellent experience working here and have met the most incredibe people along the way. IDM works with the forgotten youth in our community- I am proud to be a part of it.

I go back and forth between enjoying my employment with IDM and hating it. Like all work places, IDM has its difficulties. The largest factor for me is how upper management treats staff - I do not feel valued for the skills and experiences I bring; I do not feel like they listen to my opinions or concerns; it feels much like a dictatorship in which people at the top make the decisions and people at the bottom are told to implement those decisions - without interest in their feedback. This company has grown and doubled or tripled its size in the last five years but the systems in place have never changed. I feel that even upper management often appears overwhelmed, and thus there is no time to connect with them or get any support for the challenging work that this is. IDM has a very disconnected community - within the houses you will find amazing people and sometimes a great sense of team spirit and camaraderie. IDM has huge staff turn over and consistently does not see the role that management and company systems or structures play in this - and instead believe that people leave solely because "it's a difficult field of work, or the kids are too challenging." Working with the youth can absolutely be a huge challenge - but with consistency and relationships built over time you will likely find that each youth is an amazing human being, and work can be very fulfilling. Unfortunately- despite your relationships built you may be moved to any house and at any time. You may find out that your shifts you've been working for months are somehow 'eliminated' with little notice. Challenges like this make IDM a very difficult work environment to navigate - and with low wages, many do not feel it worth it to stick around. You must lower your standards to work with IDM - you may be disrespected and be put into unsafe situations on a regular basis. 

There was a reason I was there for over 4 years! The relationships I built with both person's served and coworkers (including upper management) were by far the best experience. I learned so much in that time, and wouldn't have moved on if it weren't for a full career change! It's hard work, but it's rewarding. There are a lot of reviews on here that paint the senior managers as these villainous overlords, which is upsetting. If you do your job you won't have a problem. I've worked front line and received support and help from every single one of them. It's not without a few bumps in the road, but if you bring up problems with them, they will talk it out. The union kind of created more of a divide because everything has to be more formal now , but they're good people who care deeply about the kids. That was an on going issue with staff moral- that staff wouldn't bring up any issues to managment, and how are they to fix something if they don't know? Some things though, their hands are tied but they will explain it to you if you ask! There's a lot going on behind the scenes that people don't see! Pre COVID we used to do staff nights (paint night, ju jitsu ECT), Lunch Learn and Laughs and Xmas parties (I think the union rules make this hard for them to do now)! The pay and benefits are good! The kids are so special, and some days are hard but some days arent! That's just this line of work, we deal with lots of intense behaviours but it's so rewarding to watch them grow!

IDM is a relatively small company with a high turnover of employees, due to the demanding nature of it's work.

Employees can work as hourly (8am-4pm), Half overnight (4pm-8am), or full overnight (8am to 8 am). 

Typically employees work up to three 24 hour shifts a week at a designated house - this is the most demanding type of role. 

While there is a slight disconnect between Sr. Managers and workers in the home's, support is available if needed, and a close culture exists if one works at several different resources and makes an effort to meet other employees. 

There is no formal training for working in mental health - employee turnover is too great for that to be realistic - although literature and workshops are made available. 

The key to success in this job is learning to prioritize the extensive paperwork/chores required, with managing the emotions of the youth served, and learning to work with others for up to 3 days at a time.

During the interview process for IDM, they are looking above all else for SELF CARE, as they need individuals to model behaviour. If you struggle with self care or emotional regulation, this may not be a job for you. 

The core group of Sr Managers and long time employees were without exception wonderful, caring, selfless individuals who strive to manage both the houses and the high turnover of employees.

This was a great experience and would recommend it to anyone who wants to earn some money while pursuing a noble cause.

This is a great place to work if you want to get your foot in the door with child and youth care. Working with the youth can be really rewarding but also incredibly stressful at times (learn a lot of valuable skills as you go). The shifts are 72 hours straight with 4 days off making the shifts, especially on the 2nd and 3rd days incredibly long. If you want a more balanced, 8 work day you must be in management position. You might be able to handle the 72 hours, but keep in mind each house is highly variable in the amount of sleep you can get. Some houses are completely quiet at night while others have youth coming and going up to 3am, with staff having to often respond to RCMP calls, and despite having interuptted/lack of sleep you're still expected to be up at 7am.

The pay is far from great and the benefits are virtually non-existent. On top of this the company expects the employees to commute to them every 2 weeks to pick up their paychecks & deposit it themselves (as direct deposit charges a fee the company doesn't want to pay for), to attend monthly meetings that are unpaid, and to undergo 16 hours of training for free on 2 of their days off. 

The company does have potential but things need to change at the management level and employees could be treated better.

You will be over worked and under paid.  
Management is hot on their own authority and have forgotten how to respect employees. They are not supportive at all.  They will ask for more and more requirements of you and not cover the costs of this training.  That or they will find a cheaper way to do it (certifying one employee as a teacher to teach the others) and suggest you be grateful of the 'opportunity' you are getting when in reality any other company would have covered the cost. 
The add says they are always growing and expanding so that's why they are often hiring- yes they grow too quickly and disregard the welfare of their staff and youth. That and they only seem to hire young people who don't know they deserve to be treated better.
This is all very disappointing as the company has potential.  They just need to take a step back, get better human resource management, respect their employees more, and remember why they started in the first place.

If you're looking for paid experience in child and youth care this is a good way to get your foot in the door. However, the hours are long and, at times, incredibly demanding. Shifts range from 12 to 24 hours and are generally done three days in a row. This can make it difficult to find a work/life balance and often leaves you exhausted on your first day off.  Most of your coworkers will be compassionate, supportive and will likely have similar ethics to you (there are some big hearts in the company). The organization has grown a bit quicker than anticipated and as such, the attention to employees' wellbeing really isn't where it should be, especially considering the emotional and mental labour that goes in to doing this job well. You will need to advocate on your own behalf to ensure your voice is heard by upper management as it is rare that they see the day to day burnout you may experience. The youth are wonderful and through the rollercoaster of ups and downs, they will teach you more than you'll ever be able to teach them. I am forever grateful for the time I was able to spend with such resilient, hilarious kids.

As one of the many people who quit after working only a couple shifts "this is the most deplorable company I have ever worked for". Ten people have quit in less than a month.  There is a reason for that.  Company does not value their employees, tries to get away with not paying OT.  Leaves staff vulnerable by making them work on their own rather then pay a second staff.  Volatile youth and short staffed....Management more worried about saving a dollar than the risk they are putting their employees under.  No support from upper management and force you to work at other houses than what you are hired to.  They now make you sign that they can move you to any other house at their discretion "for the good of the company" NOT for the good of the youth in care.  Youth run away or go AWOL when they have to deal with 5 different staff in as many days.  Staff that are often incompetent as they have no training.  They are breathing so they qualify for the job.  Company is upset when employees voted to unionize and make unfair and unrealistic demands on employees.  Watch your paycheque...often underpaid.  Get out before you yourself become traumatized by this company.  I only worry that the youth in care will not be taken care of as the company can not go on the way they are...losing staff every week.  

IDM is a company that I cherish and have learned an immense amount from! The work is team based, where managers, senior staff, support staff and practicum students all work alongside each other- so as to provide the best care possible for the youth. Staff are incredibly dedicated to the welfare of each other and the youth in care. It is a fast paced environment (much of the time), which I loved.  I learned a  tremendous amount regarding the mental health, developmental/cognitive, behavioural and physical limitations of the youth, as well as their unique perspectives on life, the beauty of their hearts and their desire to be cared for.  

The most difficult part of the job was  balancing the hours with school or other life commitments due to the shift lengths. However, this length of time also allows for strong relationships to be built with the youth as they learn to trust you over time. 

Perhaps not the best paying job, however, this is a major learning opportunity that most people have to pay for through school. Pay also does increase depending on your position.  You could never learn in textbooks what you learn in a few days working with IDM.

It is disturbingly easy to move into a management position- no experience is necessary if you apply at the right time. Management makes absorbent amounts of money and do not give a second thought to the people doing the actual ground work. You will constantly be moved around from one location to another and therefore will be unable to develop or maintain relationships with the youth- how would you feel if you had a new stranger in your home telling you what to do every day? No wonder these kids are angry. 
IDM is not equipped to deal with some of the  youth and are therefore doing them a disservice by not getting them the help they need. 

You as a staff member will be seen as a number used to fill a quota- the needs and preferences of the kids have no impact on the decisions made regarding them. When staff turnover is high and management turnover is low, you have to wonder who the policies are made to support. 

The company is a good idea, poorly executed. Funders should look to other sources for supporting youth care until IDM  moves away from a top down approach and offers the proper care and support to all parties. 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Home care worker 2 salaries reported	$25.05 per hour
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Youth worker 1 salary reported	$50,000 per year
Travailleur social 1 salary reported	$21.63 per hour
Support worker 1 salary reported	$21.63 per hour

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