Blue Heron Support Services Association Employee Reviews

This organization has a great work environment, with many opportunities to learn and grow through their professional development program. Their benefit program is awesome with wonderful benefits such as a fully paid health and dental plan, paid sick leave/mental health days, a RRSP program, a Wellness program and more. The Leadership team ensure great support for the frontline staff in many different ways. Even if you are not satisfied with something, there are concrete policies and processes in place to ensure concerns are heard and addressed. There is a great sense of team not only in the program you work in but in the organization as a whole. Because services are provided 24/7 there is lots of opportunity for a variety of shifts as well as flexibility in your work schedule. This organization does so many things to help give back to the communities that support them and you can participate in these activities too. And best of all the individuals are wonderful people to work with

Pros

This work can be very challenging as well as very rewarding and is not just a job, it is a career, they help employees to grow into their career as much as they want to.

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All around great compensation& many benefits to working here

Disability Support Worker (Former Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 7 May 2023

They offer and foster young peoples eagerness to learn and get into the field of work. They provide great compensation in the form of days off, flexibility, adaptability (often supported by great colleagues), extensive training and benefits! The team environment is fantastic, forward thinking, proactive and very encouraging. There are many opportunities to move up and follow further passions.

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Insights into Blue Heron Support Services Association

Based on 8 survey responses

What people like

General feeling of work happiness
Time and location flexibility
Clear sense of purpose

Micro Managing/Low Morale

Personal Support Worker (PSW) (Former Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 6 April 2023

Overall, organization is managed poorly and does not provide the adequate support and guidance necessary for the support staff to be successful. Staff are under paid and over worked. Management have unrealistic expectations regarding the current staffs work load and do not provide supportive mentoring or guidance. Management focuses on punitive measures if staff performance needs to be corrected rather than being pro active. Highly stressful environment with very low morale.

Pros

Good Benefits

Cons

Micro Managing

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Supporting Client's with acquired brain injuries.

DSW Support Worker (Current Employee) - North East Alberta - 27 March 2023

Blue Heron has seminars and courses to keep current. These are enjoyable and informative.I have grown personally and professionally.It was my first time doing a AISH application. l had to research information to include assessments in the application and that speeded up the process. I got it done and a cheque for my Client in three months. If they had asked me if l had ever done an AISH application in the interview l would have said "No". Their environment is conducive to learning. Environment is everything.

Pros

Good benefits.

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Good Atmosphere & Flexibility

Administrative Support (Current Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 20 March 2023

The benefits are great, unfortunately pay is limited by the funding from the govt. That being said there is regular performance reviews and raises, and bonuses. the pay structure and other policies are great because they prevent unfair wage gaps, favoritism etc. Shifts / schedules can be flexible and the clients are great to work with.

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It's a job that will kind of pay your bills

DSW (Current Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 28 February 2023

When first hired on with BHSSA, I thought I found a good agency to be employed with and would retire from eventually. Sadly over the years my thinking has changed. The agency provides all the training and courses you will need, but to make decent money here you need to be in a supervisor role. They don't pay over time but they do pay for your benefits. If you want to move up in this agency it's better if your related to or are friends with upper management. Apparently they get the good positions (heard this directly from a supervisor). You would think this was a family ran agency as many family members work here.

Pros

All Training and courses are paid for and provide through the agency, the individuals are the only reason many staff stay

Cons

Favoritism, starting wage is terrible, sleep pay is terrible, nepotism as it's best

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Great place to work

Program Coordinator (Current Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 5 December 2022

Friendly and compassionate group. Great staff benefits, lots of paid training and opportunities for advancement. I love working here. It feels like a large family.

Pros

Benefits, flexible schedules, training, support

Cons

Lower pay than other industries

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The best support agency you will find

Community Support Worker (Former Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 21 July 2022

I quit at this company a year ago, but I have decided they deserve a good review because there are so many bad ones out there.Training is excellent. HR is competent and professional. Wages are fair. They hold themselves accountable and never try to sneak anything past you. Regular performance reviews and raises. Not to mention very nice bonuses. Compassionate but no-nonsense. These people know what they are doing.

Pros

Honest, competent, professional

Cons

It's in Barrhead

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Productive workplace

Disability Support Worker (Current Employee) - Peace River, AB - 9 February 2022

Good place to work. Management is great with staff. Clients are great people to work with. Management is great with accomodating family/ work. Poative work atmosphere, and supports in place to help workers throughout the pandemic.

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Excellent and selfless staff with good benefits and training, and a positive, professional place to work.

Coordinator (Former Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 16 November 2021

Working at BHSSA was enjoyable and the people that are employed there are selfless and determined to make a difference in the lives of developmentally disabled persons. The Association tries its best to make it a fun place to work and there are many benefits such as a Wellness program that hosts fun events,The nature of the work can be challenging but also extremely rewarding as the goal is to provide supports to people that enhance their lives and give them a chance to grow and improve their status in life.BHSSA offers many paid training opportunities as well as bursaries/grants to further a staff's education.There are ample opportunities for advancement.

Pros

Paid training, bursaries awarded for Post secondary education, Wellness Committee, RRSP's paid by the company, good benefits package, great people, nice new office environment, expanding company with good opportunities for advancement

Cons

BHSSA is not for profit so does not have a lavish amount of money to go around.

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Jobs at Blue Heron Support Services Association

See more jobs

Volunteer Board Member

Barrhead, AB

30+ days ago

Community Disability Support Worker (Complex)

Barrhead, AB

20 days ago

A caring work atmosphere

Disability Support Worker (Former Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 9 November 2021

The best job I have ever had. The management really cares for their staff. Benefits and training are incredible and not offered by other employers. They really try to work with you to find a work life balance. Management are approachable and accountable. Loved working there!

Pros

training and benefits paid

Cons

excellent job-no cons

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Not sure always feel pressured by my supervisors but have fun with the clients always

Support Worker (Current Employee) - Grande Prairie, AB and Area - 5 November 2021

Hello there, Blue Heron Support Services Association in general is a good company but the management role is suck a lot of power struggles especially in Grande Prairie Alberta.No caring or empathy between management and staff, so disappointed I wish the company could something different to advance the lowest position. Very sad

Pros

Flexible schedule

Cons

Cutting hours

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Majority of individuals were amazing.. unsafe work environment with addictions

Disability Support Worker (Former Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 13 August 2021

Staff put in potentially dangerous positions with no management support. Issues and dangers are not dealt with by management and even when written complaints and team complaints are brought forward nothing changed.. working with addicted and dangerous individuals (staff hurt and hospitalized). Staff were not given either the training or support to be kept safe

Pros

Individuals

Cons

Management

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Support services

Support Care Worker (Former Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 13 April 2020

Poor pay, poor management Great courses provided Great people to work with I started with respite and was asked to work full time. I was thrown into a very scary position with a highly violent person with no training. I pressed on and me and that person worked together perfectly.

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decent company to work for.

Disability Support Worker (Former Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 12 March 2020

Great company overall, nice employers, no lack of training\education provided, but not the best pay, must work a ton of hours to support yourself, overnight hours are only paid at minimum wage and there is no such thing as overtime pay.

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It is a great place to work

Literacy Coordinator (Current Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 17 October 2019

My career with Blue Heron has been well supported by my manager and team members. It is a very welcoming group as well as helpful. In many of the positions there is room for growth and the organization supports education.

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Best employer I have ever had!

Program Coordinator (Current Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 11 September 2019

Blue heron truly is one of the best companies I have ever worked for. The wage is lower as it is in the private sector, but I wouldn’t leave based on that. I am way happier and have way more opportunities to grow than working for other companies that paid slightly more... love this company! So many opportunities and so much training available!

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Disabilty worker

Disability Support Worker (Former Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 17 July 2019

Company full of humanity Wish Blue Heron every where in the word! Management awesome Learned a lot from courses, individuals and co-workers Learned to be thankful for what I have. Really love this people Wage up to your diploma and skills

Pros

Free schredule

Cons

Wage

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Great Community Agency

Community Member (Former Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 13 February 2019

I know many people that work there, and have been with this Agency long term. All of them say wonderful things about this Agency and what they stand for, the work they do in our community. They value and support both their employees and their Individuals. They believe in what they do and you can see it in the staff that work there. Our Community is a better place because of this Agency. They have taught our small community to be accepting of all people.

Pros

Valued employees, team enviroment, rewarding Career, diverse Agency

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Love my job

DSW (Current Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 13 February 2019

I have worked for this Agency for 6 years. Best employer I have ever had. You feel like your apart of a team and make a difference to the lives of the people you support. Great training too and they pay for their employees to attend the training. Sometimes the training is in other locations. When this is the case they pay for our travel expenses and food as well as our time and the cost of the course. AMAZING! You are paid to learn and grow. Oh and my benefits are paid each month too.... 100%! There is no deductions off my cheque! Also get a RRSP depsoit from the company every month. Can't say enough good about this company.

Pros

Training, Benefits, Rrsp, Atmosphere, Individuals

Cons

?? Have not found any yet

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Great Agency

Employee (Current Employee) - Barrhead, AB - 13 February 2019

If your looking for a rewarding career then work here. Friendly, support Team environment. Promotes growth, and advancement. Paid training opportunities, including bursaries for Post secondary, Agency paid benefits, Agency paid RRSP plan. 3 weeks paid vacation after your first year! This continues to increase to 5 weeks a year! Flexible shifts. Supportive Management. Family atmosphere. They care about their employees and the Individuals they support. This is a fast growing Agency. If you want long term, rewarding career in a fun atmosphere then Blue Heron is the place to work. I have never regretted being employed with them.Long term happy employee.