Strive Living Society
Worst job
Child and Youth Support Worker (Former Employee) – Vancouver, BC – 14 November 2018
Not a fun job, to be honest. They make you work really long hours and don't pay nearly enough for the what they expect of you. As well, the co-workers aren't the friendliest.
It's not bad, could be better.
Support Worker (Current Employee) – Lower Mainland, BC – 24 August 2018
Typical day involves:
Outings with clients
Personal Care
Daily Journal Writing
Incident Reporting
Maintaining the cleanliness of your worksite
What I learned:
MANDT training provided
First Aid Training provided
Management:
I have a part time line and work with Adults in the Day Program and Group Homes and also pick up shifts in their Children and Youth Services Department so I can compare and contrast management.
Adults - current manager, works hands on and trains new staff hands on but, I feel their 4 hour orientations are not enough.
There was however another manager in the Richmond location who did a 4 hour orientation for me to work as a casual worker in a Specialized home in April 2016. After the 4 hour orientation, the manager actually worked with me for the full 8 hours of my first shift in this specialized home so I learned the clients personal care routine in the evening right away and also her typical routine during the pm over the weekends.
I thought that this manager went above and beyond to help new or casual workers for his site. This is one of the reason why I kept picking up shifts in this location. Sadly, this manager resigned and was replaced by a newbie.
Childrens:
Managers do not train you hands on, they ask the senior staff to do their trainings without management oversight. This is ok I guess as long as you train with a good senior worker. However, we all know that not everyone is always good at their jobs even though they have been their for awhile which can lead to discrepancies in the training and no continuity of care. more...
The Hardest Part About Your Job:
Is Listening to staff and managers gossip right infront of the people we support. i.e. talking about the high turn over rate of staff and managers.
The Most Enjoyable Part of My Job:
Work Experience, you can use the skills you get here from Strive and use it as a stepping stone for other career opportunities within Strive or outside Strive, less
Outings with clients
Personal Care
Daily Journal Writing
Incident Reporting
Maintaining the cleanliness of your worksite
What I learned:
MANDT training provided
First Aid Training provided
Management:
I have a part time line and work with Adults in the Day Program and Group Homes and also pick up shifts in their Children and Youth Services Department so I can compare and contrast management.
Adults - current manager, works hands on and trains new staff hands on but, I feel their 4 hour orientations are not enough.
There was however another manager in the Richmond location who did a 4 hour orientation for me to work as a casual worker in a Specialized home in April 2016. After the 4 hour orientation, the manager actually worked with me for the full 8 hours of my first shift in this specialized home so I learned the clients personal care routine in the evening right away and also her typical routine during the pm over the weekends.
I thought that this manager went above and beyond to help new or casual workers for his site. This is one of the reason why I kept picking up shifts in this location. Sadly, this manager resigned and was replaced by a newbie.
Childrens:
Managers do not train you hands on, they ask the senior staff to do their trainings without management oversight. This is ok I guess as long as you train with a good senior worker. However, we all know that not everyone is always good at their jobs even though they have been their for awhile which can lead to discrepancies in the training and no continuity of care. more...
The Hardest Part About Your Job:
Is Listening to staff and managers gossip right infront of the people we support. i.e. talking about the high turn over rate of staff and managers.
The Most Enjoyable Part of My Job:
Work Experience, you can use the skills you get here from Strive and use it as a stepping stone for other career opportunities within Strive or outside Strive, less
Pros
Work Experience
Cons
Gossip, High turn over rate for Staff and Management.
I would love to go back if a caseworker, trainer, or home evaluator position ever opens
CSW (Former Employee) – Vancouver, BC – 11 August 2018
Excellent job, excellent management, working with Strive Living was a personally rewarding experience that helped me decide to follow this path in life. I was given a leave of absence from Strive Living to complete a university degree in Ontario, and met with family issues that prevented my returning to BC; otherwise, I would still be there. I cannot think of a better way to live than helping others as Strive Living does.
Even though this writer worked specifically with adults and children prone to physical outbursts, i received excellent training and support by management, and recognition for effort. Sadly, a minor disabilty limits my ability to counter violence now.
Even though this writer worked specifically with adults and children prone to physical outbursts, i received excellent training and support by management, and recognition for effort. Sadly, a minor disabilty limits my ability to counter violence now.
Pros
Everything, (but pay could be a little better.)
Cons
compensation makes living in lower-mainland BC difficult.
up to date for related trainings to staff
Community Support Worker (Current Employee) – Surrey, BC – 31 December 2017
The company provides necessary trainings for the workers to be more competent in their chosen field. They are very flexible and accommodating to day-off/vacation leave's request.
Meaningful work and an amazing team
Coordinator (Current Employee) – Burnaby, BC – 11 October 2017
Flexibility, great work/ life balance, frequent opportunities to participate in events/ expos/ fundraisers, training and educational opportunities, solid benefits, down-to-earth management, meaningful work helping individuals with disabilities. Ideas and feedback are encouraged, knowledgeable teams and managers. Employees are open to ideas, excellent teamwork. Open minded, honest, and friendly office culture.
It's inspiring to see the individuals we provide services to succeed and how our programs make a difference.
It's inspiring to see the individuals we provide services to succeed and how our programs make a difference.
Pros
Training opportunities, good benefits, meaningful employment, vacation, flexibility, great experience, work/ life balance, great management
Cons
Could be more advancement opportunities/ planning.
Interesting,challenging, good pay
Foster Parenting (Former Employee) – Coquitlam, BC – 20 September 2017
Interesting, challenging and stressful to look after a child with disability. More attention to the client. Learned to handle client with low and high sugar level by injecting insulin. Receive support from the management. It's not permanet in a sense that the management can remove the client anytime.The pay is good and no tax.
Pros
Good pay and no tax
Cons
Remove client anytime from the foster parent
Good company, could be better.
Child and Youth Support Worker (Current Employee) – Vancouver, BC – 11 July 2017
I really like Strive and what they do in the Greater Vancouver area but they do not offer enough support to their CYS positions. High turn over rate makes it hard to get into a groove when treating clients.
Poor management from the top down
Support Worker (Former Employee) – Vancouver, BC – 20 June 2017
I worked for this agency for over 3 years. It is very apparent that there is a lack of leadership from the Executive Director and upper management which then leads to unfit front line leaders. If you are not in the "inner circle" of the agency you do not have any room to advance and your ideas are not heard. For being advocates for inclusion this is not modeled within the company therefore that philosophy of care is not passed on to the individuals served. Many great coworkers at the agency however the management team and support is not strong.
There are many other agencies out there doing a much better job of supporting their staff for the same pay and same work. I would suggest looking at those agencies before signing on with Strive.
There are many other agencies out there doing a much better job of supporting their staff for the same pay and same work. I would suggest looking at those agencies before signing on with Strive.
Pros
Friendly coworkers
Cons
Burnout, not adequate training, poor leadership
A good look at the inside of Respite and Group Home Work
Youth and Support Worker (Current Employee) – Vancouver, BC – 8 February 2017
great experience as a one on one support worker, as well as an inside look at social work for those interest as well as basic respite work.
Rewarding to help kids in all aspects of their lives
Home Share Provider (Current Employee) – Burnaby, BC – 30 December 2016
You will make a difference in children's life by taking this vocation. So rewarding to see them enjoying their lives and learn how to build relationships with otherd
Pros
Changing lives of others, home base job
Cons
Dealing with their biological families is sometimes difficult
Great experience into Residential Youth Work .
Residential Support Worker (Current Employee) – Maple Ridge, BC – 3 October 2016
I am working in a specialized resource home for a high profile Child in care.
-Working in 2:1 ratio with this particular youth.
My daily duties entail doing a sharps count, Medication Administration, checking and initialing a log MAR book for this youth.
Maintaining a very strict 30/30 Schedule with the youth to assist him in self regulating.
-Using a visual schedule to facilitate and keep the youth regulated during his day.
-Working in 2:1 ratio with this particular youth.
My daily duties entail doing a sharps count, Medication Administration, checking and initialing a log MAR book for this youth.
Maintaining a very strict 30/30 Schedule with the youth to assist him in self regulating.
-Using a visual schedule to facilitate and keep the youth regulated during his day.
Pros
Great Team and wealth of knowledge.
Cons
Management not fond of different ideas than their own.
Great place to work
Case Manager (Current Employee) – Vancouver, BC – 22 March 2016
I've worked with Strive Living Society previously Howe Sound Rehab Services society for 6 years. During my time here, I had opportunity for advancement, increase in wage, educational opportunities ( I've been sent to a few weekend educational workshops) as well as I been able to be a part of building new programs.
It's a large organization with many disciplines working together ie nurses, rec therapist, community support workers, residential workers, ect. If you prove yourself and are a hard worker you will have opportunity to advance.
I'd recommend this agency.
It's a large organization with many disciplines working together ie nurses, rec therapist, community support workers, residential workers, ect. If you prove yourself and are a hard worker you will have opportunity to advance.
I'd recommend this agency.
Pros
opportunity, forward thinking, client centred, management
Cons
governed by government funding
Great place to work!
Employee (Current Employee) – Coquitlam, BC – 1 March 2016
Working at Strive is a very rewarding job, yet sometimes challenging because of the nature of work we do. Great people to work with and an amazing management team. The work we do here is absolutely amazing.
Strive offers a great work culture, competitive wages, great benefits and has lots of room for growth and advancement.
Strive offers a great work culture, competitive wages, great benefits and has lots of room for growth and advancement.
Pros
Great work culture, room for advancement, competitive wages, great benefits
Terrible Company to work for
Support Worker (Former Employee) – North Vancouver, BC – 26 April 2015
The workers are given very little support by management to provide the kind of care needed for the clients.
Co-workers are great people, however many of them are suffering burnout without much attention paid to it by management and as a result, client care suffers.
The most enjoyable part of the job is the relationships developed with clients and fellow staff.
The hardest part of the job is being made to provide the highest quality care for clients without the facilities and resources necessary for this to happen.
Co-workers are great people, however many of them are suffering burnout without much attention paid to it by management and as a result, client care suffers.
The most enjoyable part of the job is the relationships developed with clients and fellow staff.
The hardest part of the job is being made to provide the highest quality care for clients without the facilities and resources necessary for this to happen.
Cons
Terrible management