qualified intellectual disabilities professional

direct support professional

registered nurse

nursing home administrator

trainer

DD Homes Network

In my entire career, I have never worked in a place such as this. While the work that I was hired for was not unfamiliar to me. How it functions and is managed…was mind blowing. Never in my entire career did I look for the door so quickly and felt so relieved when I walked out on my last day. There were so many things going on that should not have been going on, and I think the worst part of it is that almost all the issues were known, and they were never addressed. Yet this particular place wonders why they never get ahead on any of the things that need to be done in order for the site to be successful and organized.

The first major issue is the process of how the employees are trained while at the same time…there’s lots of complaints amongst the employees as well as the upper management of employee incompetency or there are certain employees that do nothing or purposely do their job wrong to enable the clients or sabotage other employees. Yet the way they approach employee training is completely backwards and not to mention, a waste of resources for both the employees and the company. While I do not have the answer as to what they truly prioritize when they try to prepare the employees for the job, but it is not clearly employee retention, as well as making sure that the needs of the clients are met. Especially with the most vital tasks such as medication administration and documentation. Those were the last things we were taught during the training, which spans throughout the month and they only train new employees every other month. Therefore, there will be employees depending on when they are hired will be severely under-trained for their first month of employment there until they receive the training the following month, which in my case happened. 

The next major issue, is the amount of resources that this company has access to, but yet with little results shown, and with so many loose ends and so many mistakes that should not be made and that are actually easily avoidable if the precautions and protocols were taken. The training that we receive as well as the protocols that we take on a day-to-day basis when interacting and caring for clients is strongly dictated by the state. In fact, I am not from the state (Illinois) that this company resides in, but the state that I live in (Iowa) has way less regulations, but yet the previous employers that I have worked for had way less dysfunctions and way less issues of this magnitude that this company in particular has. A prime example of this dysfunction is how the medications were administered, handled, and managed. 

Finally, the last issue was the overall culture and sense of belonging within the company. From day one I did not good a good feeling from being around my coworkers as well as the upper management. In fact, I think what bothered me more is how disconnected the upper management was from the employees and how much blatant disregard they showed when employees made the attempt to bring issues to light that actually wanted things to be better for both the employees and the clients as I mentioned before there was many issues that were brought to light long before I started working here and they were never addressed. There was no attempt to even address them. In fact some of them were met with quick fixes, and I hoped that it would fix it and if it didn’t, they moved on and just let the issue worsen. There’s even instances where other employees were harassing other employees and committing acts of neglect or abuse towards clients that were reported and documented, but were never addressed. I even tried speaking out myself about my experience training and even vocalize that I wanted more training because the training that I felt that I received was very lackluster and very poor and while they did agree that my training in particular was very poor… They made absolutely no attempt to rectify the situation. I even offered to have a meeting with the administrator as well as the house manager to become a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP), which is a step up from a DSP, even though that I had previously declined the offer of that particular position twice, and I wanted a meeting because I wanted more information on that I because I felt that the information that was given prior was not consistent with other information that was given by another QIDP and I vocalized that to both the administrator and the house manager, and I specifically requested to have a meeting to make sure that I had the correct information before I made an official decision. This meeting never occurred and the conversation of me getting this position never came up, but yet the position was still always open and was posted on the Internet as vacant. I also attended a regional conference during my time there, and the whole environment felt cold and uninviting. The upper management was for the most part, very unapproachable, very standoffish, very very disconnected, and worst of all did not seem to treat employees with respect. Overall, I observed clear distrust and lack of faithfulness from the employees towards the management. There was also professional boundaries between the employees and the clients that were often blurred that caused even more turmoil within the workplace, and sometimes rumors were often spread that turned out to be not true, but despite being disproven…this had caused employees to no longer want to be a part of the company.  

In conclusion, it’s stuns me that a company that is this dysfunctional and this disorganized, despite having all these resources at their disposal is still allowed to even function and the clients that have so many permanent or long-term disabilities have no choice, but to rely on people like that. I’d left the situation because I didn’t think it was worth the stress. I didn’t think the pay justified and the drive that I had to do and the fact that I had to put up with more unprofessional behavior from my coworkers because the upper management didn’t want to do their jobs and do what was needed to be done in order to make sure that we as a company function the way we’re supposed to and to make sure that the clients had everything that they needed and that they were safe there was even times that clients felt unsafe towards certain employees, but only two also like the rest of the issues fall on deaf ears. They complain about being in a deep hole, but refused to put down the shovel.




I've worked for DD Homes for almost a year now. The individuals that I provide care for are wonderful. Seeing them learn and experience new things has been a very rewarding experience for me. I enjoy working with this group of clients, however, DD Homes is not the best company to work for in this capacity.

If you are looking to take a position at DD Homes, be prepared to receive less pay than competitive agencies for the same type of work. Management tries to provide employees with appreciation meals and parties to increase morale, but most attempts fail.

The home that I work in is always short staffed. This means staff are constantly having to work hours other than those we were hired for to cover the shifts that don't have enough staff to sustain. The QIDP of the house is also constantly having to work long floor shift hours to fill the gaps in coverage. Be prepared to work just about any hours that the home needs you in order to ensure there is floor coverage, and without any other staff alongside you, because you may be by yourself frequently.

I find that any major issues or concerns are not dealt with in a timely manner. The QIDPs that run the homes are spread so thin that lack of communication becomes a common occurrence around the group home. Upper management is a presence that rarely makes an appearance in the homes. Most staff feel that they are unable to contact them for issues or concerns and do not feel welcome or appreciated if they do.

If you're someone that needs to take breaks during work, this is not the job for you. There are no breaks or meal periods for 2nd or 3rd shift staff. 1st shift staff are allowed breaks, but only if the schedule and resident need permit it for that day.

If you need a job ASAP, you might be in luck. As long as you can pass a background check and basic physical, DD Homes will hire you. It isn't a bad place to work short-term, but keep looking once you're in the door. You don't want to plan on sticking around long-term. There are far better options out there. DD Homes is a great place to work if you are looking to gain experience and build your resume, however in the long run, you will find that other agencies have better benefits, pay their employees more, and provide less stressful work environments for their employees than DD Homes.

Let me start off and say the individuals that I worked with were just incredible and I loved every single one of them. My coworkers were amazing, and we were really like a family. The job itself can be very challenging at times, but it is so rewarding. The reason I left was because of POOR management. Management did not care about you one bit! They expected you to give your life up for this job.. to never see your family and friends, to always be there at their every call! DSP’s are told they are on call 24/7, but we do not get paid enough for that! At all. That is a house managers, QIDP, and Administrators responsibility! That is part of their job, but it very rarely happened in my 3 years of working for this company. DSP’s were always called in to fill in shifts, and made to feel guilty if we did not fill in. Guilt tripping was managements favorite thing to do! In my 3 years I’ve seen the executive director, my administrator, my Q, my nurse, and several long time employees leave the company. At this point In time, we still don’t have a nurse, a Q, a house manger, or a sole administrator for the area. How do you expect us to care for individuals when we can barely take care of ourselves due to the amount of stress and pressure you put us under? I’m not writing this to deter people from working here, but I’m writing this in hopes of getting someone’s attention very high up! With a change of pay and management, this place could be wonderful. Also, I understand places are desperate for workers but hiring just anyone who shows up for an interview is not going to help. Start appreciating the employees you do have before they walk away, and you’re left with no one. It’s not fair to the individuals at all. They don’t deserve broke, fatigued, stressed out, hopeless care takers. All in all, change starts from the top. If changes are made in the future, I would consider coming back as I really did like my job in the beginning. But towards the end, they worked me to death along with others, and I ended up having to put my mental and physical health first. It’s a shame really. 

Management does NOT care about employee OR individual safety. Coworkers and I have witnessed abuse to individuals by other employees and management did absolutely nothing after their "meetings". You will be worked to your breaking point constantly due to call offs and no shows. There were months I would work 10 days a week with one day off. That is absolutely ridiculous and shouldn't be expected of any employee who's trying to take care of 10+ people practically by themselves. 

There are certain individuals that don't belong in this type of group home. They're extremely violent and 2 staff members on shift isn't nearly enough to descalate violent situations AND provide the accurate amount of attention to the other individuals. The other individuals are used to sitting in their rooms or staring blankly at the TV because they know staff is too busy with everything else to pay proper attention to them. It's heartbreaking. 

If you're 2nd shift, your "break" is dinner time. You know, the time when you have to hustle to get a huge dinner prepared if you don't have a cook that day, ask 16 people to wash their hands, check people in and out, give meds to those that take them before dinner......that's really a break, huh?.
If you're a smoker, good luck. You'll have to sneak outside and pray someone doesn't rat on you. That's how little management cares. Can't even take a 5 minute smoke break in your vehicle to help deal with the absolutely chaos inside that management has created.

All in all, work here if you like being treated like a replaceable piece of trash and you like having to report abuse without it being taken seriously. You'll have a great time here. 

I have worked for this company for 12 years and have loved every minute of it. I started off at direct support staff and have worked my way up to a manager. As a manager, I am responsible for the daily care of individuals, training of staff, and overall running of the house. I was blessed to work directly with families and they quickly became part of my family. I take pride in running my home and seeing my individuals thrive and grow in their abilities daily. It is an amazing feeling to know I am a part of making that happen. 

One of the hardest things in my job is l3earing all the regulations and time management. The training department within DD homes helps with both of these. They are willing and patient as you learn the regulations and help you until  you do.  The trainers are also more than willing to come in and help prioritize your tasks until you are able to manage your time effectively. I am not sure what I would do without them.  

This company goes above and beyond when it comes to individual care. They pay for monthly dine out, quarterly highlights, as well as vacations.  DD Homes cares about their employees as well. They have a wonderful benefit package which includes major medial insurance, 401 K, paid time off, and reliable schedules. DD homes has an amazing training program for new managers as well. I have never managed before working here and they gave me to the tools I needed to succeed in my new role. DD homes strives on networking and has a wonderful support system in your own area plus though out the state that you can turn to. Everyone in the company has been very willing to help out if I needed it.

I worked for this company for over seven years, and during that time, was give the opportunity to work every position including Maintenance, Clerical, management and upper management. 

I learned a lot in each position that I filled, and found the job very rewarding. The job is what you make it; if you enjoy coming to work every day, enjoy helping those who truly need your caring assistance, and work hard to foster a team environment, this is a fantastic company and a great career choice. 

This is NOT a job where you just come to get a paycheck - if that is your mindset, this is NOT a career for you. This company is a good fit for someone who is organized, punctual, and truly cares about people. 

As with any healthcare job, there are times where it is a more than 40 hour per week position - that comes with the territory when you are involved in clients' lives, if you truly care and want to do a great job. 

The training program is extensive at time of hire, and periodic training occurs throughout the year. The training program is a great benefit. Once an employee is trained, there is not a lot of feedback; you are expected to know the job and the reward comes when you know the clients that you work with are happy and healthy. The job is work of course, but it is also a lot of fun. In addition to the usual CNA type duties, we spend a lot of time doing activities like crafts and cooking, taking clients shopping, going to the movies, going out to eat, and doing all sorts of other fun activities.

I only stayed so many years, because I was attached to the clients. A huge turnover rate! Most managers and the Administrator don't care about you, no matter how much extra you do for them. You're just a body to be there, so they can get that money. So many lazy coworkers in the different Rockford homes. They allow people to do no call/no shows. You can be over an hour late. They're fine with it as long as you aren't 2nd shift. If you need to leave on time, this isn't the place to work. Most of the things that need to be done land on 2nd shift. Most 3rd shift people sleep and nothing gets done about it. For some reason Rockford homes don't get to do much with their clients like other parts of IL. It's the same company, so shouldn't Rockford be able to go on vacations and fun outings as well? A couple of the Rockford homes are so dirty. Things ran a little bit smoother with the Admin. they had last year. I know other people that work in other cities through DD Homes. I would suggest those and stay clear of Rockford! Save yourself the headache and go elsewhere. There are plenty of other homes, through other businesses.

Working at DD Homes is a very rewarding career. The initial and ongoing training is phenomenal across the board, the best I’ve seen in my career thus far. Work/Life balance can be challenging to manage at times, being on call 24/7 and getting calls consistently throughout the day and night seven days a week can become taxing.  Especially on your family. This position would be best suited for someone with kids who are a bit older or someone without a similar commitment. Overall, DD Homes is a great organization. The amazing individuals you’ll have the privilege to care for, love, and serve will easily become like family. I never would have left DD Homes had life not happened but life definitely happened so unfortunately,  the company and I reluctantly parted ways. I can’t say enough good things about the upper management, training department, nursing department, DSPs and other QIDPs I had the opportunity to meet and get to know. If you enjoy our industry and are looking to have the best time caring for some of the coolest people you’ll ever meet, I would highly recommend checking out DD Homes. Paris, IL has some exceptionally amazing people to love and care for!

No two days are ever exactly alike.  My last job before working for this company was working for a call center in the customer service department, so I appreciate the variety of scenarios I work through on a daily basis.  

I was given the opportunity to advance twice since my start with this organization in 2011.  I feel very strongly that all employees, if they give their all, have the same opportunities for advancement.  I've personally seen direct care staff transition into management roles within the company.  

The training is what you make of it.  There is a lot of classroom training offered, but you need to pay attention and take notes on the material presented.  There is also OJT done with management and senior staff.  Staff who feel uncomfortable with a task need to make sure that they ask for additional training.

Balancing a career and home on the management level can be difficult.  In order to do the job thoroughly, more than 40 hours a week is required.  The payout for this of course is that you work with individuals who are genuinely thrilled to see you every day.  That is not typical of most jobs, so I see that as a benefit.

The company's mission is theoretically great, but there are some terrible problems in this company. Upper management is awful. They don't care about staff or keeping good staff. I was personally screamed at by my boss and told that I was stupid. If you are fortunate enough to work in a home with good staff, great teamwork, and not so needy individuals, you will go far. Otherwise, you will see constant turnover, burn out, sweat, and tears that go unnoticed. 

The individuals are great and a pleasure to work with. They are easy to fall in love with and can become like family very fast! The homes are beautiful... as long as staff keep up on the cleaning. I felt that compensation was great for management, especially if you have experience in the field. Benefits were okay, nothing to call home about. Trainings were constant and never ending. You are on call all the time with little support from upper management, which can be very tiring and stressful (reason why I left). Otherwise, it seems to be a good place to start for experience. I would def reccomend to a single, unmarried, childless, person.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Qualified intellectual disabilities professional 74 salaries reported	$46,209 per year
Direct support professional 11 salaries reported	$18.18 per hour
Registered nurse 28 salaries reported	$70,107 per year
Nursing home administrator 22 salaries reported	$69,432 per year
Trainer 22 salaries reported	$53,182 per year

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