direct care worker

licensed practical nurse

direct support professional

registered nurse ii

instructor

Department of Developmental Services

Working for DDS I learned many things. Aside from all the certifications the clients taught me the most. I was able to listen to the clients individual body language and respond to there needs appropriately. Preparing meals, giving showers, giving medication, going to Dr. appointments, Taking clients to work or to there day programs and getting them out into the community and to visit relatives to ensure they kept a connection with friends and family was all in a days work. Management was helpful in facilitating all o these outings. I found this job to be very rewarding as the clients would give there appreciation in the form of a smile or laughter. The hardest part of this job was that sometimes the schedules for multiple clients at a time were overlooked and because of the overscheduling the clients would sometimes be rushed and unable to enjoy themselves.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Everyone in this office is helpful and caring of each other and the individual they work with it was a wonderful experience being part of a great team.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
There are times when you have to deal with a crisis. But the director and clinical director are great to work with in these situations.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The office is inclusive of everyone and there is a large diversity of people that work there.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It all depends on your schedule I was always doing site visits, meetings at hospitals or psychiatric hospitals checking on my individual at work or home.

The benefits that are provided are amazing. Five weeks of vacation and sick time that rolls over every year and all the major holidays. I managed a department of five people that perform maintenance. The turnover was constant. The pay was very low, which contribute to retention of employees. The expectation as a director was to work all the time, including nights and weekends. The workload was very stressful and could never get ahead. Upper management did not care how it got done. They just wanted it done ASAP when it came to budgets and spending money. This was very reckless. The state of Massachusetts has specific procedures when it comes to hiring outside contractors. There is no oversight of work being performed, which results in projects costing more than they should have. 

I work taking care of an individual with learning disabilities which is very rewarding within itself. Though the downfalls are how unreliable the pay is and budget cuts affects it as well. Also there isn't much room to grow or to learn anything new. It's a good job that pays well to make up for the very little hours per week and the little to no benefits. I enjoy working with my client and helping him go through daily activities, but it gets very lonely and it's not something I would envision myself doing forever.

A typical day (2:30pm to 10:30pm) consisted of daily assessments of all residents, passing medications,, checking medications for any needed reorders, organization of med room, cleaning, working with direct care staff to provide care and comfort to residents.  I think the biggest thing I've taken away from this position is that good is in the simple things as seeing someone with severe dissabilities respond to you with a big smile.  
The most difficult part of the job is determining what could be bothering someone who cannot tell you what the problem is.  The most enjoyable part of this position was the relaxed, homey atmosphere.

I loved working for DDS, working wth individuals wth disability & helping them cope with day to day life issues, being an advocate for them whn they most need you to help them at thier toughest times & I enjoy planning & making meals they enjoyed, mostly I enjoyed taking them out on activities, I was the resident activity director, I enjoyed planning outings, any of all sorts of activities, I knew wht my clients enjoyed doing for activities, I enjoyed watching them enjoy themselves.

Working for DDS is easy and the workload you'll receive will most likely not be challenging in any way, however the management is terrible. This place is full of managers who mean well but are way too stuck in their ways and extremely old fashioned. State departments provide the opportunity for advancement but realistically not until you've spent upwards of a decade working for them. The hierarchy structure and tenure that many boomers have, fosters egos and micromanagement.

To say this place is good to work for would be laughable. The management  doesnt care more than on staff bring a complaint to them. They end up turning it around on you and make it like everything was your fault. They hire incompetent people for supervisor positions. The best part of the job is the individuals. They will say they dont mandate very often in the interview but that's untrue. Be prepared to be back to back mandated a lot. They cant keep staff . You will also be required to float to other houses without any real training in the house.  T

A typical day consisted of assisting ADL's, preparing notes, contacting nurses on duty and hiring coverage. I learned about universal precautions, cpr, med cert., fire safety and a host of other things. Management keep everyone papers in order, co-workers worked as a team. The hardest part of the job was the heavy lifting when needed. The most enjoyable part was seeing the smiles on the consumers faces and interacting with them.

The most enjoyable part of the job working with people with developmental disabilities is making a difference in their life. I have worked with this population for 14 years and I have seen the need for proper care that these individuals need. The clients need someone to look out for them and try to make a difference. I have been lucky enough to form important bonds with many of the clients and provide happiness for them. In turn, I have learned how to appreciate what I have in life and how to better help those in need.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Direct care worker 1 salary reported	$26.47 per hour
Licensed practical nurse 21 salaries reported	$30.89 per hour
Direct support professional 10 salaries reported	$20.45 per hour
Registered nurse ii 4 salaries reported	$115,268 per year
Instructor 4 salaries reported	$63,711 per year

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