registered nurse

mental health technician

therapist

dietary cook

licensed practical nurse

Perimeter Healthcare

For reference, I was working night shift and PRN. The patient demographic is small kids to age eighteen.

I would typically start with the positives, but to be honest... There are not many, if any. I appreciated the people (other techs) who work there, and when things were not crazy, I enjoyed talking with the patients in the mornings if there was time. I enjoyed working nights, as you only have to do room checks, and to be transparent, the work schedule was nice. As I said above, I was PRN, and I never had to worry about not getting approved for shifts because they are desperate for people to work. So, I started to work 3 days per week, but then cut it back to two due to the environment. 

My biggest concern is the morning routine, which starts at 7 am-9 am (i.e., when shift ends). 

Within a two hour window, the ONE tech that is assigned to a pod are responsible for waking kids up and making sure they shower, taking vitals, completing morning questions (i.e., goals, triggers, etc) on all the patients on their assigned pod, getting breakfast passed out, attend to any escalations if there are any (most of the time there are), AND continue to complete 15 & 5 minute checks on every child. This is A LOT for one person to do within a short time, and it is consistently overwhelming/overstimulating. To me, they need two people on each pod, and as an FYI, there are four pods. They need one person to do patient care and another to do observations. It's too much to keep track of/do for one person. Management said that they don't want us to worry about the paperwork (i.e., observations and questions) because it takes time away from us building connections with the kids, yet... if we don't complete the paperwork, we would have to stay after to finish it, and who wants to be at work later after working a 12 hour shift? Not me.

Leading to my next point...staffing. This would probably not be as big of an issue if they had two techs on each pod, but they don't. To me, it's a matter of safety. They said in the interview that sometimes, if they have a higher acuity pod, one of the floats would go and stay on a pod, but that never happened when I was there. I was always by myself except when I called for a nurse or a float to help, but they never stayed. Now, that's not the tech's fault because there was only one float most of the time. I have heard stories that one person had to take on two pods simultaneously, which is ridiculous. If there is a shortage in staff, they should have an on-call supervisor to come in instead of having a nurse take on the pod because they have their own stuff to complete as well.

My next point is having adequate equipment to do the job. So, for nights, to do room checks, you really need a flashlight to make sure the kids are still in their beds. I had to BUY MY OWN flashlight. In addition, there were many times when there were not enough sets of keys, so we had to share or I had to call for people to let me in certain doors which was super annoying and made me feel like I was a burden by asking others to stop what they are doing to come and tend to me. Then the vitals look like they are something out of the ghetto. They (i.e., blood pressure cuff, oximeter, and temperature) are in these tubs, which is not appealing, and most of the time we had to share these tubs between the pods, which again...with only having two hours to get all these things done and your waiting on a tub of vital supplies makes it all that much more difficult to get off your shift on time. In my own thought process... It's like, why not get an actual vitals machine that is on wheels? What happened to quality over quantity? They are cheap and don't want to spend the extra money for these things that would make the job easier/safer (i.e., additional staff, better vitals machines, etc).

As I lead to my next point, Perimeter Hospital is cheap. The patients are not allowed to wear any of their own clothes, which makes sense to a point, but you would think that Perimeter would have enough clothes in stock to fulfill the needs of 32 patients (full house). No. The float at night is responsible for doing laundry and filling these "hygiene bags" (i.e., towels for showers and new clothes if they want). Some of the kids don't even get the correct size because of the lack of clothes in stock, and it's sad for the patients because this could affect their self-image. Not only that, but the kids mostly wear long-sleeved sweaters and long sweatpants because Perimeter has very few shorts and T-shirts available, which is absurd, especially in Missouri. I had kids often asking me if there was anything else to wear because they were hot, and I just had to say, "I don't believe we do, I am sorry". In addition, the patients re-wear the regular hospital sticky socks, underwear, and bras (they are washed every day). To me, it's like... give a patient their own socks like they do in a regular hospital. Take them out of the plastic and give them a new pair every day or when requested. It makes no sense to me. It's disgusting because the patients either walk barefoot or with these socks that have been worn by other people, and to make matters worse, the floors are not even mopped every day. They have a couple of guys come in to mop the floors, MAYBE every other day, but I think that is being generous. They also had a mouse issue, maybe a month before I arrived, but it has been resolved, from what people told me.

To say more about the float duties, at the start of the shift, they go around and ask the kids what their clothing sizes are, which, in my opinion, is stupid. Why don't they put their sizes on their chart? This would free up time for the float to do additional things/help out on the floor, or get started on their tasks sooner (i.e., laundry and making hygiene bags). Also, as I already mentioned, the float tech is responsible for doing laundry, which I honestly do not understand. If you're going to have a float, it needs to be strictly helping out on the floor if Perimeter is determined not to have two techs on each pod. They would be better suited to hire part-time housekeeping staff who would be responsible for doing laundry, stocking clothes, pillows, blankets, mopping floors, caring for trash, etc.

My next point is management. There is a lack of communication between what management says VS. what techs and nurses do. For example, I was told that there was supposed to be NO food in the nurses' station, yet there were MULTIPLE nurses who would order DoorDash at night, eat in there, and eat breakfast in the morning. Then you have the techs who are on the floor in the morning, busting their a** and then the nurses chilling in the nurses station, eating breakfast, and on their phones... is so frustrating. If you're gonna have rules, at least enforce them.

If you have gotten this far, congratulations! I still have one last point for you. Full-Time VS. Part-Time. From talking with management during my interview and other co-workers, Full-Time employees are on a rotation (i.e., there are two). So I believe you work 3 days, 2 days off, and then work 2 days, and then 1 day off, vice versa. I may be a little off, but hopefully you get it. Anyway, you basically work FIVE twelve-hour shifts every week, which comes out to 60 hours in one week. Personally, given the environment and patient demographic... You could not pay me enough money to work that much. Plus, from talking with other co-workers, the pay is not that great.

Also, one last note... it was not long ago that a mental health tech was on leave for bereavement, and from what I was told, the director of nursing gave her an ultimatum to either come in or be fired, essentially. Now, I do not know the extenuating circumstances/background, but I do know that this tech would not be dishonest and appeared to be genuinely distraught when she came in. If this were indeed true, this is absolutely horrifying and unprofessional, if you ask me. 

FINALLY!!!! To conclude, I know this has been a lot of information, but hopefully this post will help at least one person make an informed decision. I am not expecting everyone to read this and immediately decide not to apply, because honestly, if you need a job, you will probably get hired. My hope is that this post helps potential employees go in with their eyes wide open and that the employer knows that there are some MAJOR changes that need to take place. 

Sending positive vibes your way and wishing you all the best of luck in whatever life adventure you are on! :)

In my experience at this facility, I observed several significant concerns regarding the operational environment and staff safety.

Orientation and Training:
My orientation program involved 40 hours over one week. However, it seemed to me that new staff members were often assigned independent responsibilities in challenging situations quite quickly, sometimes without what I would consider an adequate period of direct mentorship or shadowing.

Staff Safety and Incident Management:
I personally observed residents exhibiting aggressive behavior, including instances of unprovoked physical altercations with staff, often in group settings. During times of unit crisis, requests for additional staff support often appeared to go unfulfilled. This sometimes left individual staff members, in my view, managing multiple actively aggressive adolescents, including escorting them to designated areas, without assistance. I witnessed incidents that resulted in staff injuries, including contusions and fractures.

Safety Precautions and Concerns:
From my perspective, residents sometimes created makeshift items that could be used as weapons, and these were, at times, reportedly used in conflicts against staff and other residents. It seemed to me that requests for improved safety measures to address these risks to both staff and residents did not always lead to immediate changes.

Response to Critical Incidents:
My personal experience included being involved in multiple physical altercations, some resulting in injuries such as stabbings and nasal fractures. In my opinion, these incidents were often exacerbated by what I perceived as a lack of timely response to calls for major violence incidents or requests for additional staff support during crises.

Operational Environment and Management:
While this facility is, to my understanding, a Level 4 Residential Treatment Facility, I felt the environment did not consistently prevent residents from engaging in physical altercations with staff. I also perceived instances of favoritism among supervisory and staff personnel that, in my view, sometimes contributed to situations where staff safety felt compromised. The overall operational environment, to me, felt more akin to a juvenile detention facility than a therapeutic mental health treatment center. I also observed what appeared to be a very high turnover rate among Mental Health Technicians, with many seeming to leave shortly after completing their orientation.

Recommendations:
For prospective employees considering this facility, I would personally advise exercising extreme caution and maintaining heightened situational awareness regarding personal safety.

During my time at this facility, I experienced a consistent lack of support during crisis situations. On several occasions, I requested assistance in managing escalating behavior, but those calls were either ignored or significantly delayed. At times, staff assigned to assist were absent for extended periods, and residents began to disengage due to the lack of timely intervention.

The environment often felt unsafe. Resident aggression—including being targeted with bodily fluids and makeshift weapons—was a frequent challenge, and staff injuries occurred regularly. Despite these risks, I didn’t feel adequately trained to manage such situations confidently. For example, the TBRI de-escalation model was briefly introduced but never followed up with ongoing instruction or practical application.

One area that stood out in my experience was the inconsistency in therapeutic programming. While group therapy was emphasized as a priority, it was rarely sustained. Groups that were initiated with residents were often canceled without explanation—sometimes by supervisors—making it difficult to maintain continuity or therapeutic momentum. Staff rotation across units further hindered the opportunity to build rapport or implement interventions effectively.

In my view, residents with autism spectrum disorders often lacked individualized approaches and adequate therapeutic supports. Escalated behaviors sometimes led to physical interventions that, with better planning and proactive strategies, might have been avoided. I also felt unsupported during incidents involving gender-specific concerns, and there was little guidance on how to navigate those situations safely or ethically.

One positive aspect was the availability of overtime, which provided financial flexibility. However, that benefit didn’t offset the daily stress and high-risk nature of the role.

A typical workday for a therapist is from  8am-430 or 5pm. The workload is never ending and you have little to no control over the screening process of group therapy. At the end of the day it is just a business to the company and they will take in whoever, even if they are not a fit for the group. If it keeps their numbers up, they'll put that client/ patient with your group.  You do not get paid over time. Therapist are paid by the hour through wages not a salary. So, any work done overtime is put in your paid time off account. If you ever take any time off, like a week or 1/2 week vacation expect your workload to have doubled when you return but will not get paid for double the work. The bulk of the clients/patients they take in are cycled throughout the year in order to keep the company afloat. So it is primarily nursing home and group home regulars that are placed in the geriatric group or 1of the 3 lower functioning groups. They have 1 group for "high functioning adults" that really allows you to practice and sharpen your skills as a therapist. In addition, there's poor boundaries between staff members. Your personal life will be discussed to coworkers and told to the patients. Lunch is designated for 30 minutes and it does not count as hours worked even though you are expected to answer phone calls and deal with any problem a patient might have during your lunch break. The phone rings all day nonstop, their computers and internet malfunction frequently. You get 1 paid vacation day for Christmas, 1 day for thanksgiving, 1 day for New Years, and 1 for forth of July.  I was so desperate and ready to work when I took this job that I was really fooling myself when I thought my positivity would make those things disappear. The thing that kept me going was my love/passion for therapy, some clients, and 2 co-workers.

I loved working with my Co workers, most of the time we worked well as a team. I loved getting to help patients and grow in my career path. 
But the sick, attendance policy is atrocious. 
I am chronically ill and had to call in sick maybe 3 or 4 times, I followed the policy which is to call 4 hours before your shift and get a doctor's note, and I got called into the managers office without ever having any warnings; I was told I could not call in sick for 6 months to a year... I was also told I had a no show no call which was untrue (I've never not called in to work at any work place I've ever worked). I recently had my car break down & had no choice but to call in & was then let go from the job. 
I also many times did not feel safe because we were so understaffed. You should not have 1 tech on each hallway when you have 2 pods on each hallway. That puts both the staff and the patients at risk. 
I was sad to be let go, because I loved helping patients and working with my Co workers, but at the same time management needs to work on their policies & be way more understanding of their employees situations & be a lot more concerned about their employees safety and also not micro manage. 

I joined Beacon Behavioral Hospital in Luverne, AL in August 2021.  I thoroughly enjoy working with Beacon.  In the field of Mental Health it is imperative to have the appropriate staff in position.  Beacon ensures their personnel has a passion for kids and a heart to genuinely make a difference in a child's life.  We have very loyal staff, always willing to jump in and help when and where needed in any and all positions at the facility.  The kids that come to us are there because they need help, our staff genuinely care about these kids and desire to make a positive impact in their lives.  Every position held at Beacon is an impact position, you can and will make a difference in the lives of our patients.  I joined the Beacon family because of my passion for kids and the desire to ensure children and adolescents have the help they need available to them and their family.  The atmosphere at Beacon is definitely family oriented.  You will not find management staff and certainly not a CEO anywhere else with this level of compassion, not only for the kids but for the staff as well.  Your voice will always be heard and appreciated.  I feel extremely privileged to be a part of the Beacon and Perimeter Healthcare family.

I joined the team in March of this year, and I have thoroughly loved it. I work with children individually, in group therapy, and we have family sessions that include their parents. I work closely with the other members of our therapy department, the nursing staff, and the psychiatrist to provide the best care possible for the children I serve. This job is extremely rewarding. The children we work with are very mentally ill, and we have the opportunity to help them get well by educating them on the utilization of healthy coping skills and medication management. We have daily meetings to ensure adequate communication, and we have a meeting twice a week that includes management. In these meetings, we are given the opportunity to express concerns and needs. Management has an open door policy, and they are always open to changes that could better our hospital. Most importantly, the clinical director works closely with us to ensure that we are adequately trained and help out if we are struggling. The work environment here is great. I really enjoy my job, the kids I work with, and the people I work alongside of. 

My experience working at Perimeter Behavioral Health was extremely disappointing. Throughout my employment, there was a significant lack of support from management, making it difficult for staff to effectively perform their duties and provide quality patient care.

The hiring practices were also concerning. It appeared that minimal attention was given to screening and maintaining professional standards, which created challenges within the workplace. On top of that, there were ongoing issues with staffing oversight and accountability.

One of the most troubling aspects was the frequent shortage of basic supplies needed for daily operations. Essential items such as scrubs, patient drinking cups, and other routine supplies were often unavailable, creating unnecessary obstacles for both staff and patients.

Behavioral health facilities should prioritize patient safety, staff support, adequate resources, and strong leadership. Unfortunately, my experience did not reflect those standards, and I would not recommend this organization as an employer.

Starting by I love my job because I love to help people. If you are in your field of work and love to help this is the place to be. I can’t promise that every day at work is always good but I can tell you that with a mind set of you are going to work to help it will make your day go by little better. 

A typical day at Perimeter Mental Health Hospital, Garland Texas can be very challenging not always because of the patients it’s the work environment as well. There’s a lot of policies broken. The workers are not always the best, it’s hard to come by good employees any more. I can promise you I’ve learned quite a bit in my position as MHT at this facility it’s definitely a great opportunity to learn facts of life and mental health plays a great roll in people’s lives. As far as growth in this company as employee it’s very challenging and hard to do so because they have a favoritism thing at this company. Best I can say for this company is get your experience and go to college and see to owning your own company one day..

What is the best part of working at the company?
In the beginning, you get pretty well trained, decent money, which is really significant and fun.  Getting to know a diverse group of people whom are all strangers to one another and monitor everyones behavior, very interesting. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part about working at the company is having to serve the clients with very minimal supervision (in the bubble)  and being verbally abused from certain people I didn’t want to make dramatic 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment was so difficult  culture there being a juvenile facility when I would rather adopt them all but I’d need quite the mansion and a few bodyguards lol 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Open/Close locked door to bathrooms, room sweeps, and monitor each clients behavior, every 15 minutes has to be documented.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Registered nurse 11 salaries reported	$33.82 per hour
Mental health technician 2 salaries reported	$16.00 per hour
Therapist 1 salary reported	$27.00 per hour
Dietary cook 4 salaries reported	$14.00 per hour
Licensed practical nurse 4 salaries reported	$25.75 per hour

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