youth specialist

youth counselor

registered nurse

supervisor

clinician

The Childrens Home of Reading

Due to the sensitive nature of the programs facilitated at CHOR, I can't really go into too much detail.  It was a great place to work in as far as working 1 on 1 with the clients and feeling that reward when they achieved something or got past a particular obstacle in life .  Its a very involved job which at times could be emotionally and physically draining. I learned alot of patience, listening skills, appropriate feed back and how to be direct and assertive.  Co-workers typically worked well together, but in that setting a person must count on others to have their backs.  Hardest part of the job was having to do physical restraints, period.  Just seeing the clients leave on a good note, and not a bad one.

Typical day consists of working with adolescents who struggle with a trauma, abuse or neglect along with a mental health disorder. Everyday is a little different because it goes according to the clients behaviors. Restraints do happen if client is being physically aggressive towards others or self harming. Hardest part of my job would be that you do not get many raises, or recognition for your hard work if you are at the bottom or in other words...work directly with clients on the floor (which is the most important part of the job).
The most enjoyable part has been the rapports Ive build, and changes Ive helped make with some clients. Very few recognize that you are there to help them and those very few clients are the ones who reboot your energy for another work day.

A typical day at work as a case manager is very productive. You are constantly on a schedule; facilitate social and life skill groups, generating notes, coordinating treatment meetings, communicating with external agencies depending on the child's case, etc. I have learned so much in the social service field and have a thorough understanding about the mental and behavioral health services provided in the surrounding counties. The workplace culture is what made me want to seek for another employer. Promotions and awards are given to favorites and must network with the hierarchy to be noticed. The hardest part of the job is working with people who are clearly there for a pay check and are not sincere about their work while you are putting your all and effort. The most enjoyable part of the job is to set clients up for success when they are preparing to be discharged from their treatment.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part was connecting with the clients and seeing them progress and return home.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Company is always understaffed I worked for nearly 2 years nightshift completely alone on a floor with 16 or more male clients.  For most of those 2 years on 3rd shift there were only 4 staff in the entire building with no security guard and 60 or more clients. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Toxic work environment and culture that the higher uppers at company care nothing about staff.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Everyday you wonder if you will be relieved on time or mandated to work another shift due to understaffing.

For an agency who's purpose is to serve underprivileged youth or youth with behavioral and mental health needs, all it cares about is the money racked in by these children's insurance companies. Staff are often placed in dangerous and threatening situations and administration did little to protect the staff, as well as the other clients from each other. Unless you are a truly passionate and caring person who works well under poor adminstration, absurd rules,  very low pay (especially for the type of work being done) and is willing to risk their overall well being to help these poor children,(adolescents, actually)  then this is the job for you. 

Otherwise, keep scrolling.

Children's Home of Reading has poor leadership and as a result staff turn over.  I am working there currently, have been for 8 years.  The is extremely poor communication from the top down in management which has a negative effect on the company climate as a whole.  Because of this there have been at least 25 quality employees leave in my 8 year tenure at this company.  Also, the pay is absolutely deplorable.  You can go to Target and make more per hour.  As an employee for this company you work  neglected youth, emotional/behavioral issues, mental health issues.  A typical work shift could mean getting hit, spit on, cursed at, etc.  The lack of support from management is not acceptable and quite disturbing.
On a positive note, working for this company I have been exposed to a variety of cultures which has been a great experience.

Being a casemanager for foster care is a very rewarding job. Helping the children move to better and safer home's is extremely rewarding. A typical day at work would be attending meetings, driving to resource home visits, filling out paper work, and supervising visits. Every day can be different. Also, attending court. Unfortunately the amount of paper work is difficult to complete with the amount of clients that are given to each casemanager. It is difficult to manage time between paper work, home visits, supervised visit, and also attending meetings and court. There are not enough hours in the day to complete all these tasks and make the deadlines.

I loved working for The Children's Home of Reading and still to this day it was the most rewarding position I had. I loved how all of the departments worked well together in terms of Marketing & Design. My Supervisor was extremely supportive and encouraged growth. If I could go back to The Children's Home of Reading, I would without a doubt.
The only negative thing was the pay rate, but this is a non-profit organization and more times than not it is important to be happy where you work. Eight hours per day is a long time to spend not being happy.

If you do not like being forced to work mandatory overtime all the time then you will not like this place. They will tell you it happens occasionally this is a lie. The staff currently working there all about themselves and their well being they do not care about the clients or the staff. Adminstration is blind and does not know anything about what goes on inside thier own company and how horrible it is. The HR department likes to play GOD and they do it very badly.

This was hands down the worst job I've ever had and worst company I have ever worked for. Everything is shady here. The company is so unreliable that many coworkers and I always were nervous we might not get paid the next payday. Job was way too stressful, absolutely no work life balance, and management was horrible. No structure, organization, or fairness. Office building is old, run down, and disgustingly dirty. CHOR has a bad reputation and when interviewing for other jobs, employers have made remarks to me about it. Don't waste you're time here. Staff was constantly resigning.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Youth specialist 16 salaries reported	$19.81 per hour
Youth counselor 12 salaries reported	$19.38 per hour
Registered nurse 11 salaries reported	$33.64 per hour
Supervisor 5 salaries reported	$23.40 per hour
Clinician 8 salaries reported	$61,188 per year

Working at The Childrens Home of Reading: Company Overview and Reviews

The Childrens Home of Reading

The Childrens Home of Reading Ratings

Popular jobs at The Childrens Home of Reading

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected