youth specialist

program supervisor

therapist

foster care coordinator

foster parent

Thompson Child & Family Focus

When I first working here I was very optimistic that this would be a great PRTF and great place to work. I soon found that I was wrong. During training, facilitators really emphasized having a good work-life balance and taking care of yourself, but this places makes it almost impossible to do so. No one is allowed to work overtime EVER which makes it hard to make extra money or even take time off for yourself. You're expected to find your own coverage for taking days off but remember, no one is allowed to work overtime. But you are also expected to take overtime and drop everything when supervisors want you to work or change your schedule. There is no PRN or part-time staff to help out either. Supervisors roll around in "cliques" and show certain employees favoritism and let them break rules that others must strictly follow. Many of the rules contradict themselves and supervisors will reprimand people for following rules that supervisors have implemented themselves. The way the schedule is set up, it is extremely difficult to work another job and you have to get a supervisor's permission to take another job. Every shift is 10-12 hours unless you work first shift and new hires are never offered first shift. The children at the facility can basically do whatever they want as there are barely any consequences for them. A child can punch you in the face and once they have calmed down, you are expected to let them rejoin any activity as if nothing ever happened. There is a school on-site but the children barely learn anything because there are not enough teachers for each classroom and supervisors do not put any emphasis on education. The children do not even have homework. The ratio for clients to staff is 3:1 but you are expected to keep all the clients separate at all times. This place sells you a dream when you first start but you quickly learn that this company is not a great place to work. They are currently millions of dollars in debt and will lay off employees at the drop of a dime to "alleviate debt" so beware, there is absolutely no job security unless you're apart of the "clique". As far as coworkers go, I have met some really great people and some not-so-great people so that just depends on who you encounter.

I worked for Thompson for a few years and had multiple positions within that time. The culture feels like a locker room boys club. It’s very toxic. Do not question the mission! If you do or you have concerns about operations overall you are pushed out. You either fall in line or your out. Upper management has no understanding nor do they care about their on the ground employees. It’s all about money. After many attempts to communicate with upper management, share concerns and request to brainstorm ideas of how to make things more efficient and better for staff I felt I was punished. Although the mission promotes healthy lives for children and families it is often at the expense of the employees. No work/life balance, upper management expectations are unrealistic leading to high turnover (which ultimately hurts the children and families served) and the lack of respect and common decency were too much to handle. Also, good luck with getting FMLA at this agency. In my experience and what I’ve witnessed is that FMLA is highly looked down upon by upper management and often challenged…that’s if the request was ever looked at by management. Again, it’s all about the money. I left the agency traumatized and am still working on myself after what I experienced. It is great work, morally, but there is a huge disconnect between “the mission” and the actual work. The mission is money.

Thompson’s mission is not being met on any level. The children in their care receive an hour of schooling at best, are forced to be in their rooms with nothing to do for long periods; there is no adherence to schedule, a lack of activities and structure. Staff are not trained or oriented appropriately for the acuity of the clientele. Management and supervisors are unresponsive and unsupportive, preferring to work from home or the administration building- staying comfortably away from the chaos and violence that occurs on the units. The children fight with each other causing injuries daily and staff are also regularly attacked by clients. The clients are taught their violent/destructive behavior is justifiable because of their trauma and allowed to wreak havoc on the units and amongst themselves with no repercussions. The clients are often discharged from the program in worse condition behaviorally than when admitted. Monetary gain takes precedence over patient care. Staff is viewed as dispensable and replaceable so there is no continuity of care - and constant turnover in every department. Management proceeds with new programs despite their current programs being grossly understaffed and unsafe. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Flexibility depending on the position, possibly getting free soccer tickets 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Low pay!! Unfair compensation. 
This is exactly why the FCT program isn't going to thrive at its best unless a change happens. 
Every 3-6 months I've had new supervisor, its constant Inconsistent management. Keep firing and hiring without changing the logistics. Same cycle.
 Staff feeling undervalued    Which is why they have given up, no motivation, no bonuses, no raise after certifications. Know your worth!! I felt so stagnant in my postion. Team members are training co workers instead of hiring a professional trainer to train us. A worker over the insurance team only comes to train us (months later) when numbers are low and authorizations have been pushed back, that's the only time she shows up.
. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It was okay depending on your co workers or supervisor at the time

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Community based, driving to see my client for 4 hours

A typical day at work includes me writing a agenda of activities planned for the day for the client. Usually we play board games, ride bikes, and or cook. Most of the time I'm constantly redirected a client for negative behaviors. I cook dinner for them, make sure they complete their hygiene tasks and tuck them in for bed.

I've learned how to remain calm when things aren't going the way I planned them because a child may be having a crisis. I've learned how to relate to the child more and be more understanding of what they've been through.

The hardest part of the job is realizing how much my client's have been through at a young age. Another challenging aspect is knowing that I'm not able to help everyone, and sometimes they may have to be sent to another facility.

The most enjoyable part of my job is seeing the difference in the child while being in the program. Being able to see their negative behaviors turn into positive and realizing that I have something to do with it.

As a Family Support Worker for Thompson I was responsible primarily for transportation and supervision of youths in our program each day.

The management and scheduling is an absolute mess. There is not enough staff on hand to take care of the case loads assigned to Case Managers, so they delegate those responsibilities to the FSW Supervisor who then fails to complete their primary job duties.

The children in the program are labeled as "High Risk" meaning likely to do things that get them in trouble. Because of this, many staff treat the children poorly and sometimes as less than human. Many of the staff get together and talk poorly about the children as well as other staff behind their backs.

I enjoyed the job for working with the children. I made connections with them and helped them talk about their troubles while offering insight if asked for it. The focus of the company is to work with children in the foster care system, yet many seem too concerned with their own lives when at work.

Someone previously wrote that this company asks you to be professional and give a notice before your departure, only to fire you before your departure date. Unfortunately, this is very accurate. The culture is very much that of a "yes man" type. They want you to do what they say, when they say it. As long as you are doing the things they feel are bringing in money for their company, they are fine with you. Once you begin to question their ethics or they feel you are not producing enough for their pockets, you become a big problem. 
I personally wouldn't recommend this company unless you are just truly used to corporate and care more about making money than your actual peace of mind and respect of your work/life balance, overall well-being.
This is definitely not a company I'd recommend if you are seeking honesty and transparency.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Working at Thompson Child & Family Focus was one of the most emotionally intense jobs I’ve had. The youth deserve support, stability, and trauma-informed care, and I truly cared about the kids I worked with. I learned a lot about crisis intervention, de-escalation, teamwork, and working in a fast-paced residential environment.



What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
My personal experience as a new employee was difficult. I felt there needed to be more structure, clearer communication, and stronger support/training for staff entering such a high-stress environment. The hours were long, the environment could become overwhelming, and there were situations where I did not feel adequately prepared for the level of responsibility placed on staff.

A typical workday lacks a clear structure for the kids, and it's essential to stay vigilant in this sometimes hazardous environment. Management is often neglectful and seems indifferent to employees, treating them more like numbers than individuals. Employee appreciation is notably absent, despite the hard work and numerous challenges faced daily. Reaching out to management is difficult—you essentially have to track them down yourself. If you're not part of the management "inner circle," your contributions can go unrecognized. The kids here are often placated and show respect only to certain staff members, which is unfair to you and your colleagues. While the pay is reasonable, it’s still lower than it should be given the workload, and you often need to work overtime just to make a decent living.

Working at Thompson's has been an amazing experience for me. The company actually values their employees and makes sure your best interest is put first. The CEO goes out of his way to update you on important life events/concerns and helps you in times of need, where most CEO's you never talk to. My job is engaging and challenging at the same time. I learn new things everyday in my role and if I need help someone always reaches out to find an answer for me. I feel supported by staff and management and feel welcomed to reach out to them at anytime. It doesn't matter what your position is at Thompson's because everyone makes you feel valued. We all play a key role in helping kids in their treatment and success in the future. 






Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Youth specialist 65 salaries reported	$19.63 per hour
Program supervisor 11 salaries reported	$57,364 per year
Therapist 13 salaries reported	$53,846 per year
Foster care coordinator 11 salaries reported	$44,727 per year
Foster parent 10 salaries reported	$3,100 per month

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