Pros
There are many caring staff that have a true commitment to the work. There is a good training department.
Cons
The biggest problem at Service Alternatives is their inability to hire and retain quality staff at the direct service level in particular. This in part has to do with state reimbursement, but also with practices that may not support retention and quality. Though the agency espouse being values-based, there are many misalignments. The agency states that it values its staff, but practices are often not consistent with valuing employees. Aside from the wages and salaries, there is often a top-down leadership style that de-values employees. There is often little interest in soliciting feedback from staff and many staff feel undervalued. For example, I was not offered an exit interview, in spite of the fact that this was an agency practice. When I requested such an interview, no one chose to respond to my request. Even more concerning are the agency’s practices around older and more experienced staff. I have seen a number of older employees getting forced out of their jobs/employment for reasons that are suspect.
