*Preface: I came into this job with 4 years of experience working with IDD individuals, including experience volunteering with my college town's day program. I have formal behavior management training, including in crisis intervention*
To begin with, the lack of training is often dangerous. Staff who are new to this population are almost always completely unprepared for the behavior management that comes with this job, and the first week of "trainings" are inadequate. If you have no experience working with individuals who exhibit aggressive or violent behaviors, you will not be equipped to safely handle them.
Additionally, you don't get breaks. You can run to the bathroom once or twice a day *IF* you have support from other staff, but that is it (and not a guarantee). I worked 10-12 hour days without ever getting a break from my clients, which was exhausting. This was especially tough during days I was one-on-one with our high-intensity clients, who often exhibit high-magnitude behaviors. Management did little to support me and my clients on days with multiple escalations, even after once expressing that I needed an emotional moment after having to put a client in a hold for their + my own safety.
Further, the company isn't transparent about hours. When I was hired, I was told I'd be staffing day program, which runs from 10am-4pm (I didn't need a ton of hours, so this was great for me). What they failed to mention is that DSPs provide client transport to and from program each day. Depending upon your assigned route, this can add anywhere from 1-3 hours to the beginning and end of your shift. Working more than 40 hours per week is the norm for DSPs. You can also expect your schedule to change with little to no warning, often within an hour or two of program starting. (I realize the hours are a plus for some, but people should be prepared because the company won't tell you.)
Finally, management was completely unreceptive to employee feedback. I made program activity suggestions for months, and I even offered to help build a sensory space (they inexplicably don't have one??), and management often acted as though my suggestions were offensive. I regularly felt that my experiences, ideas, and frankly myself were of no value to the company. The company did not treat me as though they cared about me as an employee or person, which was very apparent through the lack of day-to-day support from management, lack of communication, lack of training (even after asking for more,) and lack of mental health support during/after particularly difficult situations with clients.
Overall, if you're considering working for Samples as a DSP, don't.
