Pros
The consumers are a lot of fun to work with and my experience with them was very rewarding. I loved having direct contact with them and especially social type functions.
Cons
Underpaid at 35,000 per year and working upwards of 65 hours a week. Direct support staff frustrations with pay and little or no support from upper management. Inability to advocate for consumers due to upper management's unresponsive nature. High no show rate for direct support staff meant I rarely had a weekend off or if I was sick I still had to go to my homes. I had highly acute homes and trained my staff as well as possible around mental illness's and how to use behavioral techniques to help with behavioral problems. There was always a crisis at one of my homes (I had 6 instead of 4 the majority of my employment). Found unethical treatment to be the norm with upper management.