Pros
I researched this organisation thoroughly before applying. On paper all seems well. It's all for show with little substance, and the flood of staff desperate to leave speaks volumes. Claims to have a good work life balance, but in reality the 'extra' salary isn't extra at all. You will only have a maximum of 6 days off each month, likely less, and the pressure to do extra hours to cover the rota is absolutely relentless. They pile pressure on staff to do double shifts where they are working all day, sometimes for days in a row. It's unsafe to have staff that tired on shift, yet managers blame staff for not getting enough sleep.
Cons
They abolished waking nightshift contracts, so be aware that even if you have a health condition you will be relentlessly pursued to do this as part of your rota. There will be no opportunity for shadowing before you do, you will just be expected to get on with it. I regretted working for what should have been a well established care provider. What I found was very poor practice, a closed minded clique mentality and brazenly open bullying. Managers know who is responsible as it's discussed as there being 'strong personalities' within teams, but rather than dealing with it you are expected to deal with it yourself. Some staff (a small minority, it's a shame for the rest who are professional) are frankly really unpleasant and nasty, bullying whoever they target for whatever they are offended by. Saying anything against the cliques results in an already frosty environment freezing into an unbearable torment. Impossible to switch off as you will be expected to have your own personal phone connected to your work email so they can send last minute amendments to the rota, and if you don't have that on your phone your shift will be changed without discussing it with you first (so you could come in and not be on the rota, or not come in and be on the rota). You can volunteer for sleepover shifts one week, to find your name has been removed and another staff member has put theirs in instead. There is a two tier rota system - where the rota and the cover sheet do not always match and it causes chaos and a lot of stress. Appraisals and supervision are 30 minutes, if you're lucky. There is no time for this to be meaningful as it's so rushed. Any 'concerns' from management are saved up instead of being addressed as they happen. Heartbreaking to see how upset the residents get when out for an activity and one of them is ill, which means everyone has to go home as there's not enough staff cover. Absolutely dreaded going into work by the end! I was relieved to leave when I did before this destroyed what was left of my mental health.