MHM Services Reviews

Pros

Senior Management recognizes the difficult nature of the work that employees do.

Cons

No room for growth and non-competitive salaries.

Advice to Senior Management

At least one raise that out paced the cost of living increase each year would be a great way to back up the verbal recognition you provide employees.

Pros

Fantastic PDO package, much better than other places I have worked. Management attempts to encourage new ideas, and if all else fails, they leave you pretty much alone to get the job done. Fascinating client population, especially for new clinicians. I like that each site is viewed as an entity unto itself, and not compared to other, different sites. Leadership is strong (but see below). If there is an issue with the warden onsite, management WILL assist site managers and staff, and support them. I especially like that the company promotes "a sense of urgency" as one of its guiding principles.

Cons

Working under contract...staff have to sweat it out every 3-5 years...if the contract is not renewed, you are out of a job.
Very old fashioned when it comes to providing tech on-site (computers, scanners, internet connections, etc...) Some sites have none or just one computer for the entire staff. Regional managers and directors are too stingy with their praise and encouragement. Some training is inconsistent or inadequate, especially in the clinical counseling area (goal writing and treatment plans). Finally, some directives given are unclear, and later countermanded by persons out of the same regional office!

Advice to Senior Management

1.) Welcome to the 21st Century...updated computers in adequate numbers at all sites, with reasonably prompt service and assistance. 2.) All site managers should be directly internet connected, with their own email on their own computer.
3.) Pass out the praise once in a while, in a bigger way. We don't expect a party or raise every time we do well, but some recognition would be nice. 4.) Send out consistent directives, and don't act surprised when one of your peers tells us to do it a different way, we do it, and you are disturbed by that. Be all on the same page, and we will all be a lot happier.

Pros

Interesting, challenging, an opportunity to provide much needed counseling services to a population (corrections) that is often overlooked. The company provides six hundred dollars per year and two days off for continuing education. Paid days off are accrued at 9.33 hours per bi-weekly pay period. Based upon my limited knowledge of the industry, I think the salary is fair.

Cons

Employment can be terminated at will without cause. Employment is dependent upon MHM retaining
contract to provide services for the Department of Corrections. Have heard rumors of positions being abolished with no notice to employees. The Deparment of Corrections does not provide computers to all of the mental health counselors. I have a lot of paperwork, which must all be handwritten. The population can be difficult to work with at times.

Advice to Senior Management

Improve lines of communication

Pros

Experience with mental health community and entry level position

Cons

Benefits are awful! Time off, you must provide your own coverage, good luck finding it. Yes you get 9.33 hours of accrued paid time, but you can't take it onless you find someone to cover your time. You are completely at will employment, they will fire you for no reason if someone finds that you stand up for yourself or co workers. There is no room for advanement. Morale is very low due to employees feeling on edge at all time about their positions. Yes rumors are going around about contracts, you don't know if yours will be renewed or not. yes you will be the last person notified if it is or not!

Advice to Senior Management

Communicate with your team!!! You can't get anywhere with your employees if you treat them as dispossable.