Assistant (English)

L'Arche Canada is seeking energetic, compassionate individuals to work and live in a L'Arche home alongside individuals with and without developmental disabilities. Successful applicants will support core members (adults with intellectual disabilities) to live full and independent lives while participating in their local communities, sharing their gifts and building relationships. Through sharing life and building community with people who have numerous differences, Assistants gain valuable life skills and opportunities for personal growth and leadership. More than a job, the live-in assistant role offers an exceptional and life changing adventure in friendship and self-discovery. L'Arche strives to shape a more positive and just society by offering people of different abilities a life changing experience of companionship, community, belonging, faith, and purpose. Assistant teams support core members (adults with intellectual disabilities) by sharing in their daily life. We cook and eat meals together, get together with friends, participate in activities in our neighbourhoods, go on vacation together, and celebrate often. Through sharing life with Core Members, Assistants benefit by gaining valuable life skills, opportunities for personal growth and self-reflection, as well as enhanced leadership abilities. Schedule and Responsibilities: This is a live-in position whereby you share life as you would in a normal home setting with individuals with and without developmental disabilities. The assistants (care-providers) are scheduled to work in the home for 40 hours. There is an average of 2 days off per week, usually on weekdays. Your days off are scheduled in advance and together with your other team members. Flexibility is needed in scheduling to accommodate special needs in the home. Assistants have the same responsibilities as one would have in any home (i.e. cooking and cleaning), but more importantly have the responsibility of spending time getting to know people in the home, sharing time and activities together, and learning about themselves as they discover that they can just be themselves and be valued for who they are. As an assistant, one does not go home after a day of work, because home is also the place where one works. Assistants have a bedroom that is their private space within a L'Arche home. Daily rhythm and responsibilities are much like in any household where members of the household require personal care support:

• Assisting Core Members with their morning and evening routines
• Assisting with bathing and using the toilet as needed
• Supporting Core Members in following the direction of medical professionals including administering medication
• Accompanying Core Members to appointments, activities, and community events
• Cooking & cleaning
• Grocery shopping
• Yard work as required

More importantly Assistants have the responsibility of building community by spending time getting to know people in the home, participating in the spiritual life of the home and community, sharing activities together, and learning about themselves and others. The key to life in L’Arche – for everyone – is being open to relationship. Assistants learn about themselves and others as they discover that they can just be themselves and be valued and appreciated for who they are. Opportunities:

• Each year L'Arche hires over 200 new Assistants to live and work in 29 communities across Canada
• All new Assistants participate in the L'Arche Leadership Development Program
• Many Assistants choose to stay at L'Arche for one or two years, or even longer. There are also opportunities for longer term roles in leadership across the country
• There are opportunities to transfer to one of 154 L'Arche communities in 38 countries around the world
• Compensation and Benefits are provided. Assistant Roles are Full-Time.

Compensation: Assistants are scheduled to support the home 40 hours/week. The starting salary for Assistants is dependent upon the provincial location. Deductions would include Federal Tax, EI, CPP, and Room & Board which varies by location. Requirements:

• We hire people from a wide variety of educational backgrounds. Experience with caregiving or training as a Personal Support Worker, Direct Support Worker or in disability services is beneficial, but not mandatory for hiring.
• We are looking for people who are interested in building intentional community, who have an open attitude, ability to work as part of team, a desire to grow, and who want to make a meaningful difference in the world.
• Personal traits of creativity, flexibility, attention to detail, and ability to organize time and carry responsibility are important for the role of Assistant.
• Opportunities available in either English or French
• We will provide training for First Aid & CPR, Medication Administration, Crisis Prevention and Intervention, as well as orientation to specific personal care routines & disabilities. Formation in relationship building, vision and mission is provided through the L'Arche Leadership Development Program.
• Pre-employment requirements: Criminal reference check (vulnerable sector)

FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS L'Arche Canada has welcomed Assistants from around the world and we value the richness and diversity international Assistants bring to our communities. Please be aware that it has become more difficult over the years for our communities to welcome international Assistants due to restrictions in Canadian immigration regulations. Please review the following before completing an application.

• International Applicants are responsible for their own visa and travel costs.
• Applicants must be proficient in English or French (written and spoken).
• We often recommend that international applicants first gain an experience of serving in a L'Arche community in or near their home country or elsewhere within L'Arche international before their application would be considered in Canada.
• We also recommend that if applicants do not have caregiving experience or education, they gain related volunteer experience before applying to increase the likelihood of receiving a work permit.
• Applicants must have a valid passport from their country of origin when applying to L'Arche in Canada as a non-resident. Please ensure that your passport is valid for at least one year before applying.