L’Arche Greater Vancouver 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.
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.

REQUIREMENTS:

• We hire people from a wide variety of educational backgrounds. Experience with caregiving or training as a Personal Support Worker 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.
• First Aid and CPR certification are required.
• We will provide training for 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)
• Applicants must be proficient in English (written and spoken).
• Full driving license with 2 to 3 years of driving experience.

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, 5 of 7 days / week. 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. Compensation and Benefits are provided. Assistant Roles are Full-Time.

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
• 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.