A support worker at Bethesda supports people with intellectual disabilities in a variety of sites or resources. When you are hired, you may be assigned to a staff-supported home or to a community-based service. Wherever you work, you will join a team committed to helping the people you support live as full and self-directed lives as possible in such areas as emotional and spiritual well-being, interpersonal relationships, material well-being and social inclusion.
You must have the desire and capacity to support people with diverse abilities and must believe that the person receiving support is uniquely valuable.
Bethesda is committed to leadership development at all levels and offers opportunities for emerging leaders to learn and practice through a unique Leader-in-Training program, as well as leadership roles within the support worker position. For more information, see Bethesda’s Training Up Leaders webpage.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• A heart to serve people with diverse abilities and their families.
• Personal values in line with Bethesda’s Christian foundations and Guiding Principles.
• Be available to work a variety of shifts. Hours of work may vary.
• Possession of Canadian, landed immigrant or legal working status.
• Standard requirements for support workers employed in BC (criminal record check, medical clearance, BC Class 4 driver’s licence [can be hired with BC Class 5 licence and must obtain BC Class 4], ICBC driving record, immunization history).
• Confidentiality with respect to people receiving our services and the operations of Bethesda.
• Ability to perform transfers and repositioning.

You may be scheduled to work shifts over a 24-hour day period and will report to and be assigned duties by the manager of your resource. The following is a list of support worker duties and responsibilities. The job is diverse and may vary depending on the site and the shift you are working.

• Attend to the physical, recreational, leisure, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs of each person.
• Help each person grow in personal care skills and assist with personal care when needed.
• Assist each person to use their language and communication abilities.
• Help people develop interpersonal skills, engage with family and friends, and participate in their community.
• Arrange for celebrations on birthdays and days of special importance to each person.
• Be attentive to the level of stress in the life of each person and assist in providing help to moderate the stress.
• Attend to daily health needs, reporting changes in status to the supervisor.
• Accompany people to medical or other specialist appointments and assist with dispensing of medications.
• Support each person in their faith practice and system of beliefs.
• Document the care of the people being supported.
• Complete vehicle, maintenance and safety documentation.
• If working in a staff-supported home, support household upkeep, cleaning duties, meal preparation and other household responsibilities.