Community Support Worker

Sooke Options for Community Living Association (SOCLA) is a non-profit society that supports people who have developmental disabilities and their families in the Sooke area. SOCLA began as a group of parents, educators and caregivers in the Sooke area excited at the prospect of providing programs and services in the Sooke area for families with children, youth and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. In October 1998, SOCLA was incorporated and registered as a non-profit organization. Over the years the Board of Directors, members and employees have worked together to establish day camps during the summer, winter and spring school holidays for children and youth with disabilities, an adult day program, a life skills program for children and youth and support individual life skills contracts for adults.

**Job Summary**: Ensures the well-being of participants in the program and promotes their development. A key component of this job is to assist participants in their physical, social, emotional and daily life skills development that increases their independence, allowing them to function normally in the community.

**Reports To**: Program Manager

**Key Duties and**

**Responsibilities**:

- Aids participants in the community and/or program facility to allow them to function more independently.
- Evaluates participant’s needs and assists the program manager to develop plans to meet such needs.
- Ensures that participants and/or their families actively participate in program planning.
- Monitors participants’ well-being.
- Assists participants with daily life skills, social skills and/or behavior management.
- Assists participants with grooming, basic cooking, crafts, job and volunteer responsibilities, etc.
- Facilitates physical, social, recreational, and educational opportunities and activities.
- Assists participants in attending appointments when necessary and may provide transportation.
- Recognizes potential emergency situations, analyzes situations accurately and develops strategies to deal with such situations, i.e. - dispensing medication,
- dealing with participant’s aggressive behavior to ensure no harm comes to the participant, other participants, the public and/or the worker.
- Reports problems to the program manager.
- Ensures health and safety standards are maintained.
- Reviews and evaluates participants’ progress and makes adjustments to programs as required.
- Provides feedback and support to participants and/or their families.
- Maintains either written and/or verbal reports regarding participants’ daily activities and progress.
- Ensures that all required documentation is complete and accurate.
- Identifies community resources that will meet participants’ needs.
- Provides liaison with other agencies, professionals, government officials and the community.
- Performs other related duties as required or directed by Program Manager.

**Qualifications**:
**Education,** Grade 12 Graduation, CSW or EA certification (or certification pending) or equivalent experience

**Experience**: At least three months previous work experience is required. Direct program delivery experience in the community social services sector with a demonstrated working knowledge of community based programs.

**Skills and Abilities**:

- good written and verbal reporting skills
- demonstrated ability to teach and work effectively with others in both group and one to one setting
- knowledge of theory, principles and best practices in the field
- good organization, time and general management skills
- good interpersonal communications skills
- active and cooperative team member
- Class 4 unrestricted BC Drivers or a Class 5 BC drivers licence with the ability to obtain a Class 4 unrestricted licence within 3 months of hiring.
- Clean driving abstract
- Standard First Aid with CPR
- Criminal Record Check that is clear to work with vulnerable persons and children

Additional Information:

- A moderate level of physical fitness is required since
- direct delivery of program activities may involve standing, walking, swimming, bending, lifting, etc.
- This position may be required to work outside normal office hours, depending on the time availability of the participants.
- Evening and weekend work, and home visits may be required.

**Job Type**: Seasonal

**Salary**: $19.00-$20.00 per hour

Schedule:

- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
- On call

Ability to commute/relocate:

- SOOKE, BC: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)

Application question(s):

- Are you willing to a Ministry of Justice BC Criminal Record check?

**Experience**:

- working with neuro diverse people: 1 year (preferred)

**Language**:

- English (preferred)

Shift availability:

- Day Shift (preferred)

Work Location: One location