Program Assistant (or DSW or PSW) / Program Assistant
About the role
Position: Assistant for a L’Arche Cape Breton Day Program
Start Date: July 6, 2026
Schedule: 4 days per week 8:30am-3:30pm, (Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays)
Location: L’Arche Cape Breton Day Program (current need is in the Ark Store)
Duration: 3 months (renewable)
Responsible to: Program Leader
L’Arche Cape Breton is seeking a compassionate individual who will provide support in one of our Day Programs. Successful applicants will belong to a community setting, provide focused and caring support, and develop meaningful relationships. Assistants gain valuable life skills and opportunities for personal growth and leadership. More than a job, the L’Arche Assistant role offers an exceptional and life changing adventure in friendship and self-discovery.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop a positive, supportive and mutual relationship with core member through sharing daily life together, which respects their history, choices, goals and needs.
- Collaborate with team members to ensure that all physical, emotional, spiritual, vocational, recreational, health and safety needs are met while maximizing their choices and participation in the decisions affecting their lives.
- Help members of the program fulfill the mission of the community and the specific mandate of the program, specifically helping with managing our Ark Store by greeting customers, doing cash, and managing store items.
- Provide personal care as needed.
- Able to push, pull and lift up to 44 lbs as needed, and walk 60 minutes or 3 km on average per day, as needed
- Confidence with cash and cash register an asset, cleaning and housekeeping as required.
Qualities of a Successful Applicant:
- To understand and model L’Arche core values while engaging in all responsibilities associated with their role.
- Ability to be flexible and manage the challenge of multi-faceted responsibilities and relationships.
- Ability to remain calm, focused and clear in times of crisis.
- Ability to be collaborative, think creatively, take direction and follow-through on commitments in a timely fashion.
- Open to learn and grow; able to give and receive feedback.
- Ability to directly address tensions in relationships.
8:30am-3:30pm Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays 28 hours weekly
Not the right fit? Search for Program Assistant / Program Assistant jobs in Orangedale East, Nova Scotia, Canada
About L'Arche Canada Foundation
L’Arche began in France in 1964. It was a compassionate response to the plight of people with intellectual disabilities living in grim institutions, shut away from society. L’Arche was a radical and dynamic way for people of different intellectual capacity, social origin, and culture to live, work, and learn together. Young people from around the world heard about L’Arche, and came to help. Among those early L’Arche assistants was a young Canadian couple, Steve and Ann Newroth. They were so transformed by their experience that they began to dream of bringing L’Arche home to Canada. In 1969, Steve and Ann founded L’Arche Daybreak, the second L’Arche community in the world, in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Today, there are 30 L’Arche communities in nine provinces across Canada. Worldwide, there are over 150 L’Arche communities in 38 countries on six continents.
L’Arche has taken a leadership role in the community living movement for people with intellectual disabilities that ultimately led to the closure of institutions in Canada. Still, adults with intellectual disabilities and their families continue to face tremendous challenges—in finding work, housing, and meaningful everyday activities. Many adults with intellectual disabilities are isolated. Too often, they have no friends.
About 750,000 people with intellectual disabilities live in Canada. 50-60% of adults with intellectual disabilities live with their parents or other family members. Tens of thousands of elderly parents whose son or daughter still lives with them all have the same question, “What will happen to my child when I’m gone?” The waiting lists for supportive housing are years long. The options are few and far between.
L’Arche is at the forefront of developing new models of affordable, inclusive housing. L’Arche continues to grow and supports people with intellectual disabilities to live as valued citizens, neighbours, and leaders.
Similar Jobs
Program Assistant (or DSW or PSW) / Program Assistant
About the role
Position: Assistant for a L’Arche Cape Breton Day Program
Start Date: July 6, 2026
Schedule: 4 days per week 8:30am-3:30pm, (Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays)
Location: L’Arche Cape Breton Day Program (current need is in the Ark Store)
Duration: 3 months (renewable)
Responsible to: Program Leader
L’Arche Cape Breton is seeking a compassionate individual who will provide support in one of our Day Programs. Successful applicants will belong to a community setting, provide focused and caring support, and develop meaningful relationships. Assistants gain valuable life skills and opportunities for personal growth and leadership. More than a job, the L’Arche Assistant role offers an exceptional and life changing adventure in friendship and self-discovery.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop a positive, supportive and mutual relationship with core member through sharing daily life together, which respects their history, choices, goals and needs.
- Collaborate with team members to ensure that all physical, emotional, spiritual, vocational, recreational, health and safety needs are met while maximizing their choices and participation in the decisions affecting their lives.
- Help members of the program fulfill the mission of the community and the specific mandate of the program, specifically helping with managing our Ark Store by greeting customers, doing cash, and managing store items.
- Provide personal care as needed.
- Able to push, pull and lift up to 44 lbs as needed, and walk 60 minutes or 3 km on average per day, as needed
- Confidence with cash and cash register an asset, cleaning and housekeeping as required.
Qualities of a Successful Applicant:
- To understand and model L’Arche core values while engaging in all responsibilities associated with their role.
- Ability to be flexible and manage the challenge of multi-faceted responsibilities and relationships.
- Ability to remain calm, focused and clear in times of crisis.
- Ability to be collaborative, think creatively, take direction and follow-through on commitments in a timely fashion.
- Open to learn and grow; able to give and receive feedback.
- Ability to directly address tensions in relationships.
8:30am-3:30pm Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays 28 hours weekly
Not the right fit? Search for Program Assistant / Program Assistant jobs in Orangedale East, Nova Scotia, Canada
About L'Arche Canada Foundation
L’Arche began in France in 1964. It was a compassionate response to the plight of people with intellectual disabilities living in grim institutions, shut away from society. L’Arche was a radical and dynamic way for people of different intellectual capacity, social origin, and culture to live, work, and learn together. Young people from around the world heard about L’Arche, and came to help. Among those early L’Arche assistants was a young Canadian couple, Steve and Ann Newroth. They were so transformed by their experience that they began to dream of bringing L’Arche home to Canada. In 1969, Steve and Ann founded L’Arche Daybreak, the second L’Arche community in the world, in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Today, there are 30 L’Arche communities in nine provinces across Canada. Worldwide, there are over 150 L’Arche communities in 38 countries on six continents.
L’Arche has taken a leadership role in the community living movement for people with intellectual disabilities that ultimately led to the closure of institutions in Canada. Still, adults with intellectual disabilities and their families continue to face tremendous challenges—in finding work, housing, and meaningful everyday activities. Many adults with intellectual disabilities are isolated. Too often, they have no friends.
About 750,000 people with intellectual disabilities live in Canada. 50-60% of adults with intellectual disabilities live with their parents or other family members. Tens of thousands of elderly parents whose son or daughter still lives with them all have the same question, “What will happen to my child when I’m gone?” The waiting lists for supportive housing are years long. The options are few and far between.
L’Arche is at the forefront of developing new models of affordable, inclusive housing. L’Arche continues to grow and supports people with intellectual disabilities to live as valued citizens, neighbours, and leaders.