Location:       Abbotsford and other communities in the Fraser Valley

Are you flexible, creative, organized, energetic and fun, confident and engaged, self-motivated and independent? You may be the right person for the LIFE Services coach position.

Many people with diverse abilities want to work and have full lives. LIFE Services is a community living service that recognizes those goals and provides a four-pillar approach to supporting people to achieve them: Learning, Inclusion, Friendship, Employment, or LIFE. It recognizes that success in a job means more than just landing a job. It means building life skills, strengthening community connections and lifelong learning; setting in place all those necessary pieces that sustain a job.

As a LIFE Services Coach, you will explore and create personalized support related to employment, community connections, relationships and lifelong learning. You will support people with diverse abilities to pursue vocational interests through seeking out potential employment opportunities. You will connect and build relationships with employers to support them and the job seeker with employment that fills the employer’s needs. A background in supported employment is preferred.

 Each person supported will direct their own service by participating with you in a dynamic planning and evaluation process. You will be continually adapting each person’s support plans and goals as their needs or the needs of the employer grow and/or change. Throughout the process, you will walk alongside them, facilitating and coaching. As they develop natural support in their community, they will gradually shift their reliance away from the service.

This is a 32 hrs/week position available immediately. The job is a combination of in-person engagement and background support, including research, planning, design, networking, and administration. LIFE Services is a person-centered service, you will need to be flexible in scheduling. Your workspace will be based out of an office in Abbotsford. You will often be in the community and on the go, possibly making a few calls or researching community opportunities in a café while you’re waiting to pick someone up from an interview. You will be a part of a Bethesda team that is experienced in supporting people, but you must be comfortable working independently and seeking out job opportunities. On the job support and job coaching may be required.  

Being a part of another’s growth and thriving is life-giving. If you love serving others, this position will be endlessly rewarding. Read on for more details…

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The LIFE Services coach’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Discovering interests, skills, abilities and growth areas of each person receiving the service.
• Creating support plans and strategies for success in collaboration with the person supported.
• Training, supporting and monitoring people supported in a variety of employment, community and learning settings in areas such as job skills, communication skills, self-determination and confidence building, transit training, personal safety, healthy lifestyles, and relationship building.
• Researching potential employers, connecting with employers, seeking out community activities and learning opportunities that match the interests, skills and abilities of the person supported.
• Providing or arranging for training and workplace readiness.
• Assisting the person to establish effective relationships with their employer and other connections they’ve made in their community.
• Monitoring and problem-solving through regular contact with the people receiving services and their employer.
• Providing crisis support when issues arise for the people receiving services and the employer.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of the support plan and strategies in collaboration with the person supported and adapting it as needed.
• Contributing as part of a Bethesda staff team and fostering healthy working relationships.
• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with potential employers and recognizing and celebrating inclusive workplaces.
• Liaising with other agencies and organizations.
• Developing networking connections with other community service providers, professionals, educational institutions, and employers.
• Using technology for research, reporting, and administrative requirements.
• Reporting regularly to manager verbally and with written documentation, records and statistics.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Work schedule flexibility that may include evenings and weekends. The service is user-driven and is delivered when a person needs it.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently in community.
• Critical thinking and problem solving, computer skills and reporting, time management and organization, communication, patience/supportive, empathetic.
• Confidentiality is required with respect to people receiving our services and the operations of Bethesda.
• Possess a personal vehicle.
• Possession of Canadian, landed immigrant or legal working status.
• Standard requirements for support workers employed in BC (criminal record check, medical clearance, class 5 driver’s license, tuberculosis screening, ICBC driving record, immunization records/history).
• Personal values in line with Bethesda’s Christian foundations and Guiding Principles.
• Relevant education (social work, counselling or related field) or equivalent experience.
• Relevant experience in supported or customized employment

BENEFITS

• Hiring bonus for external applicants: $100 at time of hire, another $200 after 1 year of continuous employment and completion of all job requirements.
• Training will be provided.
• Pay rate: $27.54 – $31.61/hr.
• Benefits, including 3 weeks’ vacation, are provided to permanent positions with guaranteed hours of 20 or more/week.
• Exclusive employee discounts on a range of products and services through Bethesda’s Perkopolis

At Bethesda, we’re about creating community among the people we serve, our staff and our surrounding communities. As an expression of our Christian faith, we support and empower people of all abilities and their families, to thrive and to cultivate a deep sense of belonging as we journey through the joys and challenges of life together.

Bethesda’s ministry is a Christian faith-based service. The position of LIFE Services Coach requires a high degree of Christian commitment and love to the people we support and to the philosophy of Bethesda.

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 at https://bethesdabc.com/leadership-training.

For more information about Bethesda, visit us at bethesdabc.com or on social media.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: until filled.

HOW TO APPLY­­

Interested applicants may apply online at bethesdabc.com/careers/ or email or mail a resume, cover letter, and references to the Chief Operations and Human Resources Officer.

Bethesda

2775 Emerson St, Abbotsford BC  V2T 4H8

Applicants should reference #846.

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