Program Assistant (or DSW or PSW) / Program Assistant

Position: Assistant for a L’Arche Cape Breton Day Program Start Date: August 20, 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 occasionally 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, housekeeping and driving 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

The Program Assistant will provide compassionate support to core members in a day program setting while fostering meaningful relationships. Responsibilities also include managing the Ark Store, assisting with personal care, and collaborating with the team to meet the physical and emotional needs of members.

Successful applicants should be flexible, calm under pressure, and capable of performing physical tasks such as lifting up to 44 lbs. Experience or confidence with cash handling and a commitment to L’Arche core values are highly valued.

• Customer servicePreferred
• LeadershipPreferred
• Cash handlingPreferred
• CommunicationPreferred

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Compassionate support
• Relationship building
• Cash handling
• Customer service
• Personal care
• Crisis management
• Collaboration
• Housekeeping
• Driving
• Communication
• Flexibility
• Leadership
• Legal Discovery
• Follow Through
• Compassion
• Cash Register
• Creative Thinking
• Renewable Energy
• Life Skills Development
• Personal Care
• Greeting Customers

• Social Services
• Retail
• Healthcare
• Customer Service & Support
• Program Assistant
• Teacher Assistant
• Teachers' Aides
• Teaching Assistants, All Other
• Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary

Minimum experience

0+ years

Posting language

English

Working hours

28 hours per week