FamilyHome Respite Volunteer

FamilyHome Respite Volunteer
Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region (EAFWR)

Do you have a passion for people, relationships, inclusion and belonging? Do you want to work towards a community that welcomes and accepts everyone?

So do we!

Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region (EAFWR) was founded on the values of working with people with disabilities to grow their social relationships and be seen and valued as full contributing citizens in our community.

If this sounds exciting to you, come join our dynamic team to help bring these values to life in our community.

What is FamilyHome Respite Care?

The goal of FamilyHome Respite is to provide an opportunity for an adult with a disability to spend time away from home and have a break or change of pace from regular home and family life. Respite is an opportunity where you would host a person in your home within the Waterloo Region. Respite opportunities typically range from 2 to 7 days and are informed by the individual needs and interests of the person staying with you.

Respite is important because it allows our FamilyHome Providers and those we support some time apart to recharge and take a break/time for themselves, which allows all involved to strengthen their relationships

So, what would this look like for you?

A Respite stay can look like a typical day or weekend at home. Do you like relaxed weekends of movies and time at home? That's respite. Do you like seeing family and friends and having a meal, BBQ, campfire, or family gathering? That's respite. Do you like to explore the community, or run errands and shop? That's respite, too! Respite is whatever you and the person might enjoy doing together. It is typically held over a weekend but could be longer stays if you are interested in offering this as well.

Respite is a volunteer position which offers a non-taxable cost recovery for expenses related to supporting someone in your home for respite. Respite may be done in the Volunteer Providers own home if there is a separate and private bedroom available for the person supported, and if the home is accessible based on the needs of the person supported. If this space is not available in the home, Respite can take place in a rented apartment or Airbnb organized by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region.

What You Bring:

• Secondary School diploma OR some Secondary School with related experience
• Experience working with people who have developmental and physical disabilities, and their families or other networks is an asset, but not always required
• Direct experience with mental health support (i.e. de-escalation, etc.) is an asset, but not always required
• Ability to plan activities and experiences
• Ability to work throughout the Waterloo Region (Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, surrounding Townships) based on plans you create for your stay together

Best serving our community requires greater diversity of background and personal experiences. Potential Volunteers with lived experiences with mental health, disability, or who identify as BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+ are encouraged to apply. We also encourage applicants to seek accommodations as required to support their candidacy.

How Will We Support You?

Respite is a volunteer position which offers a non-taxable cost recovery. The cost recovery rate for respite is $75 per day.

A coordinator will match each Respite provider with a person to support and will be available to respite providers to help with problem-solving and relationship building at any time throughout the respite process. Additionally, Extend-A-Family will provide the opportunity for you to participate in specialized training to support the individual you’re matched with (if required) at no cost to you.

What You Will Do:

The Respite Volunteer will oversee and facilitate the Respite time together, and report to the person being supported, provider family and the FamilyHome/Supported Independent Living Coordinator.

This will include: providing food and preparing all meals for your stay (input and assistance from the person supported is encouraged as they are able); organizing and planning the activities of the respite stay together with the person supported; providing transportation, or accompaniment on public transit for any travel during the stay; and providing opportunities to connect with and socialize with others in the community according to both your interests (i.e. Respite Volunteers are welcome to introduce the person to their own support networks, and vice versa).

The volunteer must maintain awareness of and adherence to relevant guidelines, policies and procedures, promote the growth of an organizational culture that is both inclusive and anti-oppressive, participate in training and development as requested/required, and provide documents relevant to the position as requested by EAFWR.

About You:

The following questions will guide the work of every Respite Volunteer who provides support:

• Flexibility – How can I provide what the situation needs?
• Self Control – How do I demonstrate poise under pressure?
• Self Development – How do I continually improve my skills and knowledge?
• Service Orientation – How have I given the best service with the best options that I can?
• Values and Ethics – How am I an authentic ambassador of my organization’s values and principles?

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Jess Halma-Reed at [email protected]

If interested, please apply to this posting, and we look forward to working with you!