Respite/ Disability Worker - Community Specialist I

Respite/ Disability Worker - Community Specialist I (All Locations)

Meet AdaptAbilities. We provide meaningful programs for children and youth with disabilities. We have been named a 2025 Canadian Nonprofit Employer of Choice (NEOC) Award Recipient - one of just 18 organizations across Canada to receive this national honour.

Why Work with Us?

• A career with AdaptAbilities gives you purpose and creates meaning in your everyday life
• Our work will leave you with a feeling of job satisfaction and pride you won’t get at other jobs
• It’s the feeling of making a difference in the lives of children and youth with disabilities
• Help bridge the gap between possible and impossible
• Enjoy a career with AdaptAbilities as you support individuals with disabilities to grow, succeed, and belong in their community

What We Offer:

We strive to be an employer of choice by creating a positive and collaborative team environment.

You can look forward to:

• Meaningful Work
• Competitive Pay over Non-Profit Industry Standards
• Flexible shifts (If applicable)
• Career path and growth opportunities
• Culture of Appreciation and Employee Recognition
• Robust Benefits Package including spending account, 24/7 mental health supports, DCPP, RRSP matching (applicable to those who qualify)

We also offer perks including support for professional development, corporate discount for City of Edmonton Recreation Passes, paid personal days, and programs that support a balanced lifestyle.

What You Offer:

Ideally, you have experience working with children, youth and young adults or vulnerable individuals in a health care setting. We seek employees who align with our core values, which are: open to growth, live our purpose, cultivate teamwork, demonstrate extraordinary effort and act with integrity.

The Position:

This is a part-time, permanent position available at all our centers and will report to the Program Supervisor. The required commitment is Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and you can choose any of these locations:

Millbourne Respite Centre (Tower 1, Level 2, Suite 200, 3697 Mill Woods Road NW, Edmonton, AB T6K 3L6)

McKernan Respite Centre (11341 78 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 0N1)

Orange Hub Respite Centre (#400, 10045 156 St NW, Edmonton, AB, T5P 2P7)

St. Albert Respite Centre (203, 7 St Anne St, St. Albert, AB T8N 2X4)

Program Runs:

Fall: Oct 17 - Dec 12, 2026

Winter: Jan 9 – Mar 20, 2027

Spring: Apr 10 – Jun 19, 2027

Summer: Jul 3 – Aug 28, 2027

Please note that a consistent commitment is important for these sessions and you are asked to be available from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each Saturday throughout the 10-week program, along with an onboarding day, tentatively scheduled for October 16. The program does not operate on statutory holidays. As a result, employees will not be scheduled to work on these days.

As a Community Specialist (CS) you would be an ally and ambassador, you will work front-line and are pivotal to the creation of a safe, caring and community-enriched life for the individuals/families who hire us. Thoughtful program planning and implementation supports participants to connect with their communities - establishing real relationships and creating meaningful days and lives. The conscientious CS will act with integrity, be open to growth, live our purpose, cultivate teamwork, and put forth an extraordinary effort to empower people with disabilities and their families to grow, succeed, and belong.

Key Functions

• Provide enhanced direct care and purposeful support in an engaging, fun and safe environment
• Foster genuine relationships promoting dignity, personal interests and identities
• Empower people to create meaningful days and achieve their goals
• Communicate effectively with their team members, which includes to individuals, families, and co-workers
• Build a vision of inclusion, one person at a time
• Model socially appropriate behaviors and assist/ encourage participants to make and maintain appropriate community connections
• Support participants in all aspects of personal hygiene and personal care as required.
• Maintain timely, accurate and professional documents in accordance with AdaptAbilities policies and procedures
• Understand and comply with all emergency processes and risk management
• Perform other job-related activities as required

Qualifications

• Minimum education requirement of a High School Diploma and little or no work-related experience.
• Alignment with AdaptAbilities core purpose and core values
• Clear Police Information Check and Intervention Record Check are required upon hire
• Intermediate First Aid Certification CPR Level C and AED is required upon hire
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Abuse Prevention and Response Protocol are an asset

Compensation $19.40 to $20.39/ hour depending on experience and education

Application Deadline: Open until filled

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

AdaptAbilities is an equal opportunity employer who is committed to diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals.