Types of Service Providers: 

Mentors | Role Models to Help Provide Knowledge, Resources, and Advice to Help Improve a Specific Skill

Pairing an experienced or skilled person to develop life skills to support and navigate day to day life

There are a variety of skills that might be taught using mentorship! Some include: learning to use a debit card, working on greeting and interacting with others in the community, learning to cook, buying groceries, budgeting, and more! Think of all the life skills you learned along the way. 

What skills do you need to be a good mentor ?

- PATIENCE! Individuals living with cognitive disabilities often take longer to learn new skills and may need to                                 practice over and over again.

- Lived experience

- The ability to think about the small steps involved in a task and teach each specific step in order

- A sense of humour and understanding- mistakes will be made! Learning to accept mistakes and be willing to try again is a crucial skill!

Typically the funding contracts for this opportunity run for 12 months to allow you time to build that relationship and support working on those skills and goals. 

Respite Provider | Care, Supervision + Entertainment

Providing both a short break for caregivers/parents and support for individuals experiencing a disability

There are a lot of demands placed on caregivers and parents and sometimes they just need a break to take care of themselves or to get errands done - This is where a respite provider comes in!

   - Responsible for providing care, supervision and entertainment to an individual experiencing a disability

   - Might happen in the family home, your home, or out in the community, depending on what works best for all involved

   - Time commitment can range from an hour or two up to multiple days and will varies from family to family and funding

Respite providers often form life-long bonds with the individual they are supporting and their caregivers

General Service Providers | The Most Broad Category

Based on the the individual needs of the person living with a disability

Some examples of supports might include:

- daily living supports such as grocery shopping, budgeting, paying bills, etc.

- social and recreational support in the community 

- supervision or support for an individual to participate in an activity

The duties of a General Service Provider will be clearly outlined by the service contract and all parties will have a clear understanding of what services should look like prior to signing. 

Answers to FAQs: 

• Wages are often in a range that depends on the funding agreement, but are typically within the $18-$25/hour range

• Time commitment also varies with program expectations, but most contracts outline 3-10 hours/week. Respite may include multiple days. Families/individuals and the Service Providers arrange when those hours take place. 

Did You Know??

• Service Providers can accept multiple contracts!! You just need to ensure you are able to deliver all the hours that are specific to those contracts.