Summary
- A job as a community support worker can be a good fit for you if you have empathy and you like helping people.
- Community support workers provide care and support to individuals who are vulnerable in their community, such as the elderly or people with disabilities.
- According to Job Bank, the median hourly income for a community service worker (CSW), in Canada is $25.00.
Who are Community Support Workers?
People who support others in various job environments are known as community support workers (CSWs).
For example, they assist those who are struggling with addiction, work in group homes, assist those who are physically challenged, etc.
You need compassion and a strong desire to improve the lives of your people in order to succeed in any of these types of occupations.
Every day of your work is crucial for your patients because they depend on you and anticipate that you will help them recover soon and bring them back to regular living where they may enjoy life like others.
Community support workers provide care and support to individuals who are vulnerable in their community, such as the elderly or people with disabilities.
If you have empathy and like helping people, a job as a community support worker can be a good fit for you.
A community support worker or community service worker often performs the following primary tasks:
- They gather clients histories, examine client information, and generate reports.
- CSWs provide group home clients with counseling.
- To examine patients’ needs and strengths, conduct interviews with them.
- Organize and mobilize resources to offer clients sports services and other amenities.
- They also determine what kind of social benefits the clients require.
- They assist people with housing, transportation, and other needs and refer customers to social services.
Additionally, CSWs assist clients with emergency shelter assistance and relocation.
CSWs typically work for government agencies, social service organizations, correctional facilities, mental health organizations, substance abuse centers, school boards, women’s shelters, addiction and counseling centers, group homes, and more.
What Do They Study?
Community support workers do a specialized diploma to work as a community support worker. Usually these diplomas take 6 months to one year, but if you are studying part-time, then it can take up to two years to complete your studies.
One such diploma is offered by Edison College. It offers a 30-week program in Community Support Worker: Addictions & Mental Health Specialization. This community support worker diploma program trains graduates to help clients effectively manage areas of their personal and social lives, with a focus on the implementation of addiction and mental health programs and services.
This program prepares students to assist clients in dealing with personal and social problems. This enables them to conduct effective interviews with clients, gathering their histories and background information.
How Much Do Community Support Workers Earn?
According to Job Bank, the median hourly income for a community service worker in Canada is $25.00.
On the other hand, $18.50 and $35.00 are the low and high wages, respectively. Salary levels vary by province and territory, with some offering higher wages than others.
For example, Nunavut has the highest median wage of $33, while the Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories give $32 and $31, respectively.
Among provinces, Ontario and Prince Edward Island had higher median wages of $26.
When it comes to CSW job prospects, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and the Yukon Territory have ‘excellent’ opportunities. Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan have moderate employment opportunities.
According to the Job Bank, British Columbia is an outlier with low job prospects.
Between 2019 and 2021, the supply and demand for CSWs in the country remained balanced.
However, the Job Bank predicts that between 2022 and 2031, up to 59,100 new jobs will be produced, with 51,300 new job seekers filling these positions.
This means that there will be more jobs available but fewer individuals to fill them.
Conclusion
The population of Canada is not only increasing fast, but the country is also getting old. The demand for CSWs is expected to rise in the coming years due to all these factors.
A community support worker is a good option if you are interested in the Canadian healthcare sector.
Join Edison College’s Community Support Worker diploma
Edison College provides a 30-week diploma in Community Support Worker: Addictions & Mental Health Specialisation.
This diploma is entirely online and provides a solid understanding and abilities for effectively managing clients who require assistance with substance misuse and other related services.
Graduates of this diploma program can work in shelters, mental health organisations, substance abuse treatment facilities, school boards, and other similar settings.
The healthcare industry in Canada is expanding, and work prospects for CSWs are projected to rise in the future. Edison College also provides career support for its graduates, including job placements.
Contact us immediately to learn more about this program.
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