Assistant Role Description

L'Arche Portland is a spiritually-based community that provides homes for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities.  An assistant at L’Arche Portland works with the other assistants and the Leadership Team to create and support community life in our homes.  An assistant must feel called to live in and help form community.  This position requires a mature individual able to maintain confidentiality while dealing with a variety of personalities and the tensions and conflicts that result.

An assistant must learn to develop competence in a wide range of areas including interpersonal relations, household planning, individual programming and personal time management.  This position requires a commitment to live out the mission of L’Arche Portland and a call to live with people with disabilities.

 

Overall Function:

To work cooperatively with the other members of the House Assistant Team to create community, to support the growth and well being of each member of the community, and to share responsibility for management of the home.

 

Specific Responsibilities:

  • Help the core members (adults with developmental disabilities) with basic needs:  hygiene, health, finances, recreation, personal and spiritual growth.
  • Share household responsibilities including cooking, cleanliness and maintenance of house and yard, upkeep of community vehicles, transportation for core members, record keeping.
  • Help plan celebrations, leisure activities, trips, prayer, community nights, retreats, one-on-one outings with core people
  • Welcome guests and visitors into the home.
  • Use the Rules of Cooperation.
  • Attend weekly community night and regularly scheduled house and assistant meetings.
  • Develop supportive relationships with families of core members, neighbors, and professional human service workers (case workers, health care providers, counselors).

 

Accountability:

The house assistant is accountable to the House Assistant Team and to the Leadership Team.

 

Requirements:

  • Criminal record check
  • Current Basic First Aid and Adult CPR certification
  • Complete Substitute Caregiver Training Manual from Multnomah County Adult Care Home Program.
  • Become familiar with the Charter of L’Arche, the policies of L’Arche Nehalem, and the state requirements for operation of an Adult Care Home.
  • After the 3-month probationary period, make a minimum year-long commitment.