Community Disability Services Practitioner

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Community and Social Service Workers (4212) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Community and Social Service Workers (E212) 
• 2011 NOC: Social and community service workers (4212) 

Community disability services practitioners work with people who have developmental, emotional, or physical disabilities. They may focus on a specific age group or on people with a specific type of disability. Duties vary but, in general, they:

• consider each person’s abilities and needs
• get to know clients quickly and easily
• explore and expand lifestyle, education and career options
• help people access community services related to their recreational, medical, learning, employment, and leisure needs
• find programs and employers that provide relevant services, and help people access those services
• help people develop and maintain support networks
• promote personal growth and self-determination
• help with personal care needs (if required)
• provide support, training and guidance to individuals and their families
• create and maintain records
• review research (evidence-based) to inform best practices.

Community disability services practitioners may work as part of a team of professionals (including doctors, psychologists, teachers, and therapists) and family members to develop and carry out plans that support behavioural, residential, social, or employment goals.

Community disability services practitioners work in a variety of settings (such as homes, workplaces, schools, the community, health care facilities, and recreational and leisure centres). Work hours vary with the setting. Residential settings may require shift work. Other settings may offer more regular hours. Evening and weekend work is often required. Practitioners may need to attend meetings or other functions.

Community disability services practitioners need to possess:

• empathy and respect for others
• a positive and energetic attitude
• steady determination
• good speaking and listening skills
• the ability to advocate for others
• the ability to motivate people
• the ability to be well organized
• the ability to work alone or on a team
• a sense of social justice.

They should enjoy helping and working with others. They should also like coming up with new ideas and solutions.

Community disability services practitioners work for community-based agencies, families, school boards, hospitals, long-term care agencies, and government programs that provide:

• employment services for people with disabilities
• residential supports
• recreational programs
• outreach programs.

Some community disability services practitioners work as educational assistants in schools (for more information, see the Educational Assistant occupational profile). With additional education or on-the-job training, community disability services practitioners may move into related areas such as employment counselling, disability management or behaviour support management. Experienced community disability services practitioners with related training may move into supervisory or management positions.

Community disability services practitioners are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 4212: Social and community service workers. In Alberta, 76% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Health Care and Social Assistance [pdf]
• Public Administration [pdf]

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events that affect overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities that come up when people leave existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities that come up when new positions are created)
• size of the occupation.

In Alberta, the E212: Community and Social Service Workers occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.9% from 2016 to 2020. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 354 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Alberta Council of Disability Services website: www.acds.ca

Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website: www.hsaa.ca

For more information on career planning, education and jobs call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre toll-free at 1-877-644-9992 or 780-644-9992 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Supports Centre near you.