Community Support Practitioner, Disability Support 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:
| Starting | $18.68 |
|---|---|
| Overall | $21.25 |
| Top | $24.46 |
Interest in consulting with social assistance recipients and pensioners to advise and aid them in locating and utitizing a variety of community resources; in referring clients to other social services; in counselling clients living in group homes and halfway houses and assisting in pre-release and release planning; in providing crisis intervention and emergency-shelter services; and in co-ordinating volunteer activities of community and social services organizations
Interest in compiling information to participate in the selection and admission of clients to appropriate programs; to assess clients' relevant skill strengths and deficits; and in maintaining contact with other social service agencies and health care providers involved with clients to provide information and obtain feedback on clients' overall progress
Interest in assisting clients to sort out options and develop plans of action, and in implementing and organizing the delivery of life-skills workshops, substance-abuse treatment programs, behaviour management programs, youth services programs and other community and social service programs under the supervision of social workers and health care professionals
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Community disability services practitioners work with people who have developmental, emotional or physical disabilities. They may specialize in working with people in a particular age group or with people who have a specific type of disability. Duties therefore vary but, in general, community disability services practitioners:
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 implement plans that include behavioural, residential, social or employment goals.
Community disability services practitioners work in a variety of settings including homes, workplaces, schools, health care facilities and recreational and leisure centres. Hours of work may vary considerably depending on the work setting. In residential settings, shift work may be required. In other settings, community disability services practitioners may work more regular hours. Some evening hours may be required. Community disability services practitioners may be required to attend meetings or other functions.
Community disability services practitioners need the following characteristics:
They should enjoy helping and working with others and developing innovative approaches and solutions to problems.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
Certification is not required, as there is currently no legislation regulating this occupation.
Community disability services practitioners work for community based agencies, families, school boards, hospitals, long term care agencies and government programs that provide:
Some community disability services practitioners are employed 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:
The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
Over 12,200 Albertans are employed in the Community and social service workers occupational group. This group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.9% from 2016 to 2020. As a result, 354 new positions are forecast to be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. Note: As community disability services workers form only a part of this larger occupational group, only some of these newly created positions will be for community disability services workers.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Salaries for community disability services practitioners vary considerably depending on work setting and qualifications.
For information about current collective agreements in the public and not-for-profit sectors, see the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $13.05 | $27.84 | $18.68 | $17.77 |
| Overall | $14.68 | $30.20 | $21.25 | $21.00 |
| Top | $17.88 | $35.33 | $24.46 | $22.99 |
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* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Public Administration | $71,191 |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $48,997 |
| Educational Services | $41,677 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $35,295 |
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $35,126 |
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $31,182 |
| Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) | $29,566 |
Alberta Council of Disability Services website: www.acds.ca
Community Disability Services website: www.cdsalberta.com
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 Works Centre near you.
Updated Mar 14, 2014. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.