Step into a role where your care, compassion, and everyday skills make a real difference in people’s lives.
Sometimes the people who make the best support workers are the very ones who never imagined themselves in the role.
When Olivia’s cousin first suggested that she apply to work at Bethesda, her immediate reaction was doubt. “I don’t have the education for that,” she thought. “I’ve never worked in social services. What if I’m not qualified?”
But her cousin, who had previously worked at Bethesda, saw something Olivia couldn’t yet see: a deep compassion and a lifetime of quiet experience supporting others. Together they began listing the ways Olivia had already been offering care: helping aging relatives, supporting another cousin with disabilities, and, maybe most surprisingly, working as a hostess on a tourist train, where she regularly assisted travelers with mobility challenges, special diets, and personal needs.
The more she reflected, the more she realized: she had been doing support work all along. She just didn’t call it that.
Olivia applied. She was hired. And today, she describes her work as “deeply meaningful, a way to love people in the everyday moments of life.”
What Support Work Really Looks Like
A common misconception is that support work feels institutional. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Support workers come alongside people in staff-supported homes, not institutions.
Bethesda’s staff-supported homes look like homes: family photos on the walls, comfortable couches, decorated bedrooms that reflect each person’s personality. There are practical accessibility features like wider hallways, accessible showers, and lifts where needed, yet it still feels like any other home, warm and welcoming.
Support workers help with everyday life. Preparing meals, baking cookies, housecleaning, personal care, activities planning, appointments, playing games at the kitchen table are typical tasks, as are encouraging people to grow toward their personal goals.
No one is left on their own to “figure it out.” Every new employee receives onboarding and ongoing training. When specialized skills are needed, staff are given the tools, guidance, and protocols they need to feel confident in their role.
Because homes are staffed around the clock, the shift structure offers flexibility — a real benefit for people looking for hours that fit the demands of their lives. As well, the availability within this structure for casual and part-time hours creates opportunity for students, parents or others balancing life’s responsibilities. Casual and part-time employees are a valued part of any team, stepping in when someone is sick or away and helping homes run smoothly.
One of the most beautiful parts of this work is how teams function. Every home has different needs, and every staff member brings different strengths. Some are natural organizers. Some are wonderful cooks. Some are gifted musically or artistically. Most homes intentionally assign responsibilities in ways that match those strengths, because support work is truly a team effort. For someone seeking purpose-driven work, the options are as varied as the people and homes they’ll support. Whether part-time, casual, or full-time, every shift is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life while being part of a team that truly values each person’s gifts.
“I Don’t Think I Could Do What You Do”
We hear that sentence often. And it usually comes from a place of uncertainty or unfamiliarity with disability.
From a Christian perspective, support work is simply an expression of what it means to love our neighbors: to notice, to walk alongside, to see the image of God in each person. When someone steps into this work with compassion, they often discover something unexpected. It doesn’t just change the lives of the people they support, it changes them.
Over time, hesitations fade, and relationships grow. Many employees say what keeps them here isn’t a job description, it’s the joy of belonging to a community.
Who Makes a Great Support Worker?
People like Olivia, starting out on a career. Parents. Grandparents. Students. People changing careers. People who never thought “this is for me.”
We are always looking for diversity, across age, gender, culture, background, and life experience. Our homes are diverse, and our teams are stronger when our staff are, too. The main prerequisite? A heart for people. The rest can be learned.
If You’ve Ever Wondered… Maybe This Is Your Invitation
If you’re looking for meaningful work…
If you’re exploring a first career, or a second one…
If you want flexible shifts that fit your life…
If you’ve supported children, aging parents, neighbors, or friends…
You may already have more experience than you realize. Like Olivia, you may discover that support work isn’t just a job. It’s a way of helping others flourish while discovering new gifts in yourself.
And we’d love to walk that journey with you.
Ready to Learn More?
Want to see what support work can look like in real life? Check out this video about Community Living Careers, which highlights the impact and rewards of working in homes and community inclusion services:
👉 Watch the video here: Community Living Careers – Support Work Video
Support workers are needed in Bethesda homes and community inclusion services throughout the Fraser Valley and Okanagan.
If meaningful work, flexibility, and community resonate with you, we’d love to help you explore whether support work could be a fit.
👉 Learn more and see Bethesda’s current opportunities at:
www.bethesdabc.com/careers/
