Personal Assistant

Introduction

MIAG Centre for Diverse Women & Families is a community organization that works towards an inclusive and resilient community. We strive to enhance the capacity of individuals and families from different ethno-cultural communities through empowerment, innovation, and well-being based programs and services.

Project Description

Our pilot project, Second Brother and Sister, will provide critical, no-cost support to vulnerable community members facing socio-economic, geographic, cultural, ability-related, and language barriers. The project will offer a dedicated hotline and free assistance to isolated seniors and women experiencing abuse. This hotline will respond directly to urgent needs, delivering innovative and essential support to individuals who require help with tasks beyond their physical or personal capacity, or who need home-based assistance outside the operating hours of existing service programs.

Operating within Cooksville and East Mississauga, the project will address service gaps by supporting seniors and abused women who are otherwise underserved. In addition to practical assistance, the program will help participants build stronger social connections and foster a deeper sense of belonging within their community.

The program will be coordinated by a professional coordinator responsible for responding to hotline calls, conducting intake assessments, and assigning tasks to four trained Personal Assistants. These assistants will be fluent in Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish, and Tamil, in addition to English. Their linguistic and cultural competencies will ensure that services are accessible, responsive, and effective for diverse community members.

Project Deliverables

Deliverable 1
Provide language-specific, in-home assistance to vulnerable individuals who are ineligible for other home service programs or require support outside regular service hours in Cooksville and East Mississauga. Services will include friendly visits, safety check-ins, and delivery of basic groceries.

Deliverable 2
Provide language-specific errand assistance for vulnerable individuals when such services are unavailable through other organizations or outside their operating hours. Support will include accompaniment for walk-in appointments and transportation to complete critical tasks in Cooksville and East Mississauga.

Deliverable 3
Deliver weekly one-hour online workshops to inform vulnerable community members about available assistance, answer questions, and connect participants with additional information and community resources.

Responsibilities

The Second Brother and Sister Personal Assistant will be responsible for the following:

• Work collaboratively with the Project Coordinator, Executive Director, other Personal Assistants, and the Program Evaluator. Report directly to the Project Coordinator in accordance with the project work plan and assigned tasks.
• Participate in mandatory training led by the Project Coordinator as Team Lead, and carry out assigned responsibilities as directed. Duties may include home visits to assist clients in their residences, providing in-home support, and accompanying clients on errands either on foot or using the Personal Assistant’s vehicle. Each Personal Assistant is expected to complete 3–4 support cases per week.
• Attend client appointments punctually, adhere to project guidelines, and communicate clearly, respectfully, and professionally with clients. Respond to client needs within the defined scope of the project and service expectations.
• Accurately document and report each support case to the Project Coordinator in a timely manner, including providing required data, observations, and feedback.
• Comply with organizational policies and procedures, and maintain positive, professional working relationships with management, staff, and community partners.

Qualifications

• Diploma in a relevant field such as Social Work, Gerontology, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience as a Personal Assistant in the non-profit sector, with demonstrated knowledge of the diverse communities in Peel Region, particularly9 seniors and women experiencing abuse from various ethno-cultural backgrounds.
• Strong understanding of community resources, organizations, networks, programs, and services supporting ethno-cultural seniors and women facing abuse.
• Access to a reliable vehicle and willingness to use it for service delivery; mileage and gas expenses will be reimbursed.
• Fluency in one of the following languages: Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish, or Tamil, in addition to English.
• Strong online and verbal communication skills, with the ability to follow virtual appointment schedules and respond in a timely manner. Must be punctual, reliable, and results-oriented, with excellent organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including daytime, evenings, and weekends, and to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Current First Aid and CPR certification, or willingness to obtain upon hire.