Position Title: Life long Care Support Worker
Organization: Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest (KNCLN)
Status: Full-Time. (37.5 hours/week, this is a full-time defined contract role for 12 months)
Position Status: This position is a new vacancy within the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest
Compensation: $21.00-$25.00/hour (based on experience)
About Us
The Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest (KNCLN) is an urban Indigenous Friendship Centre and a member of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres. KNCLN serves a diverse urban Indigenous community in Kingston, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people from many territories and language families. Through culturally grounded, wholistic, and trauma-informed programs, KNCLN supports wellness, and connection at every stage of life.
KNCLN provides a culturally grounded work environment that reflects the Indigenous teaching systems that guide how we hire, lead, support, evaluate, and care for one another.
About the Role
We are seeking a Life Long Care Program Support Worker to join our Community Care team. This role provides hands-on, person-centred support to community members, with dignity, cultural safety, and wholistic care at the centre of the work.
Working with clients, caregivers, and families, the Program Support Worker helps plan health and wellness activities, connects people to needed supports, and creates opportunities for cultural participation and community connection. The role is guided by KNCLNs values, and the Indigenous teaching systems that guide our organization including 7 Generations thinking: the work we do today is done with care for those who come after us.
This relationship-based position is well suited to someone who respects Indigenous traditions, languages, and protocols. The successful candidate will be steady in changing settings and comfortable supporting people through difficult times with care and respect.
KNCLN welcomes applicants with different types of professional, community, and lived experience. If you meet the spirit of the qualifications below and believe you can do this work well, we encourage you to apply.
Why Join Us
Joining KNCLN means becoming part of a team that is guided by Indigenous values and care for future generations. In this role, you will support meaningful work that strengthens access to cultural, and practical supports for community members. Reflecting our values of care and community, KNCLN provides a comprehensive health benefits plan and enhanced paid time off.
What You’ll Do
1. Service Delivery
- Provide culturally safe peer support, coaching, and supportive conversations to individuals and families.
- Help community members develop safety plans, coping strategies, and daily routines that support independence.
- Service includes both on-site at KNCLN and in the community, including but not limited to, community service provider locations, medical clinics or hospitals, and home.
2. Program Development & Wellness Supports
- Develop and deliver mental health and wellness programming that is culturally relevant.
- Use peer support practices such as motivational interviewing and strengths-based approaches.
- Organize community workshops and cultural events in collaboration with Elders and Knowledge Keepers.
- Facilitate group activities including sharing circles, wellness sessions, and land-based healing.
- Adjust supports to meet the needs of people with complex or overlapping needs.
3. Case Navigation & Referral
- Identify participant needs and connect people to internal and external supports.
- Advocate for access to housing, medical, social, and harm reduction services.
- Maintain current knowledge of local resources and referral pathways.
- Participate in case planning with service partners as required.
4. Compliance & Reporting
- Maintain accurate participant files, case notes, and program records.
- Complete all required reporting, including Serious Occurrence Reports (SOR/ESOR).
- Follow KNCLN policies and applicable legislation, including OHSA, PHIPA, AODA, and workplace violence and harassment requirements.
5. Collaboration & Partnerships
- Work closely with the Community Care Manager and KNCLN staff teams across programs.
- Engage Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and cultural advisors in program delivery.
- Build partnerships with health providers, harm reduction services, and housing agencies.
- Represent KNCLN at community events, coalitions, and interagency meetings.
6. Other Duties
- Support cross-program initiatives and KNCLN community events.
- Incorporate cultural teachings, ceremony, and traditional medicines into supports.
- Other duties and projects as assigned.
Skills & Strengths
- 1-3 years of experience providing peer support or wellness services to Indigenous communities
- 1-2 years of experience planning, implementing and facilitating workshops and groups.
- Knowledge of Indigenous culture, traditions, ceremony and connecting Community Members to cultural practices that can be used as support.
- Knowledge of Indigenous health and wellness issues, supports, and service pathways.
- Trauma-informed and culturally safe approach to program delivery.
- Ability to plan, organize and manage time effectively.
- Highly motivated individual with the ability to work with minimal supervision and collaboratively on a team.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills and an ability to follow through on assigned duties independently with strict deadlines.
- Willingness to learn Cultural teachings.
- Ability to maintain healthy boundaries and reflect KNCLN’s community values.
- Working knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).
- Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality
What You Bring
Required
- Post-secondary education in Indigenous Studies, Social Work, Community Services, or a related field, OR an equivalent combination of lived, community-based, and work experience.
- Updated CPR-Standard First Aid - level C.
- Current, valid vulnerable sector criminal records check.
- Knowledge and work previously with Indigenous populations/programs.
- Valid Ontario G or G2 driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
Preferred
- Experience developing workshops and facilitating groups.
- Non-Violent Crisis Interventions.
- ASSIT- Suicide First Aid training.
- Ability to speak an Indigenous language.
- Knowledge of WSIB, employment standards, and Ontario labour regulations.
Work Expectations
Hours: Full-time hours (37.5). Occasional evening and weekend work required.
Environment: Office, community sites, and outreach settings. Remote work or hybrid arrangements are not available with in Kingson Native Centre and Language Nest. We are excited to welcome team members who share our commitment to in-person program delivery, hand-on engagement, and contributing to the overall success of our team and the communities we serve.
How to Apply
Please submit your:
- Resume
- Cover letter that tells us why this work matters to you
to [email protected] by September 11, 2026
KNCLN values lived experience and is committed to Indigenous hiring.
This position is open to all qualified applicants. Preference will be given to qualified First Nations, Métis, and Inuit applicants in accordance with Section 24(1)(a) of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applicants to self-identify.
KNCLN is committed to a barrier-free recruitment experience. Please let us know if you require accommodation at any stage. Accommodation is available under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). [email protected]
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $21.00-$25.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
