October 1, 2025 | Manitoba

If you live in Winnipeg or elsewhere in Manitoba and are considering working as a Community Support Worker (sometimes called Community Service Worker, Addictions & Community Services Worker, etc.), this guide is for you.  
 
This blog will walk you through what the job really involves, what kind of training you’ll need, and what to think about as you make this decision.  

What Does a Community Support Worker Do? 

A Community Support Worker plays a vital role in serving people who need help to live safely, independently, or more fully in their communities. These may be individuals coping with mental health challenges, addiction, developmental or intellectual disabilities, crises, or just needing help accessing services.  
 
Here’s what you can expect in this kind of role in Manitoba: 
 

Person‑centred support 
 

You assist clients to identify their needs, set personal goals, receive help from community or health resources, and plan actions to move forward. This might include helping with daily living, coordinating with other services, or assisting people in making decisions about their lives. 

Connecting to services 

You often act as a link between a person and needed supports: mental health or addiction services, housing, social services, developmental supports, or medical care. Knowing what services exist, how people access them, and advocating for clients is central. 

Crisis and emotional support 

A community support worker often encounters people in crisis—sometimes dealing with addiction relapses, mental health emergencies, suicidal ideation, or unstable living situations. You provide emotional support, help de‑escalate, and assist in navigating a crisis or referring to appropriate help. 

Advocacy and rights protection 

This work often requires ensuring clients’ rights are respected. Whether it is safeguarding vulnerable individuals, advocating for needed accommodations or supported decision‑making, being a voice for clients is a big part of the job. 

Life‑skills, daily living and facilitation 

Helping people with everyday tasks (depending on needs), facilitating group programs or support groups, teaching or guiding life skills, helping with routines, assisting people to build or regain skills for independent living. 

Documentation, planning and ethics 

You’ll often work with treatment or support plans, write or maintain reports, respect confidentiality, adhere to ethical standards and policies, and collaborate with other professionals (social workers, health care providers, etc.). 

What Are the Requirements, Skills & Work Settings 

If you decide this is the career you want, here is what is typically required and what you need to think about: 

Education & training 

Many Community Support Worker roles require some post‑secondary education—often a certificate, diploma, or course in social services, addictions, mental health, psychology, or related health or human services fields. Prior experience in social service settings, volunteering, or support roles often helps.  

Certifications & clearances 

You may need non‑violent crisis‑intervention training, suicide prevention, first aid/CPR, as well as checks like police/criminal record / vulnerable sector. Some settings may need immunization or other health clearances.  

Personal qualities 

Empathy, patience, good communication skills, ability to work under stress or in unpredictable situations, cultural sensitivity, resilience are very important. Because you work with people’s real lives, often during hard times, soft skills are just as important as technical abilities. 

Work environment 

You may work in group homes, mental health or addictions treatment centres, community service agencies, facilities for people with developmental or physical disabilities, correctional or residential treatment settings. Some work may be shift‑based, include evenings or weekends.  

Job Demand & Outlook in Manitoba 

Here’s what Manitoba data(jobbank.gc.ca.2024) tells us about how the field is doing and what to expect: 

• For Social and Community Service Workers (NOC 42201) the job outlook in Manitoba over the 2024‑2026 period is classified as “Good.” That means there are expected to be a moderate number of new positions opening up, in part due to retirements and growth.  

• There are already thousands of people working in this field in Manitoba (around 7,200). Many work in social assistance, residential and health care settings.  

• Regions across Manitoba (Winnipeg, Interlake, South Central, Southeast, etc.) show “Good” job prospects in many areas; in more remote regions the outlook is somewhat more moderate. So where you live or are willing to work makes a difference.  

How CDI College Supports Your Path 

If you choose to pursue this career in Manitoba, CDI College offers a program that lines up with many of the requirements and prepares you for several roles in this field.

Here is what their Addictions & Community Services Worker Diploma Program offers: 

• Duration & structure 
  The program takes about 52 weeks, including classroom learning plus a hands‑on practicum in real‑world settings. This gives you the chance to apply what you learn in class in actual community, residential or clinical settings. 
   
• Certifications included 
  As part of this program you receive training in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI), First Aid/CPR, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). These are important credentials that many employers in community services look for.  
   
• 300-Hour Practicum experience 
  The practicum gives you exposure to real work environments: group homes, mental health or addiction service agencies, facilities for people with disabilities. This helps build your confidence, understand how services operate, and build networks.  


• Career services support 
  CDI College provides help with resume writing, and interview skills. After graduation, you usually get support for a period to help you transition into work.  
   
• Eligibility for further certification 
  Graduates may be eligible to sit for the Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor Federation (CACCF) exam, which gives recognition in the addictions counselling field.  

Is This Career Right for You If You Live in Winnipeg / Manitoba? 

Here are questions to ask yourself to help decide: 

• Do you care about helping people who are vulnerable or in crisis, and feel drawn to work in roles that support mental health, addiction, disability or social integration? 
• Are you willing to handle emotional work, sometimes under stressful or unpredictable conditions, and keep yourself grounded? 
• Do you have the commitment to complete a program with both classroom and practicum components? Are you ready for required checks, declarations, etc.? 
• Do you want a foundation that allows for growth (into supervisory, counselling or more specialized roles) and are you willing to build that over time? 
• Do you want to make a positive impact in your community? If yes, then the hard parts are often balanced by deep satisfaction. 

Final Thoughts 

If you live in Winnipeg or anywhere in Manitoba and are thinking about a career as a Community Support Worker or similar role, this is a path with real potential. The demand is strong, especially in many parts of Manitoba. If you choose the training path through CDI College’s Addictions & Community Services Worker Diploma Program, you’ll get many of the tools, exposure and credentials you’ll need. 

Success will depend not just on training but on your personal qualities—empathy, resilience, willingness to learn, ability to manage emotional load, and commitment to helping others.