Begeleider / Social Worker (vervanging), Noodopvangcentrum Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe

Intro

Millions of people are fleeing war, hunger, persecution or natural disasters. The majority of them live in third world countries. But people also come to Belgium looking for a new home and a safe haven. At the request of the government, the Flemish Red Cross accommodates applicants for international protection while they await the outcome of their procedure.  

The reception centre in Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe is a transit centre where residents come and go at a rapid pace. Sometimes residents stay there for one or a few nights and other residents stay there for a few months until they leave for somewhere else. The Flemish Red Cross is a Dutch-speaking organisation, but exceptionally in the reception centre in Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe the working language is English.

Functiebeschrijving

• Together with your colleagues, you are responsible for keeping the reception center operative, during day and night; 
• You help ensure that internal rules are respected so that a peaceful environment can be offered to temporary residents.  In case of incidents and crisis situations you act calmly and try to mediate between the different parties; 
• You provide psychosocial counseling: you listen very thoroughly whenever refugees need a listening ear. Entering an emotionally charged conversation at that time doesn’t frighten you. You will react appropriately to mental or physical problems that refugees are struggling with;
• You answer practical questions and inform the temporary residents about their stay in the center and the path that may follow in order to get registered in Belgium;
• You give the refugees a warm and caring welcome and show them around the center; 
• You organize a number of activities for children and teenagers to take their minds off things; 
• You take care of a few administrative tasks during the day; 
• You ensure a good flow of useful information from day to night colleagues; 
• You regularly keep the center manager informed in order to enable a smooth functioning of the reception center, together with the rest of the team.

Jouw profiel

• You have a bachelor's degree in the human field and have experience working in a similar environment; 
• You have at least a year of experience working with people from different cultural backgrounds;  
• You are entrepreneurial and will actively roll up your sleeves;  
• You are flexible and willing to work in a shift system with weekend shifts;  
• You speak and understand English fluently, which is the spoken language in the center. Knowledge of Dutch, French or other languages is a plus (Arabic, German, Dari, Pashtu, Russian or Spanish);  
• You have computer skills (Word, Outlook, Excel) and are able to quickly learn internal electronic monitoring systems;  
• You are empathetic and diplomatic, but you can also set clear boundaries;  
• You work in a structured way and in good consultation with your colleagues;  
• You manage to stay calm in stressful situations.

Ons aanbod

• Fulltime position (38h/week);  
• Contract of indefinite duration with a specific clause for emergency shelter: the duration of the employment depends on the governmental assignment given to Belgian Red Cross-Flanders to organize the emergency reception of refugees;  
• Your salary is determined according to scale 232 in joint committee 319. You can find the scale lists at https://werkenbij.rodekruis.be/barema. Red Cross Flanders recognizes at least half of your total work experience as seniority, even if that experience is international;  
• Meal vouchers: € 8/day;  
• Group- and optional health insurance;  
• Commuting by train is fully reimbursed; an allowance of € 0,36/km is offered when you commute by bike; when commuting by other means of transport (car, bus) a sectoral allowance will be paid.  

Plaats van tewerkstelling

• Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe