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.
* 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;