Social Assistant (m/f/x) At Médecins Sans Frontières

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 60 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation.

Social Assistant (m/f/x)

CONTEXT

MSF’s mission in Belgium aims to address, through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach, the health needs and key social determinants of the most vulnerable segments of the population, including migrants in transit and undocumented migrants, while proactively engaging in assessing main difficulties and promoting institutional change.

The social assistant will be integrated into the Brussels migration project, which includes:

• Active participation in the Humanitarian Hub, where several organisations provide a wide range of services to vulnerable populations. In this structure, mental health care (first line) is provided by Médecins Sans Frontières. A second line service has also been created to provide psychological follow-up and respond to identified needs.
• Outreach activity initially designed to support the response to COVID-19 in Belgium among the most vulnerable populations. The mobile team, also composed of various organisations, intervenes in non-accredited structures (such as squats) and accredited structures in terms of awareness-raising, prevention and control of infections, health promotion and referral to psycho-social-medical care if necessary.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Organize and guarantee the quality of the social activities of MSF Belgian projects in order to open access to care, testify and contribute to advocacy in favor of universal medical coverage for the targeted population.
• Carry out all activities involving social support to patients in psychological and/or psychiatric follow-up, beneficiaries of outreach activities and unaccompanied foreign minors and link them with other relevant support services and communities at large, according to MSF principles and guidelines.

In particular, s(he) will be charged with the following responsibilities:

• Conduct social assessments, identify the social support needs of patients/beneficiaries, including legal, protection, shelter/housing, financial/vocational, food security, and access to medical and psychosocial support services beyond the project intervention scope.
• Support the provision of comprehensive care to beneficiaries, by actively coordinating their work with the other members of the MSF multidisciplinary team and linking with multi-sectoral services.
• Provide direct social support based on social assessments and facilitate referrals to external services to open access to care, to shelter/housing, to food or to every unmet need. Provide systematic follow up care regarding attendance of clinical appointments and following up on referrals made to relevant multi-sectoral services.
• Map and regular updating of formal and informal support services (incl. existing community resources). Assess quality of existing support services, with identification of gaps and advocacy for an improved culturally appropriate social response.
• Maintain records, statistics, files, and reports on all social work activities and follow up care either provided by MSF or other support services. Identify gaps in the available services and with the team prioritize and develop plans following the objectives of MSF.
• Collaborate closely with medical, social and legal services in HUB and/or in MSF clinic, promoting a multidisciplinary approach.
• Assist and train staff members and resourceful people whenever necessary in order to enhance the scope of Mental Health and social activities.
• Analyse, communicate and make improvements to existing procedures, models, methods and tools in order to allow the optimal course of operational processes
• Work in close collaboration with the cultural mediators in order to use appropriate terminology and behavior during sessions.
• Develop and maintain contacts with the CPAS and the different municipalities in order to answer to the needs of our target population, be the focal point between CPAS and MSF team for patients who need universal medical coverage (AMU).
• Identify the gaps/difficulties for our target population in the current system.
• When necessary, accompany patients to social services to support them during social consultations in external structures
• Ensure that all patient information is kept confidential.
• Participate in the elaboration of the project strategy
• Participate in clinical and team meetings, self-care meetings and emotional support sessions
• Participate in other meetings where the social input is necessary
• In collaboration with the data officer, the advocacy manager and the medical coordinator, contribute to the data collection and to the advocacy strategy of the mission

REQUIREMENTS

• Social assistant degree / Bachelor’s degree in social work.
• Two years minimum in a similar social job
• Desirable: Previous experience in a psychiatric ward and/or with migrants, ideally in Belgium and/or Brussels.
• Desirable: Good knowledge of the AMU (Aide Médicale Urgente) system, Brussels’ social services and foreigners’ rights
• Desirable: Experience working in multidisciplinary team
• Works towards objectives, preserving established standards.
• Shares information and coordinates with the team and/or others.
• Adapts behavior to the needs of the situation and changing circumstances, tasks and people.
• Demonstrates loyalty, awareness and respect for MSF’s values.
• Cross-cultural awareness
• Service orientation
• Understands other people’s stress.

Languages

• French and English speaking is mandatory, additional languages are an asset

CONDITIONS

• • Expected starting date: As soon as possible – Contract type: Fixed-term contract (1 year) – Location: Brussels – Salary according to MSF-OCB HQ grid – Meal Vouchers – Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs – Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment – Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

Deadline for applications: 30/05/22