Mission France – Intercultural Mediators (M/F) – Arabic speakers in Calais At Doctors Without Borders

Médecins Sans Frontières, an international humanitarian medical association created in 1971, provides medical assistance to populations whose lives are threatened: mainly in the event of armed conflicts, but also epidemics, pandemics, natural disasters or exclusion from care. The French section is present in around thirty countries.

As part of a replacement and an increase in activities, we are looking for:

Mission France – Intercultural Mediators (M/F) – Arabic speakers in Calais

Context :

The MSF France Mission provides assistance to migrants in situations of great social, medical and/or psychological vulnerability on French territory and carries out advocacy actions to facilitate their access to ordinary law. It currently has three projects, in Ile-de-France, Calais and Marseille, focused on multidisciplinary care (medical, psychological, social and legal) for unaccompanied minors seeking redress after a refusal of care by Child Welfare Services (ASE).

In Calais, the MSF project consists of three main activities : running a day centre for unaccompanied minors several days a week, somatic and psychological care consultations for vulnerable people regardless of age, and organising external care activities, particularly in mobile clinics and with partner associations.

Main missions:

Under the responsibility of the project coordinator and in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, you participate in the activities of Médecins sans Frontières within its medical-social center in Calais and within the framework of outreach activities in the Calais region:

• Support the various professionals (caregivers, psychologists, social workers) as a linguistic and intercultural intermediary, to provide live interpretation during consultations and external activities, discussion groups or social outreach and thus enable employees to offer quality care or psycho-social support that meets the association’s standards.

• Ensure information sharing with identified unaccompanied minors regarding access to medical and psychological care, their rights and the assistance provided by the various stakeholders and partners in the Calais region.

• Collaborate with the team to ensure the smooth running of the reception of unaccompanied minors within the MSF center.

Responsibilities:

Ø Linguistic and intercultural intermediary:

• For new beneficiaries of the center, or during outreach and outreach activities, conduct initial reception interviews, collect the beneficiary’s information in a database with particular attention to their vulnerability and guide their admission to the center or to another form of support or care.

• Act as a link between MSF and unaccompanied minors, inform them about the organisation of the association and the services it provides, as well as the constraints, procedures and possibilities of access to services (accommodation, food, etc.) provided by other state actors and systems.

• Work closely with the project’s various activity areas (mental health, nursing and medical care, social assistance), in particular by providing translation during individual and group sessions.

• Adapt communication to all circumstances by using an appropriate language register and diplomatic and courteous manners so that messages fit the culture of the beneficiaries.

• Participate in the creation of all materials and tools necessary for communication and access to information for project beneficiaries.

Ø As part of the day care for unaccompanied minors:

• Guarantee the organization of the center in its reception mission, ensure compliance with internal rules, with the objective of its proper functioning (inclusive, caring, without distinction) and its acceptance by exiled people and partners.

• Ensure the admission of unaccompanied minors and their proper understanding of the rules, with particular regard to their situations (vulnerabilities, isolation, cultural particularities).

• Develop bonds of trust with the young people welcomed, ensuring that their basic needs are met (rest, food, breaking with isolation). Offer their referral to competent professionals if necessary (nursing care, psychological support, access to rights and information).

• Participate in the development and smooth running of socio-educational and recreational activities for young people.

• Participate in monitoring young people when the day center is not open (follow-up by messages or calls).

Ø As part of medical outreach activities:

• Participate in setting up the mobile clinic with the logistics and medical team (installation of truck, tent, table, chairs, etc.).

• Welcome patients, manage the queue and take health data from beneficiaries before consultations.

• Participate in the triangulation of medical or psychological interviews and support colleagues by interpreting consultations.

• Support colleagues in outreach, in mental and somatic health, through patrols in living spaces or in partner association structures, and create links with the patients encountered.

• Participate in medical awareness among exiled people, in mental health or somatic health.

Ø Reporting and monitoring:

• Report all important information expressed by unaccompanied minors, respecting the principles of confidentiality, impartiality, neutrality and the MSF charter, within the framework of exchanges provided for this purpose.

• Ensure information sharing with the MSF team regarding the situations of exiled people encountered in the day centre and during external activities and report on worrying situations concerning the project beneficiaries.

• Participate in writing the monthly activity report of intercultural mediators.

Profile sought:

Education : Secondary education essential, degree in social sciences, social communication or teaching desirable.

Training in intercultural mediation or interpreting is an asset.

Knowledge of social protection, child protection, reception and care systems for unaccompanied minors desirable.

Knowledge of migration dynamics and the affected population desirable.

Experience: Experience in translation and/or cultural mediation desired.

Experience desirable with people in precarious situations, adolescents or young adults.

Languages : Fluency in French and Arabic required.

Knowledge of one of the following languages ​​desired: Tigrinya, Amharic, Farsi, Kurdish-Sorani, English.

Teamwork & Cooperation Skills

& skills: Flexibility / Flexible behavior / Sense of service

Adherence to MSF principles

Proficiency in computer tools (Word, Excel, etc.)

Status : Fixed-term contract of 12 months, renewable.

Full time 39H / week + RTT

Conditions: €2,743.06 gross monthly over 13 months.

22 RTT days per year. Health insurance 100% covered by MSF. Meal vouchers with a face value of €11 (60% covered by MSF).

Position based in Calais.

Position to be filled as soon as possible.