ZJCN Social Support Advisor

HBO | Bonaire | 36 hours | Vacancy number: P&O2024_012_017 | Closing date: 21 January 2025

Background

On the 1^st of January 2025, regulations are set to be introduced in the Caribbean Netherlands to make social support available (even better) to our residents. These regulations are based on the European Dutch Social Support Act (Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning (Wmo 2015, Wmo 2015) but there are differences. For example, unlike in the European Netherlands, the responsibility for the implementation of social support in the Caribbean Netherlands lies not only with the Public Entities on Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius but also, in part, with the Directorate of Care and Youth Caribbean Netherlands (ZJCN). Like the Dutch municipalities, the Public Entities are responsible for the notification and the investigation / kitchen table discussion. In addition, the Public Entities bear responsibility for the provision of general services and transport. A notification for a customised service is referred to ZJCN. We assess the investigation and possibly issue a decision on a customised service. Furthermore, we bear responsibility for the procurement of the supply of customised services.

Job description

At ZJCN, as a Social Support Adviser, you are involved in both the implementation of the new regulations and their application. On the one hand, you are responsible for the handling of applications for customised services on the islands in an objective and independent manner. On the other hand, you contribute to the implementation of projects that allow you to build social support structures and processes. In doing so, you work closely with the Public Entities. You make sure they are well-equipped to perform their tasks and together you build a good upstream field. In this, you act as a catalyst within a context where much still needs to be established. In other words, you are going to pioneer. Your project-based role evolves through the implementation phase into a policy-based role. You then investigate bottlenecks and opportunities and pick up suggestions for improvements. It is extremely important to consider the local context and needs of the three islands during this process. You also work closely with the relevant policy officers, account holders, and medical advisers within ZJCN to ensure that the implementation policy is streamlined with other work processes, e.g. long-term care. You analyse the supply of customised services in connection with the upstream field and long-term care in order to improve it.

Job responsibilities

• You are part of the project team responsible for the implementation of the regulations on social support in the Caribbean Netherlands.
• Within the project team, you are committed to the strengthening of the cooperation with the Public Entities and social support providers on Bonaire, St. Eustatius as well as Saba. You assist them in implementing the regulations and you realise a comprehensive and coherent offer of customised services.
• You cooperate with internal colleagues to optimise our internal implementation policy on social support and you align it with other processes and programmes within ZJCN.
• You analyse, review, and assess the investigations in which the Public Entity reports on the request for assistance of residents and the resident applies for a customised service.
• You monitor and analyse the needs and experiences of residents and you act proactively to further develop the offer in the upstream field and customised services.   

Job requirements

• A completed training at, at least, the level of Higher Professional Education (HBO), preferably with a social curriculum;
• You preferably have work experience at a local authority in the field of social support;
• You are from the Caribbean or have demonstrable affinity with the Caribbean;
• You dare to make decisions and take the lead;
• You are curious about other cultures and views and can easily switch between them;
• You are flexible and can deal well with issues where clear frameworks do not exist yet;
• You can work well collaboratively and you can build and maintain a relevant network with various stakeholders;
• You have critical and analytical thinking skills and the ability to solve problems;
• You have good communication skills;
• You are fluent in Dutch. English and Papiamento are preferred;
• Your place of employment is Bonaire, but you are open to periodically spending longer periods on Saba and/or St. Eustatius.

What do we offer?

• An appointment in accordance with the Rechtspositiebesluit Ambtenaren BES (BES Civil Servants (Legal Status) Decree);
• A competitive salary in preliminary scale 10 and salary scale 11 of at least $ 3,578.00 and at most $ 5,319.00 per month, in case of a 36-hour working week. Assignment to a pay scale based on knowledge and experience;
• A thirteenth month (8.33% of the salary, with a gross minimum of $ 1,750.00);
• A pension provision placed with Pensioenfonds Caribisch Nederland (PCN);
• 182 holiday hours for a working week of 36 hours per week;
• A temporary appointment of one year with the prospect of a permanent appointment for good performance and a positive assessment result;
• A removal scheme for candidates who respond from outside the island.

Procedure

An assessment, case and/or reference check may be part of the procedure.

This vacancy is opened simultaneously internally and externally, in the course of which the following order is taken into account in the selection:

• Official RCN staff on the BES Islands (internal)
• Residents of the Caribbean part of the Netherlands (external)
• Other candidates (external)

Appointment requirements

• A Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG);
• A medical examination for admission to the pension fund; 
• Dutch citizenship. 

Good to know for those interested outside the Caribbean Netherlands

• The salary is in US dollars which is the official currency in the Caribbean Netherlands;
• The Caribbean Netherlands has its own tax regulations. Income above the tax-free allowance ($ 21,373.00 in 2025) will be taxed at a rate of 30.4% in payroll tax;
• Participation in the pension fund is mandatory, including a personal contribution to it;
• You are or will become a resident of the Caribbean Netherlands.

More information?

For information about this position you can contact Curvin George, Head Care, via telephone number +599 795 1851.

Digital application

You can send your Curriculum Vitae accompanied by a motivation to: vacature@rijksdienstCN.com