ZJCN Youth Care Professional

Job description

As a youth care professional you will work to implement child protection measures issued by the courts, while also being more widely involved in assisting (foster) families. Together with parents or carers you will draw up action plans to prevent any threat to a child’s development. You will do this by supporting parents with parenting skills, by carrying out home visits and by organising and coordinating the necessary assistance and care in the home situation. You will be required to monitor children’s safety and actively intervene if necessary. You will do this by managing situations.

Your responsibilities will also include organising and coordinating foster care, if that is necessary in order to protect a child. Another aspect of your work will be to build and maintain a professional network with relevant experts and healthcare providers.

Duties

• You will be responsible for implementing the action plan by actively assisting and supporting the family. You will do this using various care and support methodologies which are tailored to the request for assistance, the problematic situation, or the measures imposed.
• You will mediate in conflict situations (between young people, the client system, and/or the parties involved).
• In the event of a mandatory care framework you will ensure, as necessary, that the parents and children concerned fulfil their obligation to comply with the action plan and the recommendations provided.
• You will provide information, raise awareness and advise parents in the field of development and parenting.
• You will provide training and parenting support which is aimed at developing social and practical skills.
• You will be prepared to work flexible hours. On-call services are part of the range of duties and require you to be available outside regular working hours and to have an attitude which goes beyond a 9-to-5 mentality.

The organisation

Child safety is paramount for the Youth division of ZJCN. If a child’s development is under threat, it is the task of ZJCN to create a safer situation so that the child in question can continue to develop in a protected environment. Two authorities are involved in youth policy in the Caribbean Netherlands. On the one hand the public bodies are primarily responsible for prevention and primary care. On the other hand the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport is responsible for the second and third line youth care and is involved in multiple, more complex requests for assistance, as well as foster care and family supervision.

Competencies

• The ability to connect and collaborate.
• A focus on clients.
• Good planning and organisational skills.
• Integrity/reliability.
• Good analytical skills.
• Good powers of persuasion.
• A focus on results.

Job requirements

• You have a qualification at higher vocational level in Social Work and Social Services (Maatschappelijk Werk en Dienstverlening), or Socio-educational Care Work (Sociaal Pedagogische Hulpverlening).
• You have plenty of experience in youth welfare, preferably as a family guardian or a peripatetic care worker.
• You have knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations, working methods and processes.
• You are familiar with the (legal) protocols and guidelines for implementing measures within the framework of supervision orders and youth rehabilitation.
• You have sufficient communication skills to maintain informative contacts with (foster) parents/families, schools, external bodies, etc.
• You have a good spoken and written command of Papiamento and Dutch.
• You are prepared to invest in your own professional development by attending training and courses which are appropriate for the job and the organisation.

What do we offer?

• An appointment in conformity with the Rechstpositiebesluit Ambtenaren BES (BES Legal Status of Civil Servants Decree);
• A salary in line with the market, in initial salary scale 9 and job salary scale 10 a gross monthly salary between a minimum of $3.293,- and a maximum of $4.900,- based on a work week of 36 hours. A pay grade based on knowledge and experience;
• A holiday pay (8.33% of the annual income);
• A13^th month (8.33% of the annual income);
• Vitality allowance;
• A pension plan administered by Pensioenfonds Caribisch Nederland (PCN);
• 182 holiday hours based on a work week of 36 hours;
• A temporary appointment of one year with the prospect of a permanent appointment in case of good performance and a positive appraisal;
• A relocation scheme for applicants not living in the island.

Procedure

An assessment, case and/or reference check may be part of the procedure.
This vacancy is being advertised internally and externally, and the following order will be considered in the selection process:

• Official RCN staff on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (internal);
• Residents of the Caribbean part of the Netherlands (external);
• Other candidates (external).

Terms of appointment

• A Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG);
• A medical examination for admission to the pension fund (Participation is mandatory, including a personal contribution);
• Dutch citizenship.

Important information for interested applicants living outside the Caribbean Netherlands

• The salary is paid in American dollars, the official currency in the Caribbean Netherlands;
• The Caribbean Netherlands has its own tax regulations. Income above the tax-free allowance $21,956 in 2026 is taxed at 29.4% in the first bracket (up to an income of $53,198). A tax rate of 38.4% applies to the second bracket;
• You are or will become a resident of the Caribbean Netherlands.

More information?

For information about this position, you can contact Fransyella Janga, Team Leader Youth Care, email address fransyella.janga@jeugdzorgcn.com.

Digital application

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