Social Worker

We are looking for a social worker to join the occupational health team, which provides medical, psychological and social support to staff. This team, which includes the Medical Service, is part of the Directorate of Human Resources (DHR) within the Directorate General of Administration (DGA).

As a social worker, you will work under the supervision of the Head of the Medical Service and collaborate closely with two doctors, four nurses and an occupational psychologist, as well as with other relevant stakeholders.

You will also participate in the Organisation’s Well-being Network, which brings together those involved in staff well-being (mediators, medical team, Human Resources team, etc.), and may be required to collaborate with the Commission on Health and Safety at Work (CSST) as well as with the Committee on Medical and Social Protection (CPMS).

Within a multicultural workforce of 3,300 people based in Strasbourg or abroad, your role will be to inform, guide, listen to and support staff members and their families during events such as serious illness, incapacity for work, bereavement or any other major crisis, both at headquarters and in the external offices. You will also be available to respond to requests from pensioners.

As a Social Worker, you will:

• listen to and advise staff members throughout their careers, taking account of their personal, family and professional circumstances;
• help staff members resolve personal or family-related problems more quickly and effectively, whether or not these affect their working lives, thereby enabling them to be more available and effective at work;
• give priority to supporting staff members’ return to work after a long absence by identifying and removing practical obstacles (transport, childcare, housing and administrative procedures), in liaison with the medical team and the DHR;
• remain a key contact for all staff members and their families at different stages of their lives (maternity, childhood, education, illness, disability and divorce), as well as for pensioners, regardless of their place of assignment;
• contribute to the prevention of psychosocial risks by reporting observed social factors to the medical service;
• facilitate and communicate with groups of staff members, including by taking part in monthly induction meetings for new staff and contributing to the “Preparing for Retirement” training;
• contribute to decisions made by the Commission on Children with Disabilities and on Staff Members’ Dependent Parents with Disabilities;
• work with the Association for the Management of Social Facilities (AGES) on matters relating to the management of the crèche and, in this connection, take part in information meetings for parents;
• represent the Council of Europe at relevant meetings and within the network of European institutions.

Please note:

• the role may require travel outside the workplace, for example to conduct home or hospital visits, or to meet external service providers;
• this post is offered at 50% of full-time working hours. The precise arrangements will be agreed in consultation with the successful candidate;
• you will be required to comply with the code of ethics and professional confidentiality obligations inherent in your role.

You must have:

• a French State Diploma in Social Work (DEASS) or an equivalent qualification from a member state;
• at least five years’ experience in social assistance within a company, public administration or international organisation;
• very good knowledge of French administrative institutions, particularly the Family Allowance Fund (Caisse d’Allocations Familiales, CAF) and the French healthcare system;
• very good knowledge of French and good knowledge of English.

You must also:

• be a citizen of one of the member states of the Council of Europe and fulfil the conditions for appointment to the civil service of that state;
• have discharged any obligation concerning national service (military, civil or comparable);
• not be the parent, child, stepchild or grandchild of a serving staff member of the Council of Europe;
• be under the age of 65 years.

Your application must demonstrate to what extent you have the competencies listed below. To help you doing so, feel free to consult our competency framework.

• Interpersonal - Service orientation
• Interpersonal - Teamwork and co-operation
• Interpersonal - Relationship building
• Interpersonal - Communication

• Professional and technical expertise:
  • awareness of, and commitment to well-being, diversity, equality and inclusion, if possible with previous experience from a similar environment in an international organisation or multicultural company;
  • good knowledge of standard IT tools (Microsoft Office) and ability to learn how to use new software quickly.
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This job vacancy is for an international external recruitment. You can consult the conditions of employment (salaries, allowances, pension scheme, social insurance, etc.) on the webpage What we offer.

For more information on how we recruit, you can consult the page Our recruitment process. This recruitment is carried out in accordance with Article 490 of the Council of Europe Staff Rules. The deadline for applications is indicated in the General information section of this vacancy notice (see above) and is fixed at 23:59:59 (CET/CEST). When applying, make sure your motivation shows how your competencies make your profile the best for the role.

As an equal opportunity employer, the Council of Europe welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people, irrespective of sex, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, disability, religion or belief. Under its equal opportunity policy, the Council of Europe is aiming to achieve gender parity in staff employed in each category and grade. At the time of appointment, preference between suitable people shall be given to the person of the gender which is under-represented in the relevant grades within the category to which the vacancy belongs.

Applicants with specific needs are encouraged to request reasonable accommodations at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact us at talents@coe.int, we will ensure that your request is handled.

The information published on the CoE’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication of the vacancy notice. Any changes to these conditions during the recruitment process will be updated on our Portal and will apply at the time of the job offer. Our career's website is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have. Should you have remaining questions, please contact us at talents@coe.int.