EEG: CALL FOR CANDIDATES - coordinator

EEG: CALL FOR CANDIDATES

October 17, 2013 Posted in News E-mail Print

EEG: CALL FOR CANDIDATES

The European Expert Group on Transition from Institutional to Community- Based care is seeking a part-time coordinator to support the implementation of its work with its members, EU institutions, EU member states and other neighbouring countries.

Start date: as soon as possible

End date: end of December 2013 ( possibility for extension subject to performance and funding)

Salary: €280-300 daily rate plus VAT

Location: Brussels

Interview: 31st October 2013 pm, Brussels

Deadline for Receipt of Letter of Interest & CV: 24th October 2013

Please address to: Carlotta.besozzi@edf-feph.org

Background

The European Expert Group (hereafter called the Group) on the transition from institutional to community based care is a broad coalition gathering stakeholders representing people with care or support needs including children, people with disabilities, homeless people, people experiencing mental health problems, their families; as well as service providers, public authorities and intergovernmental organisations.

The Group comprises representatives of European networks and organisations that work together at EU level to provide expert support on EU policy, legislation and funding. All members of the Group provide a link to operational expertise at national, regional and local level through the direct involvement and empowerment of their member organisations.

The Group has as its mission the promotion of person-centered, quality and empowering models of services and formal and informal care that fully respect the human rights of all people with care or support needs and their families. It will do so by providing expert support in the development of EU policies, legislation and funding programmes, and supporting national efforts to this end, in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (in particular with Article 19) and in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In November 2012 the group published “Guidelines on the transition from institutional to community based care”, plus an accompanying toolkit that aims to assist all public authorities in Europe involved in the programming and implementation of EU Structural Funds. See www.deinstitutionalisation.eu.

Currently the EEG is running a programme of national information and training seminars on the use of European Structural and Investment Funds in a number of EU Member States and neighbouring countries.

The Group is led by three co-chairs agreed by consensus of the group and for a 1-year mandate. The current co-chairs are: Carlotta Besozzi, Director of the European Disability Forum; Jean-Claude Legrand, Senior Regional Advisor Child Protection at UNICEF; John Halloran, Chief Executive of the European Social Network.

Specific tasks of the coordinator

The coordinator will be contracted on a part-time basis until the end of December 2013 (on a working day basis) to help coordinate the implementation of the Group’s work plan for 2012-2013. At the end of the contract the co-chairs will review performance and will explore the scope of the post to continue into 2014, subject to funding.

Specifically the tasks will include:

Supporting the co-chairs in developing the content of the Group’s Internal and Open Meetings (with EU officials & Member State representatives), in taking minutes during these meetings and following-up on the Group’s efforts agreed at the meetings.

Supporting the Group in the preparation and implementation of its national training seminars in Member States by coordinating communication with key actors during this process (European Commission, Member State representatives, national experts and other stakeholders).

Providing support in building relations with relevant representatives from EU institutions including Commission officials, MEPs and the European Economic and Social Committee and Committee of the Regions.

Supporting the advocacy efforts of the Group to promote the transition from institutional to community-based care through the use of European Structural Funds.

Supporting the Group’s efforts in building relations with Foundations and private funders both in (1) promoting the work of the EEG and influence donor programmes and (2) identifying possible sources of on-going financial support for the Group’s activities.

Overseeing the internal and external communications and following-up on external requests.

Providing briefings to the Group on key developments at EU level in the area of transition from institutions to community based care

If funding were to become available for the continuation of this role during 2014, the list of responsibilities would be subject to revision by the three co-chairs.

Expected profile of the successful candidate

The successful candidate will fulfill the following criteria:

Excellent communication and diplomacy skills, preferably with past experience of work in the area of human and social rights in NGOs or in social policy in the public sector.

Excellent administrative/secretarial skills in managing own work, supporting the internal governance of the Group besides the delivery of its external activities in Member States

Ability to work effectively within a coalition and maintain the confidence and cooperation of member organisations

Ability to be accountable to a membership/alliance based organisation and understanding its culture

Ability to work independently and take initiative.

Demonstrable commitment to the goals and values of the Group. Experience of de-institutionalisation and the development of community-based social services is an advantage.

Experience working with or for the EU institutions and familiarity with EU policy-making processes. Knowledge of the EU structural funds and negotiations on the forthcoming MFF is desirable.

Brussels-based

Excellent oral and written English language skills. Other languages an asset.

How to apply?

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and CV to carlotta.besozzi@edf-feph.org before 24th October 2013. Short-listed candidates will be invited to interview on 31st October afternoon. Please note that only short-listed candidates can be followed up.