School gatekeeper: bridging figure for parents
Job description
Non-profit organization Neighborhood Partnership – De Schakel, neighborhood work for poverty reduction and social neighborhood development in the Brabantwijk, is looking for a driven social worker to continue the school gate work at the neighborhood school primary school De Buurt. It concerns welfare-oriented location-oriented work with vulnerable parents that starts from a strength-oriented approach. More information about the project can be found here: context school gate operation.docx
What role and tasks will you be assigned?
- Location-based social worker
- Bridge figure
- Community worker
You build a relationship of trust out with the parents and talk to them. You supports families with questions about the different areas of life. You fulfill a bridging function between parents and the existing help and services and between the parents and the school. You respect the rhythm of the parents and their autonomy. Where necessary, you go out with them: to the OCMW, to the neighbourhood work, on home visits, ... New parents who have registered their child at the school and departing parents are also part of your target audience. You think together with parents and the school about how parents can be involved in the school project as early as possible.
Je informs and strengthens socially vulnerable parents with a view to increased parent-school involvement. You feeds back the signals from parents to the school team and supports them in order to improve parent-school involvement and handles confidential information from parents discreetly
You maintain good contacts with the network of neighbourhood partners and the broader Brussels field of work in function of the needs of vulnerable parents. You also fulfil a bridging function within this network. You are aware of the range of activities and events in the neighbourhood of the school, actively invite parents for relevant offers and enter into partnerships in function of the participation of parents.
You will get started with collective signals and needs of parents and uses a participatory approach. You organize information sessions, parent groups, thematic workshops, meeting moments, dialogue moments, ... depending on the signals at the school gate. With these initiatives and initiatives that come from the school, you make the bridge to other groups in the district: parents of the two other neighborhood schools and other residents of the neighborhood.
Desired profile
What do you need to know/be able to do for this?
You have a strong affinity with themes such as equal opportunities, poverty reduction and diversity.
You share our approach to poverty as a structural problem and have a vision of the role that the organization of education and other social institutions play in this.
You are:
Fluent in social contacts and networks: with parents, families, teachers, partners
empathetic
Patient
Meticulous
You can:
Active listening
Motivate and coach
Organize
Engage in constructive dialogue with various parties
Dealing with resistance and disappointments
Easily find your way in online and paper administration, e.g. registrations, applying for an allowance, child benefit, reimbursements by the health insurance fund, smart school, etc.
Monitor, evaluate and report on project objectives
You know
The educational context (Dutch education in Brussels and education-related initiatives) / The living environment of vulnerable families / Brussels initiatives for family support
The Brussels 'terrain'
The Brussels social map
Dutch and French, both spoken and written. Knowledge of Peul, Turkish or Arabic is a plus
Digital applications (basic knowledge of office, familiar with online applications and administration)
You have a higher education degree or can demonstrate equivalent knowledge through experience
You have experience
In working with vulnerable target groups. Experience in working with parents and/or in a primary education context and/or participatory and empowering work is a plus. You can demonstrate at least 4 years of professional or other experience relevant to this position.
Our offer
We offer
- - A full-time position until June 2027. Possible extension depends on finding financing.
- - Close collaboration with a fellow school gate worker who is an expert by experience in poverty and social exclusion and who complements you with knowledge and experience.
- - A pleasant working environment with nice colleagues and an active network of partner organizations
- - A warm welcome at the school, where you work closely with the care coordinator
- - Participation in intervisions with other bridge figures, organised by the Integrated Broad Reception - Well-being questions at school.
- - Training and exchange with other Brussels allies projects in the fight against child poverty
-
- A workplace in the Brabant district, close to the North Station
- Flexible working hours: apart from the fixed times at the school gate, the agenda can be flexibly filled in according to your own agenda, the agenda of parents and meetings
- - Remuneration according to PC 329 B1c or B1b (with 6 years of relevant experience)
- - Start date as soon as possible
Contact
Selection procedure
Please send your CV and motivation letter to the following email address by 10/09/2025 at the latest: heleen@schakel.org.
If your application is selected, you will be invited for an interview during the week of September 15th. Dupontstraat 58, 1030 Schaerbeek, first floor.
We strive for diversity within our team. We recruit based on talent and competences, regardless of your sex, gender(identity), origin, color, age, orientation and ability.
More information
More information?
Contact Heleen Huysentruyt: heleen@schakel.org - 02/219 00 64 or 0488 24 81 11
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