Return Counsellor

The Return Counsellor is responsible for undertaking return counselling in the Federal Asylum Center in Alststätten and possibly other centers in the region East Switzerland or Zurich. The role involves providing return counselling services, organizing safe journeys home, liaising with partners and authorities, and supporting the implementation and coordination of return counselling in the Federal Asylum Centres.

Responsibilities

• Provide specific return counselling services and extensive information on Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) to all asylum seekers residing in those centers or centers in this region under IOM’s return counselling mandate.
• Organize and facilitate a well prepared and safe journey home in cooperation with relevant Swiss governmental authorities while screening and giving special support to vulnerable cases.
• Organize travel documents in coordination with SEM for migrants who do not have them.
• Regularly liaise with IOM Bern when using its various AVRR support services such as the “Return Information Fund” (RIF) and when booking flights via SIM “Swiss-REPAT-IOM Movement”, as well as “Reintegration Assistance for Switzerland” (RAS).
• Input all activities in the eRetour and IOM database (Mimosa), as well as filing on individual cases.
• Participate in drafting and updating project reports, statistical, narrative reports, handbooks dedicated to return counselling and the internal newsletter Going Home.
• Liaise with all relevant partners in the respective reception centres and ensure good information flows for all involved partners, especially with the designated focal points of SEM on Return and Dublin.
• Keep regular meetings, efficient cooperation on cases and information flows with return counsellors in the Eastern region.
• Liaise with consulates, consular sections and country missions for the issuance of travel documents, where applicable.
• Provide information to IOM missions and other counterparts on Swiss AVRR case processing and counselling experience.
• Cooperate on capacity-building and skills exchange projects aiming at empowering AVRR activities in Switzerland and abroad.
• Ensure the visibility of the presence of IOM in the center and its role as Return Counsellor.
• Regular travels to Bern for team meetings or other gatherings (5-6 times per year) required and to Federal Asylum Center in the region as well as replacements in other regions if needed.
• Coordinate within the team covering the same region in view of replacements.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned, as agreed with the IOM Switzerland Chief of Mission or the Program Manager.

Requirements

• University degree (Bachelor’s or higher) in Social work, Political Science, International Politics, Social Sciences or a related field from an accredited academic institution with 3 years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience in the general area of program and project operations, logistics and coordination.
• Experience in working with UN, Government agency, or NGO.
• Experience in communications and liaison with particular emphasis on contact with migrants and counselling.
• In depth knowledge of the broad range of migration issues in Switzerland.
• Knowledge of the Swiss Asylum system and work in Federal Asylum Centers.
• Very good knowledge of handling AVRR cases.
• Very good knowledge of Microsoft programs (particularly Word and Excel).
• Knowledge of eRetour and Mimosa case management systems, an asset.
• Good communication skills and contact with migrants.
• Fluency in English and German is required (oral and written) with a good knowledge of French.
• Working knowledge of any other language is an advantage.

Skills

• Program Operations
• Project Coordination
• Logistics Coordination
• Migrant Counselling
• Migration Issues Understanding
• Swiss asylum system knowledge
• Federal Asylum Centers
• AVRR Case Management
• MS Word
• MS Excel
• eRetour Case Management
• Mimosa Case Management
• Communication with Migrants
• Return Counselling
• Liaising with Authorities
• Safe Journey Organization

Languages

English, German, French