Help students feel safe, stay engaged, and succeed.

About GvP School

Gwendoline van Putten School (GvP) is the secondary and vocational school on Sint Eustatius. We provide students with academic, vocational, and practical pathways through CCSLC, CSEC, CVQ, and Practical Education.

GvP is strengthening its student-support system and invites applications from a qualified, compassionate, and results-oriented School Social Worker.

The Role

The School Social Worker will identify and address social, emotional, behavioral, family, and environmental factors that may affect a student’s safety, attendance, participation, or educational progress.

The successful candidate will provide school-based support, coordinate interventions, work closely with families and partner organizations, and contribute to a safe, inclusive, and supportive school climate.

Key Responsibilities

• Receive and assess student referrals and identify risks, strengths, barriers, and appropriate next steps.

• Provide short-term individual and group support to students experiencing social, emotional, behavioral, or family-related challenges.

• Develop, implement, and evaluate clear student-support plans with measurable goals and review dates.

• Support attendance, punctuality, reintegration, and school engagement by addressing the underlying causes of absence or withdrawal.

• Respond appropriately to safeguarding, child-protection, and crisis concerns and follow the school’s reporting and escalation procedures.

• Build constructive partnerships with parents and caregivers and connect families with appropriate services when needed.

• Coordinate with teachers, mentors, School Leadership, and external professionals while maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries.

• Design and evaluate preventive programs concerning bullying and cyberbullying, healthy relationships, resilience, conflict resolution, digital safety, and help-seeking.

• Maintain accurate and confidential case records and use data to monitor outcomes and advise the school on emerging student-support needs.

• Support students across GvP’s CCSLC, CSEC, CVQ, and Practical Education pathways without compromising curriculum or assessment requirements.

Qualifications and Experience

• A recognized Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from an accredited or appropriately recognized institution.

• Professional registration, certification, or eligibility to practice, where applicable to the jurisdiction and scope of work.

• Relevant experience working with adolescents and families in a school, youth, child-and-family, or comparable social-work setting.

• Demonstrated competence in assessment, case management, safeguarding, crisis response, brief intervention, family engagement, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

• Strong written and spoken English. Proficiency at C2 level is required. Knowledge of Dutch is an advantage.

• Knowledge of the CXC educational context, including CCSLC, CSEC, and CVQ, or the ability to become fully proficient in these pathways.

• Strong digital, recordkeeping, and data-protection skills.

• A satisfactory certificate of good conduct/background clearance and compliance with all safeguarding requirements.

Preferred

• A Master’s degree or postgraduate specialization in school social work, child and family practice, counselling, trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, or a related field.

• Experience in secondary, vocational, or inclusive education and in culturally diverse communities.

• Training in child protection, suicide-risk response, crisis intervention, restorative practice, motivational interviewing, or group facilitation.

• Knowledge of the social-service and education context of the Caribbean Netherlands.

The Person We Are Looking For

You are student-centered, approachable, and calm under pressure. You combine empathy with sound professional judgment, maintain clear boundaries, communicate sensitively, and follow through on agreements.

You can work independently while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary team, and you understand that reliable documentation and measurable outcomes are essential parts of professional care.

What We Offer

GvP offers an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution within the only secondary and vocational school on Sint Eustatius. You will work as part of a committed team, help strengthen a developing student-support system, and support young people across multiple educational pathways.

Salary and employment benefits will be determined in accordance with the applicable salary structure, recognized qualifications, relevant experience, and conditions of employment. Relevant professional development is supported.

How to Apply

Please send:

• A motivation letter

• Your current curriculum vitae

• Copies of relevant qualifications

• Contact details for at least two professional references

Email: c.lindo@gvpschool.com
Subject line: Application – School Social Worker
Closing date: September 11, 2026

Shortlisted candidates may be required to provide original documentation, proof of professional standing, and additional background information. Appointment is subject to verification of qualifications, satisfactory references, background clearance, and the right to work in Sint Eustatius.

GvP School is committed to safeguarding students and promoting equal opportunity.