"Where children are orphaned through a sudden disaster, natural or man-made, Operation Orphan will do all we can to ensure these children are identified, made safe and kept safe."
This is the mandate of Operation Orphan's Crisis Response Team. The team of volunteers deploy to large-scale disasters when the affected country requests international assistance, and there is mass loss of life.
We know that during these times orphans are the most vulnerable and they need to be found and cared for quickly. Local services are often over-stretched and severely under-resourced. Sadly the trafficking world often kicks into action and some children who have lost their parents are picked up and never seen again. Our goal is to stop this from occurring by getting to the children first, thus the reason for rapid response!
The Team
The Crisis Response Team (CRT) is the most crucial part of outworking this vision. The team go into potentially dangerous and extreme situations and while we ensure full training and readiness, the nature of the role is unpredictable. With a strong, flexible team who each play to their strengths, we can achieve so much. This is why the right team is critical.
As part of the official international coordinated response the team work with social services to identify and support these children. The ultimate goal is to ensure they are connected to a long term care structure and identify ways Operation Orphan can continue to support them.
The team consists of volunteer doctors, children’s nurses, paramedics, child welfare and security specialists. Every team member passes a stringent selection process and commits to continual professional and team development. We also have a growing number of volunteer specialist consultants that advise the team.
Our Crisis Response Operatives are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.
Crisis Response Team have responded to the following disasters:
Earthquake - Nepal 2015
Mudslide - Sierra Leone 2017
Hurricane Irma - Antigua and Barbuda 2017
Cyclone Idai - Zimbabwe 2019
Covid - UK 2020
Moldova/Ukraine 2022
Uganda - Mbale Floods 2022
Turkey - Earthquake - Hatay 2023
Interested in applying?
We are currently recruiting so please scroll down and apply online below or download a paper application form. Successful applicants must complete and pass a three day selection course held in the UK.
Skills required - children social workers, children’s nurses, child psychologists, medical doctors, paramedics, security experts, civil engineers
Meet the Team
Brad Moore - Strategic Lead
· Mountain Leader
· Mountain Rescue
· Security Risk Management Consultant (SRMC Level 5)
· Designated Safeguarding Lead (Level 3)
· First Aid Qualified
Dave Hearn - Operations Lead
· Operations Lead
· Retired Military Officer
· Mountain Leader
· Qualified Teacher
· Health & Safety Expert
Alex Hayes
· Urban Search & Rescue Specialist
· UKISAR Team Leader (EUCPT and INSARAG trained)
· UK Fire and Rescue experience (24 years)
· Anaesthesia Trauma and Critical Care (ATACC) trained medic for Fire & Rescue Service
Previous experience includes nine years in search and rescue, deploying to Bosnia and Serbia following wide-scale floods in 2014, and part of the UKISAR response to Nepal following the 2015 earthquake. Deployed to Moldova with Operation Orphan in 2022 to deliver aid and humanitarian services to displaced Ukrainians following the invasion by Russia.
Andi Hayes
· 25 years as UK Police Officer, including 10 years as a detective specialising in Child Protection, Exploitation and Trafficking
· IDICP qualified
· MASH qualified – interviewing children following traumatic experiences
· Public Order Medic (FPOS in high-conflict situations)
· Safeguarding Level 4 trained
· Confined/High Access Release trained
· Experience in construction, including demolition and structural collapse management
Previous experience includes working with children who have undergone intense emotional and physical trauma, establishing mechanisms for supporting them as well as working with international law enforcement, social care systems, protocols, and managing offences against children. Further experience includes responding to large incidents and multiple Operation Orphan deployments to Moldova in 2022 to support refugees following Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Dr Bence Fazekas
· Accident & Emergency Medical Doctor
· Full GMC registration
· General and Orthopaedic Surgeon
· MBBS and BSc in Neuroscience
· Multilingual: fluent in English, German, Spanish, Hungarian and Chinese.
· Multicultural: lived long-term in Hungary, South Africa, Germany, Mexico, China and England and have also visited many other countries as well.
· Youth work: experienced with working with children of all ages.
Previous experience includes deployment to Zimbabwe in response to Hurricane Idai.
Logan Barrett
· High Angle Rescue Technician
· Emergency Health Care Provider: Oxygen Administration & Airway Management
· CBRNE Technician, Intermediate
· Hazardous Materials Specialist
· Operational Security Management
· Swift Water Rescue Instructor
· Confined Space Rescue Instructor
Previous experience of more than 10 years in various emergency response disciplines, including deployments throughout North/South America, Africa, and Europe. This includes deploying with rapid intervention teams advising government agencies in times of natural disasters and pandemics, offering critical insight regarding disaster management, life safety, emergency medical care, water filtration, and chemical contamination at disaster sites.
Steve Fletcher
· Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Consultant
· Mental Health First Aid Qualified
· First Aid Qualified
· Level 6 Diploma in Health and Safety
Previous experience with the Armed Forces, deploying as part of the United Nations peacekeepers in Bosnia and Herzegovina on two separate occasions. This involved teaching school aged children, many orphaned, on the dangers of mines in that theatre, hand in hand with the American Forces. Other voluntary deployments include Calais and Dunkirk jungles
Dr Balazs Fazekas
· Medical Doctor and General Surgeon
Caitlin Sayce
· Logistics Expert
Greg Meeks
· Security Expert Consultant
Jessica Meyers
· Children and Youth Worker
Jordan Lawrence-Graham
Children and Youth Worker
Kezia Lawrence-Graham
Paediatric Nurse
Grief & Trauma Specialist
Paul Rowlands
Retired Fire Chief
Mountain Leader
Rebecca Flanagan
Qualified Primary School Teacher
Rob Young
Pilot
Logistics Consultant
Dr Suze Fazekas
Medical G.P.
Tim Miles
Acute Medical Practitioner
Col Nick Makin
Selection Panel
Retired Army Oficer
Team in Action
APPLICATION FORM
OPERATION ORPHAN CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM
VOLUNTEER JOB DESCRIPTION
Operation Orphan CRT is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to respond to large-scale disasters. The team will deploy only when the affected country calls for international assistance and there is mass loss of life with the high potential for orphaned children. The mission is to work alongside the coordinated response to identify, make safe and keep safe children orphaned by the disaster. Disasters and accidents can happen at any time and anywhere in the world, often without warning.
Membership of the team requires substantial commitment from individuals (overseas deployments could last up to 14 days). Whilst the rewards for membership of Operation Orphan CRT are not financial, the professional and personal rewards are vast.
Operation Orphan CRT is currently expanding the team with 4 - 6 operatives deploying at any one time. When a standby order is given, availability will be requested and the final team selected from those able to deploy. Those remaining in the UK will provide critical operational support.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Below are the principle duties of the post. Inevitably, over time, the nature of an individual’s job may change and existing duties may be lost or others gained. However, this will not change the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility.
Acquisition, application and maintenance of specialist skills associated with the role of child safety/welfare in a disaster zone, within a foreign country.
To mobilise and attend incidents to provide a specialist capability in the initial assessment of a disaster area.
To mobilise and attend incidents to provide a specialist capability in providing physical and psychosocial care for children orphaned by the disaster either directly or in partnership with government, international or local agencies.
Provide a flexible approach to work that will require extended periods of operational response in respect of major international disasters (appropriate arrangements to mitigate welfare issues will be implemented).
Attend specialist training courses and exercises in accordance with role.
Maintain skills through routine training, both practical and theoretical.
Take personal responsibility for the familiarisation and maintenance of skills and identified risks and hazards associated with the role.
Carry out routine care and maintenance of emergency equipment (personal and pooled) to ensure a high state of readiness.
Assist in the completion of site-specific risk assessments.
Undertake driving duties and the operation of transport to support mobilisation procedures overseas.
Undertake other duties associated with the post of CRT Operative at the discretion of the CRT Director.
Actively promote the charity and the team and participate in fundraising for core operational and deployment costs.
Be prepared to make a commitment to be a CRT Operative for a period of no less than 3 years.
CORE VALUES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CRT OPERATIVES
Values and Behaviours
Encourage and promote the values of Operation Orphan.
Comply with the required standards of conduct.
Promote the charity by acting with integrity and honesty.
Comply with Operation Orphan’s Health & Safety Policy to support a safe working environment.
Communicate skills and knowledge to colleagues in order to support the development of their personal and professional competence.
Manage the areas of responsibility attached to the post.
Personal Accountability
Take responsibility for personal performance by maintaining good standards of physical fitness and health.
Agree to a preventive program of inoculation and routine dental inspection.
Applicants are strongly advised to read this form in its entirety before completing it.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION
The following section relates to the skills and abilities relevant to the role of a CRT Operative.
Please EMAIL a recent passport photograph to info@operation-orphan.org.
Answers should be not be more than 200 words for each answer.
Applicants should complete all sections.
Your answers must provide evidence in support of your claims.
If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend a three-day selection course.
Successful candidates will be notified within two weeks of the selection course. These candidates will begin their probationary period. Full Operative status will be granted once a candidate has successfully completed an international deployment.