Any centre for general welfare wishing to carry out activities in the Brussels-Capital Region, which by virtue of its organisation cannot be considered as belonging exclusively to the French Community or the Flemish Community, must be recognised by the Common Community Commission (the COCOM).
The general welfare centres include:
- Centres which provide the first social reception, offer an analysis of the situation and are responsible for referral, assistance and guidance (i.e. the centres that provide the first social reception);
- Centres which provide social assistance and psychological support to defendants, prisoners, ex-prisoners or paroled persons and their relatives (i.e. judicial welfare services).
- Planning centres, which provide the necessary care, information, social, psychological and medical support for a person's emotional and sexual life.
The accreditation and management of the planning centres are carried out by Iriscare, a public benefit corporation of the Common Community Commission.
Conditions
The approval conditions for general welfare centres are laid down in the decision of the United College dated 9 December 2004 with regard to the approval and subsidisation of general welfare centres
Action to be taken
Each application for accreditation must be addressed to the members of the United College responsible for the policy regarding assistance to persons, accompanied by an administrative file. Before granting a provisional operating permit, the administration will schedule a visit in order to verify the safety and architectural standards. If the operating conditions of the centre meet the required standards, the provisional permit will be granted for a period of one year, which may be renewed once. During the period of the provisional operating licence, the Administration will schedule a second visit in order to assess its proper functioning in accordance with the required standards. It will draw up a report. The Advisory Board will then issue an opinion in relation to the application for accreditation. Following the receipt of the opinion of the Advisory Board, the competent members of the United College may, within six months of the expiry of the provisional operating permit, either issue a decision granting approval or refuse to grant such approval. The accreditation will be granted for a renewable period of five years.
Cost
Free