CONTRACT LENGTH: 12 Months
CHILD SAFEGUARDING: (select only one)
Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.
ROLE PURPOSE:
The Child protection Officer will help the Child Protection Coordinator in implementing project activities. The child protection Programme is currently focused on a Case management and rapid FTR response, working in the conflict affected communities to directly identify and register separated and unaccompanied children and missing children registered by parents and family members, and try to seek the best outcomes in a limited and challenging environment. It also includes components of psychosocial support to children through community based child protection networks and child friendly spaces.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Child Protection Program Coordinator.
Staff reporting to this post: FTR case worker and Community Mobilizer
Direct::Case Workers/Community Mobilizer
Indirect : None
Budget Responsibilities: None
Role Dimensions:
South Sudan is one of the most challenging and exciting working environments that Save the Children currently works in. The newest country in the world, its legacy of thirty years of war has yet to be even partly addressed as is new government struggles to both mature and reach out to its people. Education rates remain low with less than 10% of the population finishing primary school; and only 200 girls completing secondary school in 2011 (out of a total population of greater than 8 million people).
Infrastructure across the country remains virtually non-existent; with 80% of the Country – including State Capitals – only accessible for half of the year (the rainy season) by small air craft. Even in the Capital – Juba – there are no functioning public utilities, few tarmac roads and limited health services. Aid agencies rely on generators, water trucking and satellite internet to meet their basic needs. The agencies still provide some 75% of the basic services of the south Sudanese population. Parts of the country are still racked by insecurity – tribal militias, rebel militia groups and direct conflict with the North of Sudan all take their regular toll on the civilian population.
Since conflict broke out in South Sudan in December 2013, more than 870,000 people have been displaced from their homes, including approximately 460,000 children. 743,000 people remain displaced inside the country and 130,400 people have crossed into neighbouring countries. Approximately 85,200 people are sheltering in UN bases, while others have fled into the bush or re living in host communities.
As a result of the current fighting, children are at increased and continued risk of violence, abuse, recruitment into armed groups and separation from their families.
Save the Children key priorities include
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :
- In cooperation with Child Protection Program Coordinator initiate and develop good working relations with other key Actors such as INGOs, UN agencies, Local Authorities, traditional leaders etc.
- Ensure that the Child Protection programmes are carried out effectively and efficiently with agreed time frame with donor and maintain high standard of quality, in accordance with SC's policies, values and operating principles.
- Provide assistance to the volunteers and project staff in running the Child Friendly Spaces to ensure high quality structures, facilities, materials, and high quality facilitation of activities and general management of the CFSs.
- Support the formation and activities of Child Protection Networks, including, training of CPNs on how awareness raising of key child protection issues in their communities and signposting children to available services.
- Strenghten community based psycho social support sub theme through community members and provide technical support in identification/ Monitoring of CP issues.
- Establish CP desk at Schools and provide technical support to focal points to monitor CP issues at School level.
- Establish Children Clubs at Schools/CFS’s and develop Risk Maps for all locations.
- Support & attend periodic meetings of Child Protection Networks and meetings and record progress and minutes.
- Assist the project staff and volunteers to follow up on identified cases of separated and unaccompanied children and ensure appropriate case management throughout all stages of family tracing, including ensuring that immediate interim care needs, and material and psychosocial needs of children are met.
- Supervise weekly coordination and case management meetings with case workers and facilitate the design of weekly work plans.
- Proactively ensure synergies between all children protection activities, such as referral of separated children identified in CFSs to FTR Caseworkers etc.
- Assist the by Child Protection Program Coordinator / Area One Thematic CP Manager to organise and facilitate trainings and awareness raising activities for volunteers, Child Protection Networks and partners’ staff on different topics as required.
- Prepare weekly activity plans with volunteers and staff as necessary and ensure smooth implementation of these plans.
- Encourage “Child Participation” within all Child Protection interventions.
- Ensure that CFS and Child Protection Networks in the centres are appropriately monitored by Case Workers/Community Mobilizers. Report matter of concerns to the immediate attention to . by Child Protection Program Coordinator / Area One Thematic CP Manager
- Ensure that all the relevant documentation and reports is submitted on time by Caseworkers and Community Mobilizers.
- To assist Meal Officer to set up appropriate accountability mechanisms and respond to any issue/Finding by Meal department.
- Work with cultural sensitivity and respect the dignity of IDPs and members of the host communities at all times.
- Performs other functions relative to Child Protection activities and initiatives that may be assigned by Child Protection Program Coordinator / Area One Thematic CP Manager.
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice:
Accountability:
- holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
- holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
- sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
- widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
- future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
- builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
- values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
- approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
- develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
- willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
- honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum Diploma in social sciences, social work or community development
- 2-3 years sectorial experience or relevant experience in social work, community development and working with children in Child Protection Programme preferable with humanitarian Organization.
- Very good written and spoken English, Juba Arabic is a plus
- Excellent technical understanding of child protection and community based approached
- Computer knowledge
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Be able to prioritize tasks
- Able to operate in extremely harsh living and working environment
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
Desireable
- Ability to speak Nuer would be an advantage
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.