Child Protection Case Worker (Gwoza) at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Child Protection Case Worker

Requisition ID: req9515
Location: Gwoza, Borno
Sector: Child Protection
Employment Category: Regular
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: No

Contextual Background

• The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations.
• IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state and Damatru of Yobe State. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods

Job Overview / Summary

• The Caseworker will be responsible for helping children and their families to navigate and access community services, other resources, and adopt healthy behaviors.
• The Case worker supports providers and the Child Protection Officer through an integrated approach to care management and community outreach. As a priority, activity will promote, maintain, and improve the health of children and their family.
• Provide social support and informal counseling, advocate for individuals and community health needs. Community outreach, such as home visits will be required.

Major Responsibilities

• Ensure children harmed or at risk of being harmed are identified and receive individual case management support by conducting documentation, assessments, action plans, direct service provision, referrals and follow ups for an assigned case load of children
• Provide support to families in the process of case management, including foster and alternative care
• Directly work with other caseworkers and service providers on management of caseload and referrals
• Ensure that the children are engaged in play activities and the parents learn at least one positive parenting skill before they are discharged.
• The case worker will be responsible for discharge and ensure that the children continue to be engaged in active play back in the community and the parents maintain positive parenting skills back in the community.

Technical Quality:

• Responsible for establishing trusting relationships with children and their families while providing general support and encouragement.
• Providing ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing and goal setting with patients/families.
• Follow-up with children via phone calls, home visits and visits to other settings where children can be found.
• Ensure that before registering a child, the consent form MUST be filled in
• Participate in weekly case conferencing
• Ensure that a child’s care plan is well designed and updated on a regular basis
• Provide referrals for services to community agencies as appropriate.
• Work closely with medical provider to help ensure that children have comprehensive and coordinated care. Follow-up with patients should be continuous from initial identification through closure.
• Work cooperatively with other clinical personnel assigned to the same child.
• Be knowledgeable about community resources appropriate to needs of patients/families.
• Be responsible for providing consistent communication to the Care Management
• Organize support groups or counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting the child

Grant Monitoring & Reporting:

• Provide input for weekly and staff activity reports

Coordination & Representation:

• Directly communicate effectively with other caseworkers and service providers as part of conducting individual case management
• Regularly attend case management meetings at field level

Program Development:

• Contribute to the development of proposal activities in relation to case management

Other:

• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of field teams; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and  liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to:  Child Protection Officer
• Indirect/Technical Reporting: Child Protection Manager

Qualifications

• Technical diploma or degree in Social Work, Human Rights, or related degree preferred
• Minimum of 1 year experience of implementing child protection programs, preferable social work or case management, in humanitarian or development settings
• Demonstrated understanding of working with children and particularly vulnerable children
• Personal qualities: Team player, flexible, network-builder, able to handle pressure well and work in cross-cultural setting.
• Fluency in English and/or (other languages) preferred or required

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Ability to Travel:

• % of time if applicable

Standards of Professional Conduct:

• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - Code of Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality:

• IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Working Environment:

• IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online