Child Protection Officer (Damasak) at Safeguarding Children Initiative

Safeguarding Children Initiative (SCII) is a non-governmental organisation carrying out operations in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States. Our Mission is to provide hope, protect, and uphold the rights and dignity of children and their caregivers in marginalised or most vulnerable communities through building long-lasting pillars by way of collaboration, inclusion, equity, and diversity. We are focused on creating a world where children are safe, secured, respected, and encouraged to develop to their fullest potential by being committed to the eradication of poverty and children's inclusion.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Child Protection Officer

Location: Damasak, Borno
Employment Type: Part-time

Role Purpose

• The Child Protection Officer will be responsible for implementation of Child Protection activities with guidance from Program Coordinator. Block roles include MHPSS, Case management and FTR response, working in the conflict affected communities to directly identify and register abducted children and women, negotiate with local authorities, raise awareness, and try to seek the best outcomes in a limited and challenging environment.
• In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

Role Dimensions:

• This role will contribute towards Safeguarding Children Initiative’s Child Protection strategic objective that all children are safe, secured, respected, and encouraged to develop to their fullest potential by being committed to the eradication of poverty and children's inclusion.

Key Areas of Accountability

• Work closely with Director of Program to ensure the quality implementation of Child Protection activities in the field.
• Lead on case management activities and be supervisor in the designated field sites, with support from PSS facilitators & case workers, including coordinating and sharing data with other service providers using the new Case Management SOPs,
• Prepare weekly activity plans with line staff as necessary and ensure smooth implementation of these plans.
• Set up/strengthen Child Protection Committees, including training and awareness raising on dangers of abduction in their communities and linking children to available services.
• Set up/support and monitor Child Protection Help Desks to identify, support and refer children with protection concerns.
• Monitor and assess the implementation of the program, ensuring that case workers are using the case management forms consistently and correctly.
• Ensure quality and timely registration of recovered abductees and at-risk children including UASC and sharing the information with Director of Program.
• Ensure all data from the case management are kept confidential and only shared on a need-to-know bases and in accordance with case management SOPs.
• Representation of Safeguarding Children Initiative as necessary at community level i.e. coordination meetings etc and negotiate with local authorities when necessary.
• Perform other functions relative to Child Protection activities and initiatives that may be assigned by Line Manager.
• Assist in the identification and procurement of materials field activities.
• Coordinate with Logistics to ensure timely and safe delivery of supplies allocated to field activities.
• Adhere to safeguarding policy and report where necessary.

Behaviours (Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Safeguarding Children Initiative values.
• Holds the team accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary guidance 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 Safeguarding Children Initiative, engages and motivates others.

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.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

Experience and Skills

• University Degree in Social Sciences or relevant experience in Social Work, Community Development and working with children in Child Protection programme.
• 3 years sectoral experience
• Good English oral and written communication skills.
• Fluent in a local language and or Kanuri is a key requirement.
• Experience in community facilitation and mobilisation
• Good understanding of community politics and traditional networks in program location.
• Excellent technical understanding of child protection and community-based approaches.
• Good computer knowledge and skills.
• Be able to prioritise tasks
• Flexibility and ability to work independently and in a team
• Able to work to tight deadlines and under pressure
• Able to operate in extremely harsh living and working environment
• Gender awareness and sensitivity
• Commitment to the aims and principles of Safeguarding Children Initiative. In particular, a good understanding of the SCII mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.

Desirable:

• Work experience with children and families, especially knowledge of child rights and participation
• Excellent computer knowledge
• Experience in capacity building
• Previous NGO experience, including an understanding of neutrality as an international NGO.
• Background knowledge in child/ youth protection, education, child rights and emergencies

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 SCII 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.

Application Closing Date
1st November, 2023.