Psychosocial / Case Management Officer at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a Danish international non-governmental organisation, which promotes and supports durable solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people all over the world. DRC is present in more than 30 conflict territories around the world assisting displaced people with shelter, food, income-generating activities, and a wide range of other assistance. It is of utmost importance for DRC to work in compliance with the DRC Accountability and Quality Management system and national legislations. Smooth, reliable and effective operational systems are preconditions for DRC to maintain its position as a trustworthy and reliable partner for our donors and an accountable organisation towards our beneficiaries.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Psychosocial / Case Management Officer

Location: Illela, Sokoto

Purpose/objective of the position

• The PSS/Case Management Officer provides direct psychosocial support and case management services while also offering technical supervision, local PSS and CM assistants of local partners coaching, and quality assurance to local partner teams.
• The Officer delivers structured PSS, lay counselling, complex case management, and manages all Cash‑for‑Protection/Individual Protection Assistance (IPA) processes in line with DRC protection standards.
• The role strengthens local partner capacity, ensures gender‑balanced service delivery, and promotes an integrated approach across safe spaces, health facilities, and mobile outreach teams.

Duties and Responsibilities
Programming:

•  Provide day-to-day supervision of partner PSS and CM Assistants (2 PSS + 2 CM per LGA, gender‑balanced) and ensure quality implementation of structured PSS and case management activities.
• Deliver direct structured PSS sessions for adolescents aged  15 and above, and adults using approved curricula and ensuring adherence to global and DRC standards.
• Identify and refer child protection cases to specialized child protection actors in accordance with established referral pathways.
• Provide individual lay counselling to persons experiencing psychosocial distress, including those identified through outreach, referrals, or at health/nutrition facilities.
• Provide PFA to individuals in acute distress  and ensure timely referral to appropriate services when needed.
• Lead on complex case management, including high‑risk cases requiring multi‑sectoral coordination or specialized referrals.
• Manage the full cycle of Cash‑for‑Protection/IPA cases, including risk analysis, eligibility assessment, documentation, follow‑up, and compliance with protection standards and due diligence.
• Conduct twice‑weekly service delivery at designated health and nutrition facilities, providing integrated PSS and case management under a fixed schedule. During these days, partner staff remain at the safe spaces to ensure uninterrupted community coverage.
• Ensure timely identification, assessment, and safe referral of individuals at risk, maintaining strict confidentiality and data protection.
• Conduct regular coaching visits, joint field mentoring, and technical spot checks to ensure adherence to DRC SOPs, protection principles, and CM steps.
• Support the conduct of community sensitization and awareness on mental health, psychosocial wellbeing, and available protection services to reduce stigma and improve service uptake.
• Facilitate cross‑learning between GBV/CP case management (led by FRAD/CENCEX) and general protection case management (coached by DRC).
• Maintain updated service mapping and referral pathways in each LGA.
• Support partners to integrate PSS and CM into their interventions, ensuring alignment with DRC standards and donor requirements.
• Ensure all case management and PSS services follow survivor-centred, protection-sensitive, and safeguarding principles.

Reporting:

• Maintain strong collaboration with local authorities, community structures, and service providers to strengthen referral pathways.
• Coordinate closely with DRC PSS, CM, CBP, and Protection Monitoring teams to ensure integrated programming.
• Contribute to weekly, monthly, and donor reports with accurate data, analysis of trends, and partner performance updates.
• Ensure partner teams maintain complete, accurate, and confidential documentation of PSS and CM activities.
• Support the PSS/CM Team Leader in producing analytical notes on protection risks, PSS outcomes, and case management trends.

Representation and coordination:

• Represent DRC in LGA‑level protection, PSS, and case management coordination meetings when delegated.
• Maintain strong collaboration with local authorities, community structures, and service providers to strengthen referral pathways.
• Coordinate closely with DRC PSS, CM, CBP, and Protection Monitoring teams to ensure integrated programming and other multi-sectoral teams.
• Facilitate communication and technical exchange between partner teams across LGAs.

Operations:

• Contribute to the effective implementation of all operations support activities, including those related to administration, finances, and logistics, so as to ensure smooth project implementation. In all matters, comply with internal directives and policies as communicated by the Protection Implementation and Partnerships Manager, PSS/CM TL and Programme Manager and/or the relevant support departments. Ensure compliance with DRC policies, PSEA, Child Safeguarding, and data protection standards.
• Coordinate weekly movement plans to guarantee the Officer’s scheduled presence at health/nutrition facilities while maintaining full partner coverage at safe spaces.
• Support partners in planning logistics for field activities, including materials for structured PSS and case management sessions.
• Contribute to procurement planning by identifying activity needs and communicating them to the PSS/CM Team Leader.
• Ensure all IPA/Cash‑for‑Protection documentation is complete, accurate, and aligned with DRC’s protection risk analysis standards before submission and ensure to deliver it according to SOPs and standards

Staff Management, Training & Capacity Development:

• Provide daily technical coaching to partner PSS and CM Assistants through shadowing, simulations, case reviews, and bilateral mentoring.Identify capacity gaps and deliver targeted trainings on:
• General protection case management
• Safe referrals
• Lay counselling
• Structured PSS curricula
• Documentation and data protection
• Support FRAD/CENCEX and other local partners to strengthen their internal training systems, including introductory GBV/CP CM modules.
• Promote a culture of learning, accountability, and continuous improvement within partner teams.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Conduct regular monitoring of PSS sessions, case management files, and partner activity implementation and feedback surveys and impact of PSS/CM activities
• Review and sign off on complex case files, including IPA cases, ensuring compliance with SOPs, risk mitigation standards, and donor requirements.
• Ensure all activities conducted are uploaded and regularly updated on the PSS and CM Activity Dashboard.
• Support the development and use of tools to measure the impact of PSS and CM interventions.
• Provide feedback to partners and the PSS/CM Team Leader on quality gaps and recommended corrective actions.
• Participate in case conferences for high‑risk or complex cases.

Experience and technical competencies
Education:

• A university Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Social Sciences, Mental Health, or a related field is preferred.
• Relevant professional experience in psychosocial support or protection programming may be considered in lieu of a completed degree.

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Fluency in locally spoken languages is an added advantage.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum of 3 years experience in protection, psychosocial support, or case management.
• Demonstrated experience providing direct lay counselling, structured PSS, and complex case management.
• Experience managing Cash‑for‑Protection/IPA cases, including risk analysis, documentation, and follow‑up.
• At least 1 year in a supervisory or coaching role for PSS and/or Case Management.
• Strong technical knowledge of structured PSS, lay counselling, and general protection case management.
• Experience working with IDPs, refugees, or conflict‑affected communities.
• Experience supporting or supervising local partners.
• Experience conducting direct interview and providing support to who have experienced trauma.
• Strong skills in documentation, data protection, and analysis and attention to detail
• Ability to work under pressure and in remote field locations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable:

• Experience in GBV/CP case management (introductory level acceptable).
• Experience in project cycle management and monitoring tools.
• Knowledge of DRC protection approaches and Nigeria humanitarian context.
• Study in social work and psychosocial support is a very strong asset:

General Regulations:

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.

Application Closing Date
18th April 2026, at midnight (GMT time).

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